Team spotlight: Cameron Gurley, Account Supervisor; Sneha Shankar, Senior Account Executive; Berkley Brooks, Account Executive; Chloe Darrow, Molly King, Julia Makarov, and Kathryn Norris, Junior Account Executives
We recently spoke with some of Infinite’s newest team members to discuss their experiences, what they’re most excited about in their new positions, and life outside the office.
What drew you to a career in public relations?
Kathryn: I studied international affairs, writing, and journalism in college. For a long time, my dream was to be a magazine journalist, but that ended up shifting as I got further into other internship experiences. After gaining experience in areas like social media management, copywriting, and general communications, I decided I wanted something that could combine my interests in journalism in a fast-paced environment. I liked the feeling of contributing to a range of different goals, projects, and initiatives for clients and seeing the real-world impacts of my work across industries.
Chloe: I originally studied journalism due to my passion for reading, writing, and visual storytelling. Over time, I realized that I had different long-term goals and my enthusiasm for engaging with people and digging into complex narratives was better suited to public relations, where I could work in a collaborative environment to tell stories without the inherent pressures of a newsroom environment.
Can you tell us about a project you've worked on that really challenged you and how you overcame it?
Berkley: Early in my career, I worked with a client who faced a high-stakes lawsuit. Although this account primarily focused on media relations, the situation demanded a swift pivot to develop comprehensive strategies for the client’s internal and external team—while maintaining day-to-day operations. Being just months out of college, stepping into the complexities of legal and crisis communications was intimidating, but it certainly pushed me to learn rapidly. Through collaboration and adaptability, we not only managed the situation effectively but also celebrated the client’s well-deserved victory nearly a year later. This experience was a pivotal moment in my career that undoubtedly taught me a lot about the public relations field.
Cameron: I was working on a client announcement, and the client was asking us to include several quotes from different stakeholders in the press release. It was clear they were trying to satisfy stakeholders, but the release was jam-packed with quotes, overly repetitive, and too long to be effective. It was certainly challenging to push back on the client and advise them to keep a maximum of three quotes, but once we explained our reasoning, the client was very understanding and trusted our guidance. It was a reminder that our clients come to us for media relations because of our expertise, so we need to manage their expectations and provide proper guidance on media efforts.
Outside of the office, what’s something you’re passionate about that you think enhances your work in PR?
Molly: One of my biggest passions is stand-up comedy. I love crafting stories, engaging with audiences, and finding creative ways to make people laugh. This passion enhances my work in public relations because in PR, like comedy, understanding your audience is everything. You have to find inspiration by staying curious and connected. I make a point to immerse myself in current events, industry trends, and cultural shifts because they often spark new ideas or help me approach challenges from a fresh perspective.
Berkley: I’m an avid reader. While the genres I tend to enjoy might not always align directly with my line of work, I believe that the act of reading itself enhances my work in public relations. Whether that be learning new words, improving my reading comprehension, or broadening my perspective.
How do you stay inspired in the fast-paced world of public relations?
Sneha: You never truly know the full impact of your work until it’s out in the world. There have been times when I wasn’t sure what kind of results we’d achieve with a campaign or launch, but seeing it come to life and make a real difference for our clients is what keeps me inspired. Even when things feel uncertain, knowing that the right effort can lead to success motivates me to keep pushing forward.
Julia: Connecting with my teammates. Whether we’re discussing challenges, sharing breaking news, brainstorming creative solutions, or simply enjoying a laugh, those interactions energize me. They often provide fresh perspectives that carry over into my work and keep me motivated on a regular basis.
What’s a PR trend or innovation you’re excited to explore further in your new role?
Chloe: It feels exciting to be a young professional in a fast-paced, quickly evolving industry that is grappling with a shifting media landscape and the rise of new technologies. I’m happy to be learning and cultivating skills, knowing that whatever the industry will look like in five or 10 years, I'll be prepared.
Kathryn: I think exploring the world of crisis communications is something I’m excited to learn more about. I’d like to think of myself as relatively flexible and quick on my feet, but responding to complex crisis scenarios is a whole new environment I’m looking forward to learning more about.
What’s one thing that surprises people about working in PR that they might not know?
Cameron: I think people don't always understand the level of sophistication that goes into working in PR. Many people think it's a frilly job, but it's far from it. Our level of understanding of the media landscape and the legal industry often surprises people.
Julia: One thing that surprises people is the balance between strategic thinking and creative storytelling in PR. Every initiative requires a mix of analytical problem-solving and compelling narratives to engage audiences and achieve results.
Chloe: How collaborative it is! My favorite moments on the job include brainstorming sessions with colleagues and ongoing dialogue with clients to make sure their goals are met. I treasure my time working with the larger Infinite team because of how we all rely on each other to stay on track.
Learn more about our new team members: Berkley Brooks, Chloe Darrow, Cameron Gurley, Molly King, Julia Makarov, Kathryn Norris, Sneha Shankar.