Progressions

Behind the Scenes: My Journey with the FINN Partners for Diversity Program

The FINN Partners for Diversity Program is an amazing opportunity which lets students get a glimpse of what it can be like to work in a global marketing agency. The program is a great way to determine if agency life is right for you. Participants are exposed to different types of panels, meet with mentors, get their resume reviews by PR and marketing professionals, and more.

What I found the most memorable were conversations with the FINN Partners team and the reassurance about how to break into the PR industry.

In this article, I’ll share my experience with the program, its highlights, and areas where I saw room for improvement because transparency is crucial in any agency setting.

2024 FINN Partners for Diversity Panels

On the first day, students had the opportunity to attend the About FINN Partners Panel. This panel was a great way to introduce what FINN Partners was all about, including hearing from CEO & Founder of FINN Partners, Peter Finn, and other members of the FINN team from various offices around the United States. Students learned FINN Partners’ mission, visions and were given a quick overview about FINN Partners. FINN team members gave students a preview of what it was like working at FINN Partners from their perspectives. Other panels talked about how FINN Partners values diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as the different types of careers one could have when working at FINN Partners. 

Pros:

• This is a great introduction to FINN Partners. Hearing from the founder and some FINN team members helped us all feel more oriented to the space we were stepping into.
• The clarification that FINN Partners is not just a PR firm, but an Integrated Marketing Communication firm was enlightening – we were able to see how many different career paths are possible at FINN Partners.
• Learning about some of the different niches at FINN Partners got us all thinking about how we could specialize in various industries, such as healthcare and technology.
• One of the FINN Partners team members is an alumnus of my university and it was nice to have a chat with someone I felt a little more connected to.

Suggestions:

• I think it could be incredibly valuable to hear from team members who are at a junior to mid-level, so we could get a better understanding of what our lives would look like right after graduating.

One-on-One Mentorship with FINN Partners Team Members

One of my favorite parts of this program was the ability to talk with my assigned mentor and her colleague. This gave me an opportunity to look closer at what their jobs were and what their careers had been like thus far. One of them even shared that they had worked on a sponsored Instagram post for a famous celebrity, which was cool to learn about how, in practice, marketing for clients can look different than traditional methods. Finally, they gave me the reassurance that I am on the right path to becoming an expert in public relations and gave me insight on areas I could improve in.

Pros:

• My mentor and her colleagues were fun and easy to talk to. It was nice to be able to have on one-on-one time to connect with the company a bit more than just surface-level.
• It’s always nice to receive advice and suggestions on how to sharpen your skills as a student and recent grad.

Suggestions:

• It would be nice if more time was allotted to have that one-on-one mentor time.

Brainstorming Session and an Optional Writing Exercise

FINN Partners created a fictional client brief and put us all in groups, which allowed students to brainstorm and create a campaign. This helped us better imagine ourselves at FINN Partners — working on teams, solving solutions with creative campaigns, and receiving feedback on our projects.  

Students also had the opportunity to create a mock-up presentation, press release, social media posts and a media pitch for evaluation from a FINN Partners expert. This was a great chance to get feedback on our work and gave us a work sample to add to our portfolios.

Finally, students got to have their resume reviewed by a marketing expert, which is extremely helpful going into a competitive industry that thrives on marketing yourself the best you can.

Pros:

• It was a great way to gain hands-on experience virtually as well as receiving a PR skill evaluation and a resume review. 

Suggestions:

• This could be another area to add some more time to our schedule.

Overall

When I applied to the FINN Partners for Diversity Program, I wasn’t sure what to expect—and doubted whether or not I would even be accepted. What I received were resources that are still relevant today, in my career as a Senior Marketing & Advertising Coordinator. Even if you’re uncertain about pursuing a career at an agency, this program is an excellent introduction to the world of PR. It’s particularly helpful for those trying to decide between agency life, in-house roles or simply seeking direction in their careers. 

For me, the reassurance, knowledge and hands-on experience I gained were invaluable — and I would highly recommend this program to anyone exploring opportunities in PR.