The world keeps turning, whether we like it or not.

Photo from CNN.com

There are not many instances where I have felt an active, outward, overwhelming sense of American pride. I suppose I feel a sense of pride when I think of the long and brave founding of this nation and how it served as a beacon of light for so many wanting to escape, but much of that came at the expense of those who were already here. Perhaps I was proud when the country came together after the tragedies of 9/11--although that pride may be mostly in hindsight due to my age at the time--or when when I watched Barack Obama's inauguration from my middle school library. It is not that I am not proud to be an American, but that sentiment doesn't feel like a strong part of my identity, especially when so many in this country are being oppressed in ways that should be unimaginable in 2016 and when we are unable to stand up for the very planet we inhabit. I like to believe that, at its core, America is still a nation of progressive, just and fair people, but there always seems to be a "but."

Last night, watching the election results come in live, I can say, without hesitation, that my unsteady sense of pride has never been tested more. It is easy to blame third party voters or non-voters. It is even easier to blame those who voted for Trump, but that isn't fair. Voting is a right that we take for granted, and those who cast their vote are allowed to do so for whoever they see fit to lead our country-- that's how democracy works. However, what is disappointing and what tests my American pride most is that roughly half of those who voted yesterday--millions of people--voted for a man who is racist, sexist, homophobic, misogynistic and xenophobic, among many other things. A man who has sexually assaulted women, ridiculed disabled people and who has perpetuated a wave of extremism and violence throughout our country. A man who was endorsed by the KKK, who blamed everyone but himself every time something didn't work in his favor and who wants to take away fundamental rights that we, as a nation, have worked so hard and so long to gain. A man who up until all too recently, everyone thought was running as a joke-- but by then it was already too late. 

By the time we finally began asking "How did he get this far?" we were already too late. Trump has broken every democratic norm. He has gotten this far entirely on his own terms, gaining the support of millions of Americans in the process. But when we take a step back, as shocking as this all seems, I would argue that this has been a long time coming. It is no secret that the American political system is deeply flawed. Its increasing polarization has both prevented much meaningful action and alienated many citizens who do not quite identify with either party. The government that is supposed to be "for the people" works in ways that most average citizens cannot see and do not understand. This, coupled with the sensationalization of elections and political coverage in a fragmented media system, has led to a tipping point that became a reality yesterday. No matter who was elected the 45th President of the United States last night, we would be facing a long, hard four years ahead of us. 

It feels dark today. I fear for LGBTQ communities, people of color, Muslim and Latinx communities, immigrants and children of immigrants, disabled people and anyone else who has been threatened by the man who now leads this nation. I fear for my fellow women and girls who are not yet old enough to truly understand what this election means. I feel for the women who were so proud to see the day when Hillary Clinton became the first female presidential nominee, regardless of their feelings towards Clinton. I feel nothing but immense sadness for the parents and teachers who had to explain this to their children and students this morning. There is so much at stake, not just with a Trump presidency, but with the hostile national mood that has been built over the course of this election cycle. But we must also not forget the good that came from this election. The number of women in the Senate quadrupled (to four.. but still) and the first Latina woman and the first Indian-American woman both won seats. 

This day will certainly be one for the textbooks, but so will all the days to follow. There is no more room in this country for hatred and fear. We are now presented with the opportunity for real grassroots change, and that is something that every American must embrace, as it is one of the most redeeming qualities of this country. We, as average citizens, have the power to speak freely and organize for what we believe in. We have the power to organize for justice. Regardless of who is in the White House, we can work to remedy the many societal ills that the United States faces-- and that will be something for the history books. 

It is as important as ever to stop looking for a scapegoat, and it is as important as ever to treat every American with respect and compassion. It is as important as ever to believe in one another. The world keeps turning, whether we like it or not, and it is up to us what happens next. 

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

PR, Politics & Expectations Management

In the PR industry, we talk a lot about management—reputation management, client management, PR as a management function, the list goes on—and when the worlds of public relations and politics collide, as they often do, another type of management surfaces: expectations management.

For the candidates involved in the political horserace that is election season, it’s all about expectations. Some candidates are met with the challenge of shattering expectations, while others are learning to walk the fine line between conforming to the public’s expectation of how they should be and acting how they think best represents their ability to lead our nation.

