The Valenti Annual Career Workshop took place on Tuesday, March 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the University of Houston Alumni Center. Pierpont Communications, a longstanding partner of Valenti, has sponsored this event since its inception.
The workshop serves as a vital bridge, connecting high-level communications professionals from various industries with students, offering invaluable career advice as they prepare to enter the workforce. This year, representatives from Telemundo, ExxonMobil, KTRK, and Pierpont Communications shared their insights during the two-hour workshop.
Facilitated by Victoria Cook of Pierpont Communications, the event commenced with a panel discussion featuring Jahnara Khan from Good Reason Houston, Jenna Marston from the Stoller Group, and Uniqua Williams from Pierpont Communications. The panel addressed questions from Cook as well as those submitted in advance by students.
Following the panel discussion, attendees participated in breakout roundtable sessions covering a range of topics, including Influencer Marketing, Digital Content, Working in the Broadcast Industry, First Job Tips, and Internship Opportunities. Uniqua Williams, a UH master’s program graduate and Pierpont Communications panelist, provided valuable insights at Table One of 12, drawing from her own experiences. "I love helping the next generation of communication professionals, and it’s events like this that helped me accelerate my career and get prepared for the communication workforce. I love giving back and providing insights I may not have received when I was in college to current students."
Dr. Laura Ashley, an instructional associate communication professor who also oversees the internship for course credit programming, has been instrumental in planning this event since 2014. "I enjoy meeting the students, serving them, and exposing them to all that's available professionally. We assist them with resumes, networking, and provide more in-depth knowledge of the communication industry." In addition to the panel and roundtable discussions, professional headshots were available. The event concluded with closing remarks at 4 PM.