Getting to meet the people at Alice PR and learning about all that they do was really inspiring, and it was so interesting seeing people doing exactly what I want to do. I also loved hearing about how small their operation was when they first started and seeing their growth into such a powerhouse of a PR firm.

Everyone at Alice strives to achieve positive societal change, and that mentality is a common thread among almost all of their clients. Their mission, vision, values, and goals all align perfectly with my own, and in the future, I hope to work at a firm just like theirs. Creating a positive impact with my work is the most important thing to me, and everything they shared about their past campaigns and the causes they’ve championed was inspiring.

One of their CSR initiatives I thought was really cool was their Activist Academy, where they trained 21 activists through workshops, lectures, conferences, and networking with both each other and industry professionals. This passion project took countless company hours and focused on those in the early stages of their career as a means of propelling them forward and giving them everything they need to affect real change in their particular fields. An initiative like this very clearly shows their dedication to supporting activist causes and creating positive societal change.

Something else I was excited to learn about was their Ruhama Game Changer campaign, as I’ve never had the opportunity to hear about a real PR campaign directly from one of the working PR professionals behind it. Sure, I’ve learned about plenty of campaigns, but getting to hear the thought process behind campaign decisions and discuss obstacles they faced was completely new for me.

To wrap things up, I definitely want to touch on the activity we took part in toward the end of the meeting. This exercise helped me learn more about dissecting and analyzing a client while keeping the focus on client objectives.

The people at Alice PR showed me that my career aspirations are possible and made me excited to get into the field and start making a positive impact myself.

Today’s meeting with AIB and Goodbody Clearstream was such a great experience, especially for my first time ever in a boardroom setting! Environments like these tend to intimidate me, but after today they don’t seem so scary. Having a little chocolate croissant before we started probably helped put me at ease. I can actually see myself having a place at the table, and I’m starting to get excited about what I can bring to meetings like these in my professional career.

Paul Kelly shared a couple of quotes that I really liked, and they did a great job illustrating his points. The first was, “You can’t be green if you’re in the red,” which helped solidify the idea that financial stability is a prerequisite for meaningful sustainability work. When implementing a sustainability practice, financial feasibility will always come into question — Are these initiatives sustainable themselves long-term? Can we financially support them to maximize their efficacy? How will they affect our bottom line?

The second quote was from Abraham Lincoln: “I may walk slowly, but I never walk backwards.” This underscored how impactful sustainability requires consistency and time. Transitions like carbon neutrality or supply chain overhauls take years and require incremental progress — but even small gains matter if they’re part of a greater sustainability trajectory.

After the meeting, I had the chance to talk with Katie. It was great chatting with her in a non-presentation setting, where I felt more comfortable asking questions and the conversation felt more personable. I love connecting with people and networking, and even though I was a bit nervous to jump into a conversation with her, I knew it would be worthwhile — and I’d be proud of myself for doing it.

Katie’s portion of the presentation, along with what we discussed in our small group conversation, surprisingly sparked my interest in possibly pursuing a career in CSR and sustainability PR. Moving forward, I could absolutely see myself working in this field, as it also seems rewarding on a personal level. Creating a positive impact through my career is something I strive for, and CSR and sustainability align perfectly with that value.