For example, Donald Trump and his PR team have become experts at managing the wide range of expectations associated with his campaign. In late January, Trump announced that he would be boycotting the last GOP debate before the Iowa caucuses. His rationale? Fox News’ Megyn Kelly was being mean to him.

This announcement caused an immediate uproar. The media, the public and political scientists alike couldn’t decide whether this was an act of bold individuality, further accentuating Trump’s tendency to march to the beat of his own drum, or a sign of weakness and inconsistency. It wasn’t clear whether Trump would follow through with skipping the debate until, on the night of the event, he was nowhere to be found. This example, for better or worse, shows an incredible understanding on the part of Trump’s PR team about how to effectively manage expectations. If Trump didn’t show up, his opposition might lash out against him, but his followers would almost certainly support his defiance against the “biased” and “unfair” Kelly and Fox News. If he did show up, on the other hand, he would have been the brave political contender who wants this presidency so badly that he is even willing to face Kelly.

Hillary Clinton is another candidate who has had to manage the expectations this election season, in this case about what it means to run for president as a woman. During the 2008 primary season, Clinton’s campaign released this ad, which emphasizes her leadership capabilities:

This year, Clinton’s campaign team took a different approach.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/embed/video/1203661.html

This ad portrays Clinton as warm, nurturing and family-oriented, three things that are generally expected of women. The more recent ad was significantly more successful than its predecessor, and much of that can be attributed to the fact that by conforming to society’s expectations how a female presidential candidate should be, the ad felt more comfortable to viewers.

Running a political campaign takes immense strategy from competitors’ public relations teams. Without a clear understanding of what the public expects from a presidential candidate, a campaign can easily, and unbelievably quickly, become irrelevant. Next time you tune into a debate, read the news or watch a campaign ad, take a moment to analyze it on a deeper level—what you find might not be anything like what you would have expected.

Who run the world? Girls. -Beyoncé

Female empowerment is a hot topic. Allowing women to be themselves, unapologetically, in a world dominated by gender stereotypes, has become a fight that is long overdue. It should not be surprising, then, that this movement is frequently reflected in brands' marketing strategies, as strong marketing often mirrors cultural and societal trends.

Over the last few years, there has been a shift from simply marketing to women as strong, empowered members of society to using those campaigns as a way to spark larger conversations about what it means to be a woman. 

2014 brought a flood of campaigns following this trend. For example, Always launched its #LikeAGirl social media campaign, which would later land itself a spot in Super Bowl XLVIII and ignite a conversation about preserving girls' confidence throughout adolescence. 

Two years later and some of the most inspiring campaigns to come from the marketing and advertising world are centered on female empowerment. In October, BBDO, an advertising agency, created a spot for Barbie titled "Imagine The Possibilities." The video features young girls acting as doctors, coaches, businesswomen and more. It isn't until the end when viewers learn they were watching a Barbie advertisement. Barbie isn't often associated with empowering young girls, but Global Senior Vice President and General Manager Evelyn Mazzoco told Adweek that that's exactly what the ad is trying to change. "This ongoing initiative is designed to remind today's parents that through the power of imagination, Barbie allows girls to explore their limitless potential," she said. 

Another brand that is working to alter its reputation is Nestlé's Lean Cuisine. Looking to detour away from its position as a dieting brand focused on weight and physical appearance, Lean Cuisine asked women to "weigh what matters" in a June advertisement from 360i. The video allows women to highlight the accomplishments they value most and helps Lean Cuisine reposition itself as a "modern health and lifestyle brand."

While these campaigns have large paid marketing and advertising components to them, they have important public relations implications as well. First, all three of these campaigns took off on social media, allowing for genuine conversation to take place across multiple platforms. Additionally, there is a large amount of research that shows that consumers identify more closely with messaging that focuses more on real-world issues and less on superficial claims (i.e. more on empowerment than on body image). Women crave authenticity from the brands they support. By brands showing their audiences that they care about what matters most to them, they are able to build rapport and establish meaningful two-way relationships with a public that will help them thrive. 

The impact of the female empowerment movement on marketing strategies shows how adaptive and responsive the communications world is to the ever-changing needs of society. As an industry that has immense influence over the messaging the public receives, it is only right that advertisers and PR professionals would use some of that power for social good. 

