I have the second best job in the world

Photo credit: Berklee College of Music

I like to say that I have the second best job in the world. The first? Well, read on.

As part of small boutique PR agency focused on climate tech, sustainability and social impact organizations, I get to dive into innovative technologies and services, and not only learn all about them, but feel like I’m making a difference. I can look forward to actually doing the work myself with my colleagues, even after 20 years, from reading 5-10 media sites each day to learn more about trends in my clients’ industries, to planning the messaging, writing press materials, developing target media lists, and reaching out to reporters. Each morning I get to think about how I can persuade editors to write about the dedicated clients and forward-looking products I believe in. It draws on creativity, psychology, the art of writing, visual communications (Edward Tufte, anyone?) public speaking, education and training. What more could you ask for?

It was a roundabout path. I fell into it after stints in teaching, then the China business, then editing part of an encyclopedia about China, and finally a 6-month stint in what I thought was my be-all end-all job, working at a publishing house. Unfortunately it turned out to be the era of large consolidation at that time, and after an enjoyable half-year there the entire group was absorbed into the parent company and we were all laid off, from the president to the interns. Ok. Publishing was going through too much change and was not well compensated, so I was ready to look elsewhere.

Luckily for me, the president was able to refer me to a friend of hers at a pioneering PR firm called Miller Communications, one of the first agencies to focus solely on technology clients. They put me through a writing test (no sweat) and I was brought on board to work on a number of accounts. We worked with Compaq computer, semiconductor companies, telecom giants like Sprint, and even the developer of the 2D barcode (the format we now call QR codes), Symbol Technologies. I felt like I had a full view of trends in many parts of the tech world, and was able to bring that knowledge to bear for each of my clients.

This is where the best job in the world comes in. One of my supervisors and buddies at the agency was a music and jazz aficionado, and we were down the street from the Berklee College of Music, the pre-eminent jazz and pop music school that graduated such artists as Quincy Jones, Melissa Etheridge, Diana Krall and Keith Jarrett. They had great recitals and concerts, and many of their more illustrious alumni stopping by for jam sessions.

One day my friend Rob saw they were looking for a communications director there. He went ahead and applied, and got the job. Part of his work was mining the student body for compelling music and personal stories for the media, and coordinating with and hosting well-known musicians at graduation and other special occasions. It was an amazing gig – one day he called to say he was showing Sting around. Fast forward to now, and he recently retired from his position as Dean of Communications.