Articles

Member Spotlight: Emily Drzewiecki

Emily Drzewiecki is the Communications Coordinator at Xerox and actively involved in PRSA as a member of the Young Professionals and PRism committees. We sat down with Emily to discuss her career, involvement in PRSA and her favorite part of working in PR.

Where did you go to school, what did you major in and what led you to choose public relations/communications?

I went to the College at Brockport where I majored in Communications and Public Relations with a minor in Graphic Design. An interesting fact about my time in college – I graduated in three years and began taking college courses while I was still in high school. I knew early on I was meant for a career in public relations. Writing was always something I gravitated towards and this passion played heavily into my decision to major in Communications and Public Relations.

What is your role at Xerox, and what does a typical day look like for you?

I’ve worked at Xerox as Communications Coordinator for a little over two years. With lots of recent organizational change, I have been able to take advantage of new opportunities and take on new and more challenging responsibilities. It’s been a great way to accelerate my career and broaden my skillset.

I wear a lot of hats and perform a variety of tasks at Xerox. On any given day, I can be working and liaising with our product managers gathering information on a new product launch, developing pitches, writing releases, working with the media on interviews and sharing input with marketing and advertising teams on bringing creative assets of a Xerox product to life.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve learned throughout your career in public relations?

Don’t be afraid of a challenge. Moments in life where you learn and grow the most come from moments of discomfort and pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone. Also never be afraid to ask for help – it’s not a sign of failure or weakness but shows you’re open to learning and growing.

How long have you been a PRSA member?

I’ve been a member of PRSA ever since I graduated college back in 2013.

What PRSA Rochester committees are you involved in?

I’ve been involved in a few different PRSAcommittees. I’ve been on the PRism committee ever since I first became a member and have previously served on the Young Professionals committee. When the Northeast PRSA conference came to Rochester, I played a role in coordinating speakers and helped with designing the creative for the event. This by far was one of my favorite parts of being actively involved in PRSA. Not only did I have the opportunity to work alongside long-standing members of PRSA, it was a chance for me to collaborate and learn from other members throughout the region.

What do you see as the most valuable part about PRSA?

In addition to my experience volunteering and coordinating the Northeast PRSA conference, the most valuable part of being in PRSA was the mentorship program. I joined this program when I was working in-between internships. It was through this mentorship that I was connected to a fellow PR pro that led me to landing my first full-time position. This experience was invaluable and is something I encourage young and rising PR pros to consider doing themselves.

When you’re not busy working, what do you like doing in your spare time?

Outside of work you’ll likely find me at Breathe Yoga. Yoga is one of my favorite past-times and is something that helps me unwind from stress in life and work. Travel is another huge passion of mine. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled to amazing and beautiful places around the world including Singapore and Peru. Peru by far was my favorite place traveled so far – the views, hikes and culture were indescribable. I also recently became a volunteer at Causewave and look forward to connecting with another group of passionate people in Rochester working towards helping our community.