Small Girls PR Meeting Recap

by Riley Mason

To kick off this semester’s speaker meetings, PRSSA was happy to host Maddie Fiorante, a Senior Account Executive at Small Girls PR. Fiorante is a Grady Alumna who has been in all of our shoes.

All About Small Girls PR 

Small Girls PR is an integrated agency with locations in New York City and Los Angeles. Fiorante works on getting press for clients, even when there is no current news. Small Girls has an experiential team that hosts events, an influencer team and many more working parts. Small Girls has won awards including a Cannes Lion, Forbes 30 under 30 and a Webby Award for Best Native Advertising. 

What campus involvement were you a part of in college? 

Fiorante was in PRSSA and on the equestrian team. She also studied abroad with the Cannes Lion program, to which she now submits applications for awards. Fiorante was a Yarbrough-Grady fellow where she was able to work on the UGA Grady social media and meet like-minded peers. She was also in the crisis communication think tank group, where she learned amazing skills that she still applies to her professional life. 

What are the core values at Small Girls PR and how do they shape the way you work? 

Fiorante said to show up to work as your most authentic self. Yes, agencies want people with hard skills, but it is important to come to the table with all of your interests. Also, contrary to what most may think, having brain rot can be helpful. In such a fast-paced social world understanding social trends that come and go quickly is important for careers in communication and culture. 

What are some red flags to look for when interviewing for internships or jobs? 

Fiorante advises students to know what they are going to be looking for in a role. Once you know that then you know how to grow at work and develop more opportunities. Asking those questions about what you will learn and how you will grow can help to sift through red flags. Also, Fiorante said that having a manager who works on your team is something to ask about when interviewing. Managers on your team know what is on your plate and can give work accordingly. Asking questions about manager style and who your go-to person is can be very important when interviewing. 

What was the transition from being in college to being a professional in PR like? 

Fiorante felt that UGA prepared her for professional life. Tom Cullen’s class taught her how to use her brain to accomplish something and how to make a media list for a specific company or client. The crisis communication class taught her that clients must say something when there is an issue and be transparent from the start. The communication law class prepared her to deal with clients’ lawyers and learn what is ethical. Also, group projects in college are comparable to the group setting that occurs in agencies. 

What is the difference between in-house and agency life? 

Fiorante believes that it is fine to go either way, but she feels passionate about starting in an agency. An agency is a good way to learn a lot of skills in a short period and you can learn how to be scrappy with creativity. Agencies make you strategic early on in your career and you can work with many different clients. 

Can you share any tips for upperclassmen for navigating the post-grad limbo? 

Fiorante says to keep an open mind to internships and fellowships. Sometimes internships after college can turn into a first job and open you up to a whole new world of people. In internships, you can meet people from different clients and companies that you can build a relationship with. It can feel scary that you have to get a job right away, but don’t worry it will work out. 

What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you in college?

In a fast-moving world, a thank-you note goes a long way. Always send a thank you note if you have a great one-on-one with someone.