A New Year

Just like that, another year has come and gone, each one flying by quicker than the last. New Year’s Eve is a polarizing night. On one hand, you have the people who can’t stand the idea of it. “New Year’s is never as fun as you think it’s going to be.” “Your expectations are always too high.” “Resolutions are pointless because no one ever follows through with them." “That was so anticlimactic.” You get the idea. 

But then you have people, like myself, who spend the five days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve reminiscing, reflecting, evaluating and crafting a list of resolutions and goals for the upcoming year. People who spend the 10-second countdown to midnight basking in the fact that, once every 365 days, we get to start the day in one year and end it in the next. It’s a night that brings 2015 to a close and opens the door to the endless possibilities that come with 2016. Call me a walking cliché, but I think that’s a really nice idea. 

Here are three reasons why I love NYE and always will:

1. It forces us to reflect

When we’re so focused on achieving our goals and reaching the next step, it's easy to get lost. New Year’s gives us a chance to turn off our autopilot mode, slow down and set aside some time to look back on how far we’ve come and how far we have left to go. It helps us remember to celebrate our triumphs and learn from our mistakes. It gives us the opportunity to cherish fond memories and revisit old wounds. It helps us refresh, reevaluate and reprioritize. Before you can move on to bigger and better things, you have to reflect on where you are right now.

2. It keeps us moving forward

Change is good. It is also, arguably, very hard, but sometimes acknowledging the need for change is the most challenging part of the journey. New Year’s allows us to see where we’ve been, and as a result, helps us gain a clearer understanding of where we want to go as we embark on a new year. People can look down upon resolution-makers all they want, but for those of us who are goal oriented thinkers, NYE is the créme de la créme of goal-making. When the clock strikes midnight, we find ourselves presented with a year that can go any direction we choose to take it. Creating a list of concrete and realistic goals for ourselves can prove extremely helpful in moving forward on our paths to wherever it is we want to be. (Bonus: this year is a leap year, so you have an extra day to work on your list of resolutions!) 

3. It gives us hope 

When the ball drops (or rises, as it does in my hometown), even if it’s just for the most fleeting moment, it feels as though all of the history of the last year has been replaced with an entirely fresh start. When you wake up in the morning, all of that history will still be there, of course, but sometimes all it takes is that split second of excitement, energy and ignorant bliss to push us forward and inspire us to face that history—both the good and the bad—rather than try to erase it. In this world full of chaos and negativity, we rarely have the opportunity to feel such collective anticipation and optimism. NYE gives us that chance. It gives us hope for what’s ahead. 

Maybe the idea of New Year’s is too cheesy for some people. Maybe we shouldn't need a specific night to look back on the past and set goals for the future. Maybe it’s true that most people don’t follow through with the resolutions that they so excitedly share with their friends and family on December 31. But beyond the sparkly outfits and champagne toasts, there is a bigger picture-- a picture of reflection, progress, and hope. 

Here’s to another year and making each one better than the last. Happy 2016! 

10 Life Lessons Brought To You By The Big Apple

This past semester, I spent 108 days in New York City, living, learning, working and interning. Out of those 108 days, my guess would be that I spent about 65 days adjusting to this big, crazy, loud, chaotic, amazing city. There’s a lot to love about New York, and I owe this place an infinite number of "thank yous" for teaching me some very important life lessons. (Disclaimer: This post is long, but I think it's a worthy topic and I hope you do, too!) 

1. Most people aren’t out to get you

For as long as I can remember, New York City has had a reputation of being harsh and unforgiving, having a real survival-of-the-fittest vibe to it. Up until the day I moved into the city, I had people reminding me to be careful, to always zip my purse, to remember look over my shoulder when I’m walking down the street, to never go anywhere alone at night. While that reputation may not be entirely inaccurate and I don't think that those warnings were too extreme, I didn’t find the Big Apple to be as big, bad and scary as everyone makes it out to be. Sure, there were instances of cat calling and some questionable run-ins with strangers on the subway, but that can happen anywhere. Those experiences taught me to toughen up and develop a good poker face, but all of the other experiences I had taught me that when push comes to shove (literally, on the streets and subways of New York), most people are not out to get you. 

