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đź’ˇ Meet Courtney Plummer, A PR trailblazer
Courtney Plummer began her career in communications as the Director of Marketing for her on-campus organization, The Black Women’s Forum (BWF) at The George Washington. Following graduation, Courtney interned for various PR agencies including BPCM and The Door. She is currently a Junior Account Executive at PURPLE working in the Lifestyle division representing various properties in New York City and worldwide. Some of her proudest accomplishments include securing top tier coverage for her clients in NYLON, Vogue, Travel + Leisure, and Conde Nast Traveler, developing creative programming initiatives for her clients, spearheading client campaigns, and fostering meaningful media relationships.
đź’¬ What does women's empowerment mean to you? Why is it important?
Courtney Plummer: Women empowerment means paying it forward and always opening doors for those coming after you. It is about instilling courage and confidence in the women around you so that you can all thrive and excel together. I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for the women who accepted me with open arms and spoke highly of me in rooms I was not in. I owe so much of my success to the women in my life who raised me and mentored me throughout my academic and professional years. My mom who always reminded me I can do and be anything I want, my high school advisor who always recommended me for internships, my mentors at PURPLE, the women I worked alongside with at BPCM and The Door, and my fellow e-board member on BWF who suggested I take the role of Director of Marketing instead of the initial role I applied for which led to my interest in communications.
đź’¬ What advice would you give to other women looking to succeed in your industry? What qualities are the most important and what skills should they focus on developing?
Courtney Plummer: Confidence and discipline are key. That goes for any industry. Confidence takes you such a long way, and no one knows your accomplishments and abilities better than you do so always be loud about that and carry a level of assuredness in your approach to any task, situation, etc. In PR especially, it can be an around the clock job and it is important when to turn the computer off, turn the work hat off when you’re at events for fun, and know when to say no. These skills come with time and experience so don’t fret if it still feels like a challenge
đź’¬ Tell us about a woman who has influenced your career and how their guidance has impacted your professional growth.
Courtney Plummer: Amanda Benedetto and Tameka Shockley are two women who have had a significant impact on my professional growth. Ever since I started at PURPLE, these two women took me under their wing and really guided me on how to be the best I can be and to just trust myself. They both have defined so much of my professional development journey and I will always appreciate how much time and effort they put in for me because it’s priceless! And from learning about their personal career experiences and how it influences how they approach mentorship, it pushes me to make a conscious effort in being supportive and attentive to our interns at PURPLE and to pay it forward for my peers any way I can.
đź’¬ How do you handle work-related stress and pressure, and what techniques or practices do you use to maintain your well-being while pursuing a successful career?
Courtney Plummer: Putting my mental health first. I start my days doing things that make me happy like reading, cooking, meditating, making my favorite smoothie or matcha and then I start getting ready for work, checking emails, etc. That way, I am not getting up to work, I am getting up, putting myself first, and then shifting to work mode. PR can feel all encompassing at times, so it has been really important to put myself first and make sure my needs are met before I start answering anyone
đź’¬ Can you share any lessons or insights you have gained from failures or setbacks in your career, and how you have turned them into opportunities for growth and learning?
Courtney Plummer: It is easy to take things personally or think things are more severe than they are. The phrase, “It’s PR, not the ER” exists for a reason and you will go very far not only in PR but in any industry when you remove your ego from your job and learn to take things in stride. There are days where I am so stressed out but by the end of the day I’ve completed everything and more. Also remember that there is so much more than what transpires within the office walls– and way more important. You’d be surprised at how much each of these things work in tandem with each other and should honestly be cardinal rules for life.
đź’¬ Can you share any strategies or tips for building a successful network and fostering meaningful professional relationships that have helped you in your career?
Courtney Plummer: Quality over quantity. Identify people who inspire you and want to learn from and reach out to them. Whether they are in the same company or outside, don’t hesitate to ask for a 1:1 call or a coffee because you never know. And also be yourself! Meaningful relationships only form when you are genuine in approach and there is true camaraderie. Don’t force anything and remember that there are so many people you will meet.
đź’¬ What strategies or tactics do you use for setting and achieving your career goals, and how do you stay motivated and focused on your objectives?
Courtney Plummer: I like to list out 2-5 goals I’d like to achieve for the month and then check back in at the end of the month to see what I’ve accomplished and what I didn’t or had a change of heart about. I’ve been doing this for 3 years and it’s honestly changed my life.
