Think You Don't Belong in Corporate America?
THINK AGAIN!
Conroy Boxhill, living in NYC, is an account supervisor at Edelman, the largest independent Public Relations firm in the world. He graduated from The University of Maryland Eastern Shore with a degree in business administration. He's sharp enough to work along side the best in his profession, down to earth enough to be himself doing it, and compassionate enough to want to school others who have that burning desire to be the best of the best, who struggle with identity trying to see where they fit in "mainstream" corporate America, and who can avoid the pitfalls he couldn't by just having an ear to hear. Interested in finding a place in corporate America after school. read on for some Q & A...
--You came over from Jamaica; did you already have the mindset to blast your way into corporate America? It honestly wasn't part of a well thought out strategy. Similarly to many of the people that will read this, I wanted to do something that I would both enjoy and make money doing. My internships during college really sparked my interest in Corporate America. I landed my first internship as a management intern at one of the country's largest provider of poultry products. They wanted me to learn the ropes, so I did everything from gutting chickens to checking for imperfections before they were packaged for distribution. Though I learned a lot about hard work, I also learned that it wasn't for me. The next year I interned at a national Rent-A-Car agency. That changed how I viewed business. I learnt that customer service, financial literacy, flexibility and relationships were the cornerstones of a successful business model. When I moved back to NY I applied for a number of jobs and was offered one in PR. I almost didn't take the job because of the low salary, but I was fascinated by how these professionals were able to influence/shape news behind the scenes. Once I started I got hooked. Seeing a story in the paper or a segment on TV for your client that you help develop and execute was and continues to be the ultimate thrill. After several years in the industry I firmly believe that, regardless of your business, communications is at the center. Why should people do business with you if you can't explain to them what differentiates you from your competitor (I'm not talking about advertising, I'm referring to your narrative). --Let me just say, for people outside the industry, Edelman is like gospel in PR. Not a commercial (they don't need me for that) But they really set the standard for our field.--First could you tell me a little bit about your company from an insider perspective? What’s the scoop on the company that defines PR? Edelman is the largest independent public relations firm in the world: 45 offices, 2,300 people and expertise in almost every communications discipline you can think of. The independent element is very important because, since it is not owned by a major conglomerate it has the flexibility to do things very differently. If that means partnering with someone that's not part of the Edelman network but will ultimately result in a successful program, they do it.What people don't see from the outside is how employees are encouraged to take risks (within reason of course). To elaborate: it doesn't matter what level you're at-- if you have a great idea that can help the client or the company achieve its business objectives it will get implemented.The scoop: what can you learn from your failures? Not everything that you do is successful, so how do you adjust not only to improve but to excel. The other part of it is sharing knowledge across the network-- this is mostly done through the Edelman University (Edel U). --They have offices all over the world; NYC has got to be competition on top of competition? Why there? How could they not? New York is the media capital of the world. The most prominent newspapers and magazines are here, the national morning shows are here and it's the financial capital of the world. Having a global presence means having a footprint where deals are done and money is made. As the saying goes "If you can make it in NY you can make it anywhere." --Corporate America can be quite intimidating, is everybody just THAT squared away? I think it's all about your approach. It can be very intimidating, but if you approach it from the perspective that you belong there just like everyone else then that's half the battle. Confidence- not cockiness- is an endearing quality and it's hard to ignore (just be prepared to back it up). I view being Black in Corporate America as an advantage more than a disadvantage. Why? Because I'm different. My perspective is different because my background and life experiences are different, so I add something to the mix that others can't. Business is more global than ever and so being able to have a different voice in a room of people with the same perspective adds value. You challenge people to think differently about a given situation while at the same time learning their perspective. --How do you fight through the competition? How do you fight through the tight knit “network” already in place, if you don’t already have a buddy in the system?Good question. I think the most important thing to recognize is that you can get help from anyone and you can learn from anyone. My first boss out of college told me that the most important people to know in any organization are the mailroom people and those that manage the company's money. Probably sounds strange right? Think about it for a second. The guys who deliver the mail know everyone-- who better to give you the lay of the land and explain to you who are the "really" important influencers in your company. In terms of the financial guys you need to understand how your company makes money; who better to explain. It's hard to stand out in a corporation packed with really smart people. Learn the difference between a worker and a leader. Companies are always keeping their eye out for leaders. Who are these people? Not necessarily the person who works the longest hours, but the person who identifies opportunities to improve or introduce ideas that can have a positive impact on the bottom line.Also, think of yourself as a business! How do you market/sell yourself? Do you invest in your own growth? What intellectual capital can you bring to the table? What are your short-term and long-term plans? --How do you navigate the friends/foes?There will always be both. We spend more time at work than we do with our families. Be straight with people, let them know where you stand. Regardless of what category they fall into, your ultimate goal is to make them respect you. --How much of “getting in” and fitting in is pure talent/skill vs. politics? I think it's a combination. Frankly, you first must understand the game before you can play it. Companies are in business to make money. So, first of all, can your skill and talent help them do that? If the answer is yes, then that's your foot in the door. Once you're in the door then you need to understand the internal politics; especially what NOT to do. --How do you balance both? I think it's different for each individual. My advice: pay attention to the people that have risen up the ranks of the company. What have they done well that you can integrate? And, what mistakes have they made that you can avoid? --Anything some of the young people can do to prepare for while they are still in college? Diversify your background. It will make you a much more appealing candidate and professional in the long run. Look for opportunities to "lead" in college; those skills will pay off in your professional career. Do research or tap your network to find people who are working in the field or at a company that you are interested in. Connect with them and ask them about their early experiences and how they got to where they are. Stay on top of current events. Read the WSJ faithfully and pay attention to what makes news in the industry that you're interested in. Practice being prepared and remember that you are your own brand-- similar to the GAP or Sean John- how you manage yourself is key to your future. --How do you know when it’s a good fit? If you get to the office door in the morning and you say to yourself "here we go again"- it's probably not the right fit for you. However, if you feel challenged and you learn at least one new thing daily you're on the right track. --What could you have braced yourself for had you had the foresight? Nothing happens when you want it to, it happens when it's the right time. Starting out, I thought I would be a VP in less than 5 years. Well to my surprise that's not quite how it works. If I had it to do over I would save myself a lot of the frustration because of the pressure that I put on myself early on (having a college degree without solid experience does not get you a seat at the management table).Also, I would have taken a class or read a book about negotiation. I soon realized that I was way out of my league. Had I been prepared, I could have avoided eating a lot of Ramen "Oodles of Noodles" early on.
