ECU communication students gain career insights from alumni panel
School of Communication students on March 6 had the opportunity to hear from East Carolina University alumni about developing networks, storytelling, and learning to sit and succeed in discomfort.
ECU communication students speak after the March 6 alumni career panel to panelists Chris Stansbury ’93 and ’11, back, and D.L. Howard ’14, front left.
Conversations took place during the school’s annual alumni career panel, followed by its annual career fair, where students could speak with representatives of about 20 media outlets, ECU divisions, and others about internships and jobs.
Alumni panelists were D.L. Howard ’14 (journalism), who also has law and master’s degrees and works as in-house counsel for Grover Gaming; Summer Mitchell ’15 (public relations), managing partner of Growth Stack Media and host of a tech podcast; and Chris Stansbury ’93 (broadcast journalism) and ’11 (master’s in health communication), ECU’s senior associate vice chancellor for student affairs and a former TV news and sports broadcaster.
One student asked the panelists to share a lesson learned that they didn’t fully appreciate until they used it in their careers. Mitchell and Stansbury both cited interpersonal communications.
“There is a method to communicating with people on your team,” Mitchell said, including who is responsible for each task and when the group will check in. “It takes reletentless communication. No matter which discipline you choose, you’re going to have to communicate with someone.”
Howard added the lesson of feeling comfortable when one is uncomfortable. For him, that was speaking in front of groups, and practicing the skill helped him take the lead when needed on Grover Gaming’s yearlong process to sell its charitable division.
“It was forcing myself to be in situations where I had to do it,” Howard said.
Stansbury cited that lesson when another student asked for advice on struggling with public speaking, but pursuing a career in TV and radio. He encouraged students to look for support and help among the faculty, and to practice.
“What causes you angst? Are you afraid you’ll forget something, are you afraid you’ll look stupid?” Stansbury said. “Practice that. Go after it head-on.”
Multiple students expressed interest in Mitchell’s experience with and the skills needed to create a podcast, including junior Cassidy Clark.
“I’m thinking of doing a podcast, since it’s a growing industry,” she said.
She and senior Jessica Gee both appreciated the variety of careers the panelists represented. Gee said it was a good push for those students who feel nervous about their next steps.
“It was really informative about how they got where they are, and that you don’t have to start where you’re going,” Gee said.
To that point, Howard said his journey started in sports studies to become an agent, until an English professor encouraged him to pursue writing. That led him to law school, which he described as his “hardest years.” To stay connected to sports, he founded West Front Sports, a consulting firm dedicated to supporting student-athletes.
Stansbury talked about reinventing himself multiple times, getting his foot in the door of TV news by creating commercials, leaving eastern North Carolina for a time, then returning and spending time in public information for the New Bern Police Department, before returning to ECU to work.
“It’s great to acknowledge what you’re good at,” he said, and reflect on whether you find joy in those skills.
Sophomore Isaiah Thompson asked the panelists what they do, and how they make new career decisions, when times are tough.
Mitchell and Stansbury recommended surrounding yourself with a supportive network.
“Find the people closest to you that you trust, that tell you honest things,” Stansbury said, also telling students it’s OK to pause before taking a leap in a new direction.
Mitchell talked about making connections on ECU’s campus, including with her now-husband.
“Find your network,” she said. “Work together and lean on each other.”