2. There is great beauty in silence and personal space

It’s no secret that New York is loud and crowded, but coming from a quiet, relatively rural small town in Western Massachusetts, the sheer volume of noise and people took me a while to get used to. Never again will I underestimate the value of all of the years I've spent sleeping in a quiet bedroom and living in an area full of green and open spaces. 

3. It’s OK to do things by yourself

Yes, you read that right. At first, it felt weird to get lunch, go to a movie or explore New York alone, especially after coming from a college campus. But in a city of over 8 million people, you would be surprised how many people do things by themselves. Not only is everyone on a different, and often very tight, schedule, but sometimes you just need a little time away from other stressed out people, even if those people are your friends, to unwind and recharge. Next time you want to check out a cool new exhibit at the Met, go for a walk through Central Park or head down to SoHo for some shopping but no one is around to go with you, go anyways. It’s not uncool and you won’t look like a loser, I promise. 

4. Creativity is key 

This simple lesson can apply to virtually every aspect of life in New York City. From figuring out the right amount of money to add to your MetroCard--after factoring in the bonus money that the MTA gives you--so that you don’t have a weird amount left over and going to waste, to learning how to cook cheap and healthy meals that are easy to pack for lunch (and on which nights to cook them), to crafting the best route to get from point A to point B when the subway line you wanted to take is running with severe delays, to squeezing an extra rent-paying roommate into your apartment, sometimes you have to think outside of the box. A little creativity can go a long way.   

5. Willpower truly is a superpower

I dare you to walk down any block of New York and not find something tempting to purchase. With endless amounts of incredible food and more shopping options than you would even believe, willpower becomes a true superpower. Now don't get me wrong, an occasional splurge is sometimes greatly needed and well deserved, but pick and choose wisely. If you save now, your bank account will thank you later. 

6. A deep breath can fix almost any situation

It’s 9 p.m. You worked at your internship from 9 to 5, and then went to class for a few hours. You’re exhausted, and all you want to do is get home, tackle your pile of homework, and hit the hay. You get on the subway (which is still crowded despite it not being rush hour), so you quietly wedge yourself into a corner and watch the stops roll by… that is, until someone yells at you for taking up too much space and shoves you out of the way. Or, maybe, you received a less-than-stellar review (or no review at all) on an assignment that you put tons of time and effort into. Maybe, if you're like me and only five feet tall, you took one too many elbows to the head when you were trying to get through a crowd. Or, maybe, it’s something less dramatic. Maybe, the general commotion of the city is starting to take its toll. Take a deep breath (or 10)-- you’ll feel better.

7. Hard work does pay off... but you have to work really, really, really hard

For a rare few individuals, it may have just been good luck and good timing, but most people have incredibly inspiring stories about how they got to where they are today, and they're often modest about just how hard they worked to get there. Some people worked multiple jobs to make ends meet. Some people worked crazy hours and only went home at night to sleep. Some people took a job that didn't pay nearly enough because they knew it would put them one step closer to achieving their end goal. Whatever the story may be, it's unbelievably motivating to wake up each morning and know that you're surrounded by some of the most dedicated, ambitious and hardest-working people in the world. 

8. It’s OK not to love every second of every day

Heck, it’s OK not to love New York City at all! Someone very wise once told me that learning that a place isn’t for you is just as successful of an outcome as learning that you love it there. Just because you don't love every second of every day doesn't mean that you don't love New York, and it certainly doesn't make you any less of a New Yorker. 

9. Life is a balancing act (in general and on the subway)

One of my goals for the semester was to be able to ride the subway without holding on to anything. While I didn’t quite get to that point (I have sub-par balancing abilities), I learned how to balance other things in my life, whether it be balancing work with school, or school with free time or all three. With so much to get done, and so much to do and see in New York, it's important to budget your time well, while also leaving ample downtime to relax before another hectic week begins. 

10. If you can live here, you can live anywhere 

New York taught me more than I could possibly fit into this list without boring you to the point of never wanting to read my blog again. It taught me to be tough. It taught me to be brave. It taught me to take risks. It taught me to think of myself as a professional. It taught me to worry less about the things that are out of my control and focus more on what I can change. It taught me that, no, leggings are not usually an acceptable form of pants. It taught me to think and work quickly and to commit to my decisions. It taught me to trust my instincts. Living in New York was a crash course in life, and I truly believe that if you can live here, you can live anywhere.  

Thank you for an unforgettable semester, New York City.