đź’¬ What motivated you to choose your current career field, and what do you find most fulfilling about your work?
Courtney Plummer: What I really like about PR is how vast the work is and everyday is different. I love how so many of my clients have enabled me to be so creative in my approach whether it be building a store or coming up with programming ideas. It is also surreal building relationships with journalists who write for my favorite publications and them publishing articles about my clients. The ecosystem of it all is so cool especially when we’re gearing up for cultural moments like NYFW, the Olympics, The Met Gala and bearing witness to all that goes on behind the scenes. I am someone who cannot do a monotonous job, so I really love how PR enables you to do so many different things and how so much of the work you do is transferable to other industries as well. Also since so many of my clients are NY based, I love visiting each property and meeting all the staff. It adds an extra layer to the work because I know the people, I’ve been in the space personally, it makes the work I do feel more real.
đź’¬ What advice do you have for individuals who are starting their careers or looking to make a career change, based on your own experiences and lessons learned?
Courtney Plummer: Advice I have for individuals who are starting their careers is develop thick skin and be confident. You’d be surprised how much having confidence will take you a long way. Possessing the skills to do any job is important but if you come across timid or fearful, it’s hard for people to trust you. Trust in your abilities and be loud about your accomplishments and actions. Take that leap even if you don’t know where you land. To the developing thick skin point, PR is not for everyone and there will be instances where it is easy to take things personal. This is why developing thick skin is very important. Don’t let people phase you or distract you from the bigger picture and your own goals. This goes for career goals and life in general. My decision to pivot to PR came in the later half of my college years and my experience was primarily in the political field. Post-graduation, I interned for BPCM which was the type of agency I wanted to work for as opposed to political agencies. For anyone who is coming from a different industry, I’d advise trying to get an internship in the field you want to do, make friends with someone who works in your desired industry, and on your resume and in interviews make emphasis on the transferable skills for the industry you want to work in. Ultimately, companies want to know that you’d be competent in the job you’re applying for.
đź’¬ How do you approach professional development and continuous learning to enhance your skills and stay relevant in your industry?
Courtney Plummer: I take advantage of web software learning classes that my company offers of new industry platforms and testruns. I find those classes very useful because you never know if the next company you work for uses them or if they may actually be very useful for existing workflows.
đź’¬ Can you discuss any significant achievements or accomplishments in your career that you are particularly proud of and what you learned from those experiences?
Courtney Plummer: Securing Freehand New York on Hoda & Jenna. That was the second time I secured broadcast coverage but it was the first time I was more involved in communications and planning the event. It was so cool seeing how a bunch of emails translated to a broadcast segment! Another accomplishment of mine is managing NYFW, I just started at PURPLE in June and NYFW conversations begin late July/August. My manager was out for half of August while these conversations spanned from media/influencer stay collaborations to event hostings. I was still quite new and still figuring things out but I was so proud of myself at how well I handled all the inbound requests, client meetings where we went over planning and strategy and being onsite for events. It definitely required me to step up a lot more and I am very happy that my early PR days began with such a hectic month. It also made me very fearless when February NYFW came around because I knew to expect the unexpected and I felt confident in my abilities to handle everything that came my way. Ultimately, cultural calendar moments can be some of the most stressful periods of PR but having that assuredness and confidence in your abilities and not being afraid to make mistakes (because that is how you learn!) will take you a long way.
đź’¬ How do you balance your career ambitions with other aspects of your life, such as family, hobbies, and personal well-being?
Courtney Plummer: Achieving balance between all those things is a lifelong journey. Life just happens and it is very easy to get carried away with certain parts of your life and neglect others. For me, organization and consistency with the people in my life and my interests mean everything to me. I make sure that I show up for my friends and family, I make sure I dedicate time to reading or art throughout the week, I check-in with myself (and treat myself) on my up and down days. Some periods I am on top of it and other periods, I slip up but that is why I say it is a journey. I try not to be too hard on myself.
đź’¬ Are there any specific books, podcasts, email newsletters, thought leaders/influencers, or training courses/programs that you would recommend for personal or professional growth?
Courtney Plummer: I really love The Lavendaire Lifestyle podcast on Spotify. She features a lot of guided affirmation that encourages self-love, positive self-esteem and confidence. I always listen to it in the morning and before bed.
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