Progressions

What Can I Do Next? – The Philip Tate Story

Every child grows up with a hero, someone they admire and want to be like. When we’re young, our heroes often feel larger than life. They are magical, fearless, capable of flying through the sky or saving the day.

As we grow older, our heroes change. They become something different: People we admire not because they possess superpowers, but because they refused to give up when others doubted them. These are the people when told something couldn’t be done, did it anyway. When they finally showed the world what they were capable of, they didn’t stop there. Instead, they simply asked: “What can I do next?”

I had the privilege of meeting one of those individuals. This is the story of Philip Tate, a man who kept pushing forward until he found exactly what he was meant to do.

Philip’s journey in public relations and communications began at just 13 years old. Passionate about sports from an early age, he quickly realized he wanted to work in the world surrounding them — the stories, the teams and the people who made them possible. Determined to learn, he began volunteering with the athletic department at the University of Mississippi. At first, the staff didn’t quite know what to make of a 13-year-old eager to work alongside them. He was handed the toughest, most tedious tasks they had.

But Philip didn’t complain. Every day he showed up, did the work and proved he was serious. No matter how difficult the task was, he completed it with determination. And at the end of every single day, after finishing whatever had been assigned to him, he would ask the same simple question: “What can I do next?”

Looking back, Philip describes those early experiences with humor. 

“In hindsight, it was probably stuff nobody else wanted to do,” he said. 

Yet those small responsibilities became the foundation for something much bigger. What began as small volunteer tasks slowly turned into a professional path shaped by persistence, hard work and curiosity. By showing up consistently and asking questions, Philip earned the trust of the people around him.

Helping at the university became the moment when his interest in communications truly began to grow. He saw how stories could build communities, how messages could shape perception and how thoughtful communication could connect organizations with the people who cared about them. What started as curiosity soon grew into a calling.

As time passed, the determination he showed at 13 — showing up, doing the work and asking what came next — became the foundation of a career built on dedication, learning and service to the profession.

Along the way, Philip became an important figure not only in the sports and entertainment world, but also within the public relations and communications community. Through his involvement with the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), he helped strengthen the professional network and support the development of future communicators.

For Philip, the importance of relationships has always been clear. 

“It’s never too early to start making connections,” he explained. Building those relationships early helped him understand the industry and opened doors that would later shape his career. He strongly believes in giving back to the community that helped him along the way. Someone once gave him an opportunity when he was young. Someone chose to believe in him. Now, he wants to do the same for the next generation.

But what truly stands out about Philip’s journey isn’t just the roles he has held or the milestones he has reached. It is the mindset that carried him through every stage of his career — the belief that there is always more to learn, more to build and more ways to contribute.

Perhaps that is what separates a professional from a Champion. A Champion is someone who never stops asking the same question that a 13-year-old Philip Tate once asked at the end of every long day: “What can I do next?”

As Philip’s career continued to grow, so did his impact on the people around him. Through his leadership, mentorship and dedication to strengthening the profession, he became someone others could look up to — the kind of person who inspires the next generation of communicators to keep pushing forward.

In his frequent talks with students, he emphasizes five core principles for building a meaningful career in public relations: 

• Staying current while remaining authentic
• Expanding connections beyond one’s immediate environment
• Embracing lifelong learning
• Seeking mentorship opportunities
• Maintaining an attitude of gratitude

For students entering the industry, these lessons can be invaluable. 

As Philip puts it, “Just about anyone will give you 15 or 20 minutes of their time at least once.” What matters is being curious enough to ask questions and prepared enough to make that time count. His story is a reminder that success rarely happens overnight. It grows from small actions repeated over time, showing up, learning and continuing to ask what comes next.

Champions rarely see themselves as extraordinary. They simply do the work. They show up. They take on the challenges others avoid. And when the task is finished, they don’t pause for long before asking the same question once again: “What can I do next?”

From a 13-year-old volunteer eager to help the athletic department at the University of Mississippi to a respected leader within PRSA, Philip Tate has shown that being a Champion is not about reaching a finish line. It is about continuing the journey and helping others along the way.

And if his story teaches us anything, it is that the champions who truly shape a profession are the ones who never stop asking how they can do more.