Naomi Madu

The Brandman Agency

This past semester, I interned at The Brandman Agency, a luxury PR agency catered towards the travel and hospitality industry. This internship was conducted remotely as the Brandman is headquartered in New York. I heard about this opportunity through a KU alum and was excited to learn about travel PR as I personally love to travel. It definitely was beyond what I expected, and each day brought multiple surprises and a new outlook on the PR industry.

Most of my projects involved supporting different teams with as the managed their clients’ daily needs. I helped prepare social media recaps on influencer trips, recaps of weekly travel trends, and compiled media lists for pitching opportunities. Some days were lighter, and I would only be required to upload event listings or clip articles and media coverage for clients. What I found most interesting was how I was able to figure my way around tasks I was originally unfamiliar with. Ultimately, I learned how important thinking on the spot and thinking independently is in this business.

What was most valuable to me was the connection I felt to the account coordinators, executives, and the rest of the teams in the agency. I learned so much from them through Q&A sessions and just shadowing them in my role, which exposed me to the realities of PR. I would never have learned some of the most important things about client and media relations without this experience and it has truly informed my perspective on my major. I also cherished the opportunity to meet and interact with senior level executives including the CEO and founder, Melanie Brandman, who showed me that anything is possible and travel is a blessing and an opportunity for education and personal growth.