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Member Spotlight: Madeline Rickett

For this Member Spotlight, we’re featuring Madeline Rickett. Madeline currently serves as a Public Relations Specialist at The Martin Group. She's also the Director At-Large of the PRisms committee for PRSA Rochester. Let's learn more about Madeline in the interview below.

Tell us about your career journey in public relations?

I always tell people that I got into public relations by accident. I think I only took one or two PR classes in college, but going into my senior year, I landed an internship in the corporate communications department at M&T Bank. I was living in Buffalo at the time, so I was working at M&T’s headquarters all summer supporting their Plaza Event Series. During that internship, I got my first real taste of PR and also worked with The Martin Group through their engagement with the bank. When that summer was over, I ended up interning in the public relations department at The Martin Group as I finished up my degree at Canisius University. I had doubled up on my credits, so I actually graduated from school in December of 2019 and thought I had done myself a favor and gotten ahead of the game – just for all of that to change in 2020 when the pandemic hit. At the time, I was working at Target part time, so that job turned into full time while the rest of the world shut down. A year later I was able to reconnect with The Martin Group and have been there ever since! I’ve learned a lot about PR in the process and even though I didn’t necessarily know that this is what I wanted to do while I was in school, I think I’ve found the perfect career for me!

What are some of the biggest challenges facing PR professionals today?

I think one of the biggest challenges we face is how quickly and how much the media landscape is changing. With the evolution of media, newsrooms are shrinking and consumers are changing their habits when it comes to getting their news. Oftentimes, this means less reporters to pitch, but we still have the same amount (if not more) stories to feed them. We’ve had to change the way we pitch stories to make it possible for the few staffers at each outlet to cover our news. Along with this, I think it sometimes becomes a challenge to meet consumers where they are. Right now, the younger generations are getting a lot of their news from social media, so it’s become our job to figure out the best way to get stories in front of our target audiences. Different generations and age groups consume media way differently and we have to find a way to reach them while landing coverage for our clients.

Why did you become a member of PRSA Rochester?

After going to a bunch of programming events while not being a member, I actually got lucky enough that The Martin Group decided on a group membership for PRSA, so everyone on my team is a member of our respective chapters.

What benefits have you received as a member of PRSA Rochester?

I’ve only been a member of PRSA Rochester for a little over a year and I’ve already experienced some really amazing benefits! I moved back from Buffalo in the summer of 2023 and being able to connect with other PR pros in the Rochester area was extremely helpful while growing my network here. I’ve met a ton of great people, learned a lot, and even found myself on the PRSA Rochester board as the chair of the PRisms committee.

What do you love most about working in PR?

I really love how every day is different in PR. Some of that comes with the fact that I work at an agency with a number of different clients, so no two days are ever the same. I also love that I’m not always tied to my desk and can get out into the community for events or activations. I’m a people person, so having the ability to work in a collaborative environment every day is something I really enjoy. And of course, all the people I’ve met along the way. Some of my colleagues have turned into my best friends and mentors and I feel lucky every day that I get to work alongside them.

What advice would you give to someone new to the PR industry?

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and never let imposter syndrome get the best of you! I’ve been in the industry for over four years now and sometimes I still feel like I look around and can’t believe I’m in the same room as all of these smart people. When you’re first starting your career it can be hard to break through that feeling, but putting yourself in challenging situations is only going to make you a smarter and better PR practitioner.

Is there a piece of art (music, shows, etc.) that inspire? If so, what would that be?

I don’t think there is one thing that inspires me the most, but I do love to listen to music while I’m working. There’s no better feeling than really getting into the grove on a project with your favorite music playing in the background. I also find a lot of inspiration from some of my favorite brands and this is very Gen Z of me to say, but also influencers. Paige Desorbo is one of my favorite influencers/businesswomen right now. Over the last few years, she has been very vocal about how important her career and independence is to her and she’s never afraid to work for what she wants, but also for what she deserves. I think young women can learn a lot by looking at how she’s managed the pressures of society and her personal life while also killing it with her career.

What’s your favorite way to unwind outside of work?

Lately, I’ve been really into baking. It might be because it’s been dark and cold for so many months, but I’ve always loved baking and sharing goodies with the people close to me. I also love to workout, read, spend time with my friends and family any chance that I get, and hopefully the weather starts getting better soon so I can get outside! The spring and summer in Rochester is great, so I’m definitely excited to be able to get out and enjoy the sunshine again soon.