Stepping Outside Our Comfort Zone: 2026 Leadership Assembly Reflection
You’ve probably heard that “it’s all about who you know.” In public relations, building strong, long-lasting relationships starts from the very first interaction. As students, we hear this constantly. It sounds simple enough until you’re in a room of unfamiliar faces, unsure of how to start. Our 2026 Leadership Assembly started out just like that — incredibly excited to network and connect with other aspiring public relations leaders, but also incredibly intimidated.
Going in, we set personal goals to meet as many people as possible. Right after checking in, we saw a group of students standing nearby. Both of us remember thinking, “Now’s the time,” and walked up to introduce ourselves. It would have been easy to stay in our comfort zone or hope someone else approached us first, but we knew that taking that step was the only way to truly get the most out of the experience.
Like most first interactions, it felt a little awkward. Introductions, small talk and finding common ground ensued. We were excited to talk about our positions within our Chapters, how our organizations differed and the shared feeling of nervousness about our first Leadership Assembly. What we quickly realized is that everyone in the room was feeling the same uncertainty. Those same individuals we nervously approached on the first day became the last people we hugged goodbye before leaving. That first step, as intimidating as it felt, shaped the beginning of our positive experience.
As the conference went on, building relationships became more natural. By the final evening, we had created a group of 11 of us going out to dinner. Leadership Assembly offers countless opportunities to connect, whether through sessions, shared meals or simply taking the initiative to invite others to spend time together. Beyond that, we had many different opportunities throughout the Leadership Assembly to engage in meaningful conversations with our peers. One that stood out was the roundtable discussion, which covered a wide range of topics that impact our PRSSA Chapters. These roundtables gave us the opportunity to hear about the challenges, successes and strategies of other Chapters. Hearing others share their experiences made our own goals feel more achievable, reminding us we aren’t alone in navigating these challenges.
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Leadership Assembly pushed us to grow in ways we didn’t expect. Small conversations turned into connections, and nerves were replaced with confidence. We flew back home inspired by the shared passion for improving our Chapters’ professional development. Stepping outside of our comfort zone gave us the opportunity to network with other young leaders. It showed us that pushing past that initial discomfort can lead to the most impactful conversations. Even more, it reinforced a key public relations concept: Meaningful relationships aren’t built on perfect interactions, but through authenticity and consistency.
We left New Orleans not only inspired to strengthen our own Chapter, but also reminded that connections often begin with a simple, courageous choice: walking up and saying hello. For anyone considering attending in the future, we highly recommend it.
Katie Nelson (she/her) is a senior studying public relations at Iowa State University. She has been an active member of PRSSA since her freshman year, finishing off her involvement as the president. She has completed internships in corporate communications and city government and is excited to start at an agency after graduation
Jasmine Fasching (she/her) is a junior studying public relations and psychology at Iowa State University. She is currently the public relations chair and is excited for her first internship in instructional design. She studied abroad during her freshman year and loves to talk to anyone about traveling!
