When I was growing up, my parents bought an artistic hand painted table for playing games and eating snacks in the den. The artist suggested that around the perimeter of the table, we put favorite jokes, thoughts and sayings from each member of the family. It was a wonderful way to capture the essence of our collective family personality and bond.
When it came to figuring out my contribution, the answer was obvious: “I have a question”. This statement preceded all sorts of curious conversations about the world's wonders. Granted, I was around the age of 10 at the time - however, it is still applicable today.
My focus on asking questions reflects my lifelong love for learning. There are always opportunities to evolve as a person and perpetually master one’s craft, no matter how much experience you have. One of the best ways to learn is to ask questions from those who have been there, done that, or are sharing your experiences from a different vantage point. I am grateful for my relationships with industry leaders and peers and their generosity of time and advice - and with our latest initiative, PURSUIT GRAD, the intention is to share our learnings with others.
PURSUIT GRAD, created by PURSUIT PR, is a mentorship community created to empower, inspire, educate, and connect professionals. There are many pivotal transitions throughout one’s career. Professional development is a key pillar to continued learning and growth. There are bound to be surprises along the way both on a work and personal level. PURSUIT GRAD will bring together bright minds in business to collectively navigate the ever-evolving challenges and opportunities at work.
In our debut speaker series, we hosted Ryan Wallace, Head of Operate Solutions, AI/Machine Learning at Unity Technologies, the leading platform for creating interactive, real-time 3D content. During this discussion, one of Ryan’s pearls of wisdom was “don’t be afraid to ask questions”. He encouraged job applicants to be mindful of their needs both during the interview process and the actual work experience. Interviewing, he explained, is a two-way street. It’s an opportunity to learn about the position and the company you work for - the culture, values, and business plan. By asking questions, one can maximize their opportunity to find the right fit. When Ryan was interviewing for his very first job, he recalls that he was really focused on getting a job to gain experience. Ryan graduated in 2002, during the dot.com bubble burst, and this meant job opportunities were limited.
As Ryan progressed, he actively vetted each opportunity. He realized that tech energized him and this led him to ask questions of future employers about their focus on technology. Now, he strives for work that blends his full range of enterprise and consumer tech experience and has the opportunity to bring it all together at Unity.
In my experience, I graduated as the credit crisis was taking shape. My first job at Bliss PR started on August 1, 2008 in New York City. I spoke with professionals from my personal and Newhouse School network, ever since high school to learn about different career paths and options. From those mentors, my internship experiences, and shadowing my Dad who worked in finance, I discovered that I wanted to focus on corporate communications in the finance and technology sectors. During the interview process, I asked questions about the sector focus areas to ensure alignment with my goals. I also asked what level of client exposure I would have and what was expected of me. At Bliss, a financial services focused firm at the time, I learned that I would have access to clients and media immediately and what was most expected is for me to be both smart and kind. Smart and kind were two key requirements. Who wouldn’t want to work at a place where knowledge and kindness are valued? This culture, combined with their sector focus, confirmed my gut instinct that it was the right fit. I immediately told the hiring manager that I wanted the job - and am grateful it exceeded my highest of hopes.
As communications advisors to C-suite executives and industry leaders, Pursuit PR focuses on asking clients the right questions on an ongoing basis. We need to ask our clients questions to understand and uncover their needs and also allow them to re-think historical ideas and explore new ones. Given our client’s quest for brand relevance, questions also enable us to discover unfiltered information which we use to generate ideas that support a positive corporate reputation and align with client business objectives. Through active listening and purposeful questioning, we become armed with information to shape creative breakthroughs.
Questions create new ways of thinking and ideas. The most innovative thinkers ask questions. They look for ways to understand the status quo - and learn to invent better. The bottom line is that the more you ask, and listen, the more you learn critical information. This knowledge is empowering both during an interview and on the job - no matter what field you are in.
Now, I have a question - what do you want to learn on your journey?
This article was authored by Rachel Kule, Founder, Pursuit PR