Empowerment in Action: Reflections from Interning at a Woman-owned PR Agency

Empowerment, affirmation and inclusivity. What do all of these have in common? They each represent what the community is like here at Pierce PR. Over the last seven months, I have had the pleasure of witnessing this team’s ability to work diligently, while demonstrating unwavering dedication not only to their work, but also to each other. Working at a predominantly female agency has shown me what success looks like within an environment of camaraderie and encouragement. I am excited to share the lessons learned during my experience that have shaped me. 

Women Keep You Driven

I’ve always had a fear of first days. From the first day of high school to stepping into my first job, the anticipation and anxiety that comes with ‘firsts’ is undeniable. While most first days fade into memory, I vividly remember mine at Pierce. On my very first company-wide Zoom call, I remember feeling incredibly nervous about having to speak in front of the team. When it was my turn to share, I talked about the work I was doing and shared my updates. As I looked at the faces on the screen, I saw smiles and engagement. I felt a sense of belonging right away. Right after I spoke, I immediately checked Slack for any updates and found a message from Carson Grace, account coordinator and my intern manager, acknowledging that I did a great job. Even though I spoke for less than 30 seconds, her understanding, kind words not only reassured me but brought me so much peace on my first day. This experience is just one example of how these women uplift each other, even in the small moments. I always say they all truly embody the phrase of being a “girl’s girl!” 

Juggling a full-time schedule, college life and the reality of graduation on the horizon is a job in itself. However, I look forward to my internship every day because I genuinely enjoy the work I am doing and the meaningful conversations I have with the team. There isn’t a day of my internship where I don’t send a picture of a message or comment I received from the team to my friends and family. This is not to prove my success to them but rather to show them the support I am receiving each day. This unique atmosphere can only be attributed to the amazing team members. The core strength of Pierce lies in the women who strive to do their best work within a supportive environment that uplifts each person, making the company truly successful. 

​​Women Foster Great Communication

In any workplace, communication and success go hand in hand. Acknowledging a lack of understanding, asking questions and admitting areas where we may lack expertise can be challenging. I’ve always been someone who silently learns things on my own, whether in a professional or academic setting, due to a fear of asking questions. By observing others openly asking and answering questions at Pierce, I feel empowered to inquire about anything I need clarification on, leading me to learn more than ever before. I also received onboarding guides, extensive training sessions and personalized one-on-one meetings with team members on my first day, which set me up for success. Each conversation, training and message is met with constructive feedback and encouragement, fostering an environment where I feel empowered to work hard and improve daily. I have truly cherished how comfortable this team has made me feel. 

Learning From Leading Women

In a remote work setting, receiving hands-on experiences can be a challenge. Pierce fosters a highly personal environment that creates connection and involvement, even through a screen. From allowing me to produce client work to sitting in on internal brainstorming meetings, I am offered more than just a glimpse of what agency life is like. I experience it firsthand and witness how to proactively produce good content and results for the agency itself and for a variety of clients. Each week, I build out client emails and monthly newsletters with specific themes, highlighting their services, goals and more. Additionally, I produce social graphics and written copy for multiple clients, which has taught me the process and planning behind content creation. I also utilize Google Analytics 4 to create website analytics reports, showing me how to analyze data and present it in a way that demonstrates to clients how their content performs. 

My experience at Pierce has been nothing short of remarkable. I have seen firsthand how women can lead with strength, compassion and resilience, and I am grateful to be part of such a dynamic and empowering community. Here’s to continuing the legacy of women’s leadership and shaping a brighter future together!

Hayden Kimbrough is an intern at Pierce PR.