ICON 2025 Key Takeaways

By Natalie Kimmel, Rock PRSSA PR chair
 
Senior year – a time when many of us are on the cusp of major change and career uncertainty. ICON 2025 in D.C. came at the perfect time. Originally, when presented with the chance of an opportunity to travel, network and learn, I didn’t know what to expect. I had never been to a conference of this size and with people across the globe who were/are in my exact shoes. I agreed to go after vowing to myself that I would seize every opportunity to better myself this year. I decided to take advantage of this incredible opportunity; I owed it to myself. 
 
The three main themes that characterize this trip can be summed up into: risk-taking, authenticity and connection. These are three things that deeply resonate with me and that are also directly transferable to my area of study. While I value and thrive in these areas, there is always an itch to learn and grow in real-life. You learn by doing, and so I took the risk.  
 
Risk-taking. Our small group of 4 (compared to the hundreds of other schools, some that brought 20 members) took the risk to go to D.C. None of us had gone to this before, knew what to expect or how to go about it. We branched out of our comfort zones, and left our small safety net back in Slippery Rock. From the very first day, we had a session on risk-taking. After all, we were taking a risk just by being there. 
 
From Conference to Career: Building confidence in building connections in PR
The session reinforced the need for risk-taking. While life is full of risks, it is necessary to take risks in the world of PR and IMC—without it, you won’t get far. 

1. Lesson 1: Every PR journey begins with risk. “Failure and success are results. Risk-taking is the process.” This revealed that I need to be comfortable with the unknown. Although it can be unnerving and uncertain, risk-taking is how you get to where you want to be—the sooner you realize this, the better. 
2. Lesson 2: Imposter syndrome is real. “Confidence grows through connection. Risk-taking builds confidence.” This lesson set the tone for the rest of ICON. It motivated me to connect with purpose, as a means of bettering myself through the process. The more I set out to make beneficial connections and take risks, the more confident I will become as a young professional. At the end of the day, no one has it figured out and everyone struggles with imposter syndrome. Again, the sooner you realize this, the less you have holding you back. 
3. Lesson 3: Every Experience Tells. “You can’t know the steps if you don’t take the risks.” This lesson reiterated the value in risk-taking. In order to figure out the rest, you must be prepared to take risks. Every experience tells a different story and presents a learning opportunity—it is up to you to take the chance and build on it.

Authenticity. How does one stand out in this field? Authenticity. To my core, I have always considered myself an authentic, genuine person who remains true to my values and beliefs. While this is an important personal value, it is also how you differentiate yourself within the dynamic world of the public relations industry. The session opened my eyes as to how I could leverage this key value and transfer it into my career, while still remaining true to myself (which can be hard to balance in the professional world). 
 
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Arguably, this session was one of my favorites, as it opened up doors for me that I had not considered in such depth. Not only did it allow me to consider a PR/IMC career in the entertainment industry, but it also allowed me to understand how to better leverage my authenticity in this field; which can be a hard dynamic to understand. Overall, this session allowed me to prepare my mind on how to cultivate my authenticity and use it to my advantage. 

1. Lesson 1: Define who you are before the industry does. What do you represent? What makes you one of one? This lesson pushed me to consider the foundation of my authenticity, and why I am the way that I am. It made me realize that I need to think more thoroughly about who I am as a person, and define what is true to me. This will allow me to build confidence in being my true self, even within the workplace. 
   
2. Lesson 2: Leverage authenticity as currency. Authenticity is your greatest brand asset; realness is timeless currency. I can use authenticity to my advantage. What I bring to the table is entirely different from what someone else has to offer. Therefore, I need to recognize it, understand it, build on it and wear it proudly. Being genuine and true to yourself allows you to stand out in more ways than one. I realized that I need to place authenticity at the forefront even more so than what I’ve been doing. 
   
3. Lesson 3: Image gets you seen, integrity keeps you remembered. This lesson reminded me that it’s not just what you do/say/act, it's who you are. By standing firm in my beliefs and morals, and being the best version of myself, I can be a valuable asset to any room I step foot in.
   
4. Lesson 4: Professionalism is the most important thing; you can still be professional and be yourself. Even if you have nothing else to offer, you must always remain professional in the workplace. I struggle with finding the balance between being professional while still remaining true to myself. However, it is not about being one or the other: authenticity is about exercising both to the full capacity—truly encapsulating who you are in every facet of your life.

 
Connection. Arguably, connection is a fundamental part of life: it’s in our human nature to interact, relate and find unity within one another. ICON at the nation’s capital allowed us to connect with a diverse crowd of peers and professionals globally, who broadened my perspective on where I am and what else I can be doing. ICON granted the four of us a front row seat to networking. We each set a goal to branch out and connect with several new individuals, and we did just that.
 
Building Public Image in Entertainment: 10 Lessons from 90’s Hip Hop 

1. Lesson 1: Build authentic media relationships. PR is about positioning, not just publicity. Build relationships that are not transactional. This session was a great transition linking authenticity and connection. Without genuine effort, real connections cannot be made. In PR, relationships are the name of the game. Even more so, authentic connections are where true bonds are formed. Focus on forming these real bonds, rather than focusing on beneficial return. Focus on your overall positioning when forming relationships; it is long-term and meaningful, while publicity is short-term and surface level. 
   
2. Lesson 2: Collaborate strategically; Collaborate with those who elevate your profile. Partnership = publicity. While you should build connections without ulterior motives, you should also do this in a strategic way. You are not meant to have involved relations with everyone; this is where the strategy comes in. Surround yourself with people who motivate you and help you reach the next level. This was very insightful because I am someone who goes out of my way to connect with everyone no matter what—however, this taught me to be more selective with who I collaborate with and let have access to my life. 

 
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1. Lesson 1: You deserve to be in any room that God puts you in, no matter the “competition.” This was so beneficial for me to hear and allowed me to rewire my mindset. Everyone deals with feeling insignificant, that you don’t belong or that you are incapable. Imposter syndrome affects us all. However, God has a plan for everyone and has a reason for putting you in different situations. With connection, comes competition and comparison. I am to know that I am worthy to be where I am, with those that I am with and know that I bring something unique to the table. 
   
2. Lesson 2: Surround yourself with people smarter than you and never feel less than. I need to be networking and connecting more strategically. To become better, you must surround yourself with better. Being in the presence of those more successful and more experienced allows you to learn in more ways than you can imagine. Going off of the last point, I know that I am meant to be where I am, even surrounded by those that know more than me.  
   
3. Lesson 3: Vulnerability is a superpower. Share what is real, and others will return the favor. This lesson is essential to learn and the earlier the better. Especially at my age, it can be hard to be vulnerable in a world that criticizes every move. But I need to take this advice into consideration, and use it to set me apart from the rest. I will find the people I am supposed to connect with, and vice versa. 
   
4. Lesson 4: Don’t do it alone; it’s a team sport. Everything is about relationships. This lesson demonstrates the importance of strength in numbers. It is okay to rely on others, and it is okay to not do it all alone. The point of life is about connection, and even more so, PR is all about fostering relationships. By understanding that I am allowed to build with others and not just rely on myself, I am setting myself up for success.

 
While I took pages upon pages of notes throughout the three days we attended ICON, these particular takeaways resonated with me in so many ways. Not only was the conference educational career-wise, but I also made connections to my personal life more than I would have thought. 
 
Our trip to ICON was more than a unique experience. I am grateful that I learned more about myself and how to shift my mindset. The conference came at a time when I needed it most, and I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. I believe everything happens for a reason, and I feel as though I was meant to experience ICON and the many benefits it had to offer my peers and me.