Pitching Your Passion: Advocating for PRSSA through Authentic Storytelling [National Assembly Recap]
Session: Pitching Your Passion: Advocating for PRSSA through Authentic Storytelling
Presenters: Tina McCorkindale, CEO, Institute for Public Relations, PRSSA National Faculty Adviser; PRSSA 2016–2017 Vice President of Chapter Development Victoria Leigh Ward; PRSSA 2016–2017 Vice President of Member Services Jon Kovach Jr.; PRSSA 2016–2017 Publications Editor in Chief Krista Watson; PRSSA 2016–2017 Vice President of Regional Conferences Nicole Price
Recap:
This session consisted of the National Committee members expressing the importance of storytelling and how to give a great pitch. The session itself was very interactive with the Committee members fueling the discussions with questions and small break aways with partners. Rather than explain to us how to generate the “perfect” PRSSA pitch, they helped us create our own unique pitch based on our experiences in PRSSA.
Each question that was asked centered around the topic of our own PRSSA Chapters and different experiences we’ve had. To start off, everyone was instructed to tell a partner how they joined PRSSA. Surprisingly a majority of the room said they stumbled upon the organization with no real intention of joining. We also discussed how we each have a personal brand, what that brand is and how to align it with PRSSA to make pitching easier. By the end of the session it was interesting to see that while everyone’s elevator pitch was different and tailored to their Chapter, a lot of the reasons and themes around becoming a member stayed consistent.
Pitching is storytelling and it’s important to know how to do it because it addresses the how and why of everything. As public relations professionals we are called to be authentic, genuine and transparent storytellers. You need to know how to present yourself as a brand because the connections you make don’t just end at PRSSA, they continue for the rest of your life.
Takeaways:
- It is important to know how to channel your inner ability to talk about yourself.
- Always be prepared to give an elevator pitch.
- Align your personal brand with your PRSSA Chapter for a more authentic pitch.
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Nicolette Giordano is a junior studying public relations with a double minor in advertising and marketing at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. She is the current communications director for AJF PRSSA and will serve as the firm director for the 2017–2018 school year. Follow her on Twitter, @nicolette_ gio, or connect with her on Linkedin.
