UCF Alumni have continued to show excellence after graduating by securing jobs and opportunities in their fields. Natalie Eck is the newest addition to the Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management team, bringing a breadth of experience in project management, journalism, content creation and strategy to her new role as senior public relations specialist.
The Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management – The Strategic Firm® – is an Orlando-based public relations and marketing communications agency that is currently celebrating 40 years of essential partnership with key stakeholders and leading brands in the industry.
Eck earned a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from the University of Central Florida in 2015 before achieving her master’s degree in public relations from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in 2023. She has also been actively involved in the community as a volunteer social media manager with the American Cancer Society and recently joined the Florida Public Relations Association.
In an interview, Eck describes her interest in public relations, career goals, what she is looking forward to in her new role at Curley & Pynn and offers words of wisdom to anyone wanting to pursue a career in advertising and public relations.
What made you interested in public relations?
“I developed an interest in public relations during the pandemic. At the time, I was a financial aid specialist at Valencia College. The isolation of working and doing just about everything from home gave me a lot of time to reflect on my goals. I knew I was ready for a challenge and was curious about pursuing a career outside higher education.
Soon after realizing I was ready to take the leap and pursue something new, an advertisement for Syracuse’s Newhouse School of Public Communications appeared in my feed. I reviewed what their graduate program offered and decided to apply for their public relations track.”
What new opportunities are you looking forward to at Curley & Pynn?
“I am looking forward to reviewing my progress a year from now. I have only been at Curley and Pynn for three weeks, and I already feel like I am gaining so much experience that I know I would not have received anywhere else. This truly is a company that puts people first. Each member of the team is eager to help you succeed.”
What are your career goals?
“For the next few years, I hope to gain as much experience as possible. I am passionate about finding ways to make the world a better place, so long-term, I would love to play a key role in helping a non-profit organization with their communication efforts, but for now, I am focused solely on learning how to best support my team at Curley and Pynn.”
What words of wisdom do you have for students who want to pursue a career in AD/PR?
“Life is full of learning opportunities. Dive into as many extracurricular activities and apply for as many internships or volunteer opportunities as you possibly can. This is a great way to curb the post-grad dread of feeling like you don’t have enough experience to apply for jobs.
I also encourage everyone to read Robert Greene’s Mastery. If I had read this book before reaching thirty, my life would have taken a significantly different trajectory. Greene delves into numerous captivating historical anecdotes to illustrate how the most accomplished individuals pursued career paths that resonated with their passions and intense interests from an early age, often before the age of seven. I remember recording the classical music on WMFE and then splicing in snippets where I pretended I worked for NPR as a host of Morning Edition. I always wanted to pursue a career related to communications. It just took me a while to come to that realization.”
By Majdulina Hamed.
Published to Nicholson News on March 4th, 2024.
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