Meet Samantha Stone
Sr. Account Executive, Shift Communications
& Co-chair, Young Professionals Network (YPN), PRSA Boston

Thriving in agency life, Sam, a former nationally competitive gymnast, now helps other young professionals gain a competitive advantage in the PR field.

What’s the most exciting part of your job at Shift Communications?
It’s exciting to pitch top tier media with the perfect story for our clients and see those stories come to fruition. In my 18 months at Shift, I’ve worked with CNBC, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Forbes, and other major media, and had a lot of great wins. I work with a variety of clients – some in educational technology, transportation technology, even a background check company. Many of my clients compile data and that provides a good basis for articles.

What originally drew you to agency work?
I wanted the chance to work with a variety of clients in a variety of industries, rather than just supporting one client. It’s an opportunity to keep learning and growing.

What helped you most in getting started?
I went to the University of Rhode Island, and while I was there, I got involved with an internship program for the Harrington School of Communication and Media. It was a great segue into true PR work. I worked on social media and did other forms of writing and had the benefit of working with our own professors. For anyone interested in PR, I’d really suggest getting summer internships and particularly in the summer right after completing school. You can then apply for jobs knowing you can offer actual work experience. Take a look at your own university’s internships!

Why have you decided to help lead PRSA Boston’s Young Professionals Network?
Networking is so important right after college. It’s such a help to be able to talk to others experienced in the field, and also those new to PR. For getting started or making a career shift, it’s important to know there are people you can ask about openings or you can contact for advice.

How does the Young Professionals Network help with job growth and connections?
We’ve been somewhat limited during the pandemic, but we had a great networking event earlier this year for junior-level PR professionals, and we plan to have one in person again soon. We also offer a mentorship program, and I personally mentor several people. To find out more about our upcoming event or the YPN Mentorship Program, I’d encourage people to check the PRSA Boston website or contact me directly (my LinkedIn messages are always open!). YPN is a terrific offering.

Are there any surprising facts about you?
I have an Australian Shepherd, Lily, who I adore. And earlier, for about 15 years, I competed nationally for gymnastics, which took up the bulk of my childhood. I don’t do gymnastics anymore, that was pre-college, but I really wish I kept it up.

Interviewer: Bernadine Cassell, APR