From Classroom to Conference: A Reflection of PRSA’s ICON

​By Guy Glowitz, Rock PRSSA treasurer, fundraising and mentorship chair
 
Experience proved to be the greatest teacher at PRSA’s ICON conference. Alongside three of my fellow Rock PRSSA executive board members, we took a trip from Slippery Rock to Washington, D.C. The ICON conference offered us the chance not only to network with professionals and our peers but to hear from an array of speakers presenting topics from internal crisis communication to assertive communication.
 
Experiences like ICON provide exposure to new career paths, introduce tools of the trade and engage us in experiential learning opportunities that allow us to apply what we’ve learned outside of the classroom.
 
New Career Paths
One of the key takeaways that I got from the conference was the knowledge of different career paths that I could pursue in the public relations field. Agencies are commonly talked about as a career opportunity for public relations professionals. But what about executive coaching?
 
While attending ICON, I participated in sessions led by executive coaches, crisis communicators and a hip-hop publicist, each offering a unique perspective on the roles of communication and influence. Sitting in those rooms, I couldn’t help but wonder: Could I see myself following a path like theirs within public relations? Through further research and conversations with them, I learned how their experiences and choices shaped the careers they have today.
 
As a senior graduating in the spring, the ability to find new opportunities and understand the path to get there is not only important but pivotal in the steps I will take next to find employment or an internship.
 
Tools of the Trade
Perhaps the most obvious benefit of attending a professional conference is leaving with new knowledge, skills and abilities that can be developed and implemented in everyday practice. While selecting the speaker sessions that I wanted to attend, I looked for strategies that offered tools and strategies to help me excel as a new professional. Three sessions I attended were about internal crisis preparedness, self-sabotage management and assertive communication:

• The session on internal crisis preparedness detailed the importance of preparedness and training yourself to handle a crisis. The speaker utilized a handful of wellness techniques and mantras to address the fear and anxiety practitioners may feel when handling a crisis.
• Another session I attended was focused on overcoming self-sabotage to be the best version of yourself. The speaker focused on reframing situations and adapting a growth mindset to champion success. This session was especially important as many of the themes are ideal for new professionals as they enter the workforce.
• The last session I attended was about assertive, healthy communication for personal and professional relationships. The session’s speaker offered tools to address how to assertively communicate and establish boundaries that foster strong relationships in the workplace, with clients or in your personal life. 

 
Experiential Learning
This conference gave us plenty of opportunities to learn outside of the classroom. We learned:

• Planning to attend a professional conference provides the opportunity to think critically about logistics, transportation, finances, crafting an itinerary and coordinating with team members. These are great examples of project management.
• Researching attendees to identify possible connections and determine how to connect with them is a valuable skill for networking and interviewing.
• Creating blog posts, presentations and reflections make it possible to inspire other members to pursue the same experience and craft a deeper understanding of your experience.

 
Experiences like ICON provide exposure to new career paths, tools of the trade and experiential learning to create well-rounded and competent new professionals. I highly encourage my peers, whether freshmen or seniors, to pursue experiences like ICON––it may just be the greatest teacher.