My Journey as an American Intern at a UK-based PR Agency

Hi there! My name is Dash, and I’m a student from Cincinnati, Ohio, currently attending The Ohio State University. This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at Eskenzi PR and Marketing, a leading public relations agency based in London. Working at a UK-based PR agency has been an eye-opening and growth-inducing experience for me. Here’s my story. When I first arrived at Eskenzi PR–and London, it was a bustling time for the company. I got thrown into the deep end with my first major assignment: attending Infosec Europe, the largest cybersecurity conference I had ever seen. Along with my co-intern Isabella, I was tasked with conducting surveys for one of our clients and filming interviews that asked critical questions about the conference and the cybersecurity industry. This experience brought me out of my comfort zone right from the start. Engaging with numerous professionals within the cybersecurity sector not only boosted my confidence but also taught me a great deal about the industry. This went on for three days, and I got a front-row seat to see how Eskenzi conducts its PR and maintains its relationships with clients at such a significant event. It was the perfect way to start my internship, allowing me to dive right in and hit the ground running instead of just dipping my toes in. The following week, I attended the International Cyber Expo Advisory Council Reception at The Shard, one of London’s most iconic buildings. This was another extraordinary experience, as I found myself in a space where many interns might never get to be. At this reception, Eskenzi was there to interview advisory council members, and I was responsible for handling the film and audio. Being in a room with so many high-ranking professionals in the industry was both intimidating and exhilarating. I must admit, I felt a bit of imposter syndrome being surrounded by such expertise, but it was a fantastic opportunity to observe and learn from the best in the field. In the weeks that followed, my responsibilities expanded as I assisted with several clients, including Salt Security, an API security platform. Working with Salt Security was particularly rewarding as I was tasked with generating content to elevate their blogs. I created a short video on their State of API Security report, which garnered substantial attention. This success led to more video projects for other Eskenzi clients, including ThinkCyber, Outpost24, ACDS, and Plexal. I also had the chance to write blog pieces for Salt Security’s website, enhancing my writing skills and understanding of cybersecurity content. Furthermore, I worked with The Zensory, a multi-sensory app devoted to well-being and mindfulness. Isabella and I concentrated on building their social media presence, a task that was both challenging and rewarding. I thoroughly enjoyed the creative freedom this project offered, allowing me to craft engaging email and marketing campaigns tailored to our audience. Our efforts included developing visually appealing and informative content that resonated with our followers, aiming to increase engagement and brand loyalty. In addition to our regular tasks, we organized a media day that was an absolute blast. This hands-on experience was invaluable in understanding how to better promote the app and foster a stronger community around it. Overall, my time working on this project was immensely fulfilling, as it combined creativity, strategy, and engagement. Aside from these major projects, I also played a support role within the office. I built media lists, attended weekly meetings, and soaked up as much knowledge as I could from the experienced team at Eskenzi. The collaborative and welcoming environment made it easy to ask questions and learn from my colleagues. I always strived to share my media production knowledge with the team whenever possible. Even if some of my contributions weren’t directly used by clients (although most of them were), I poured all my skills into every project. I discovered that the true reward comes from putting your all into a project and seeing it through to completion. Of course, it feels great when your work is used by clients, but knowing I can assist my co-workers by providing valuable content for them to share is what truly makes me happy. All in all, my time at Eskenzi PR has been one of the most enlightening and rewarding experiences of my academic and professional journey so far. The team’s support and kindness made a significant impact, and I’m grateful for the skills and knowledge I’ve gained. For anyone considering a career in public relations, I wholeheartedly recommend an internship at Eskenzi PR. The hands-on experience, exposure to high-level professionals, and the chance to work on meaningful projects have been invaluable. This internship not only deepened my understanding of PR but also gave me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone and embrace new challenges. Thank you for reading about my journey. I’m excited to take the lessons I’ve learned and apply them to my future endeavors in the communications field.