How did your education at Flagler College prepare you for your current career and professional journey?
I was an English and Education double-major, and even though I don’t work in education anymore, the skills from my English degree are utilized daily – writing or copy-editing speeches, donor correspondence, and event materials.
The Shakespeare classes that I took with the beloved Dr. Dillon are also still with me and really served me well in working with Juilliard’s Drama department and currently with the producers of PBS’s arts programming.
What inspired you to move to the New York City metropolitan area (NYC), and how did your journey lead you there?
A few years after I graduated from Flagler College, my first husband and I decided we wanted to leave St. Augustine and move to either New York or San Francisco to pursue career options in the arts. We had an existing network of friends in NYC – most of whom were from Flagler College – so that was the biggest deciding factor in choosing between the cities.
What is your current role, and how has working for WNET in NYC contributed to your professional success?
I am currently the Senior Director of Events and Donor Engagement for The WNET Group, NYC’s flagship PBS station that produces national series such as American Masters, Great Performances, and Nature.
I produce our annual fundraising gala and other donor events. It’s been a great learning experience going from a performing arts organization to a media organization and building a whole new skill set – particularly during the pandemic when in-person events were shuttered, and every event was a video production.
What advice would you give to Flagler students who are considering starting their careers in NYC?
Expect it to be really hard and extremely competitive. There are so many applicants for each job, so stretch your networks and connections as far as possible. You have to really market yourself and hustle. Getting an internship or even volunteering can be a necessary way to get your foot in the door. But expect it to be really expensive to live here and build your plan accordingly.
Can you describe a turning point in your career that was influenced by living and working in NYC?
I had been a middle school drama teacher before I moved to New York. When I moved here, I knew I wanted to work in the arts or education, but not necessarily as a classroom teacher. I came here without any solid job prospects lined up and was hired at Juilliard as an administrative assistant in the Development (fundraising) department. Landing a job at one of the most important arts organizations in the world started a career path in events that I feel could only have happened in New York.
How has living in NYC impacted your ability to build and leverage professional networks?
So many major events take place in NYC, and I’ve been able to work with truly the best of the best in this industry. In addition to my full-time job, previously at Juilliard and now with New York’s PBS station, I’ve also been able to work on events like the Tony Awards, Glamour Women of the Year, and the annual September 11th Memorial tribute.
Being involved with some of those, even in a small capacity, has allowed me to see world-class performers, designers, and technicians in action. I also have a wonderfully generous and helpful network of fundraising event colleagues from other major NYC organizations with whom I can network and who I can go to with questions or ideas to brainstorm.
What are some unexpected challenges you faced when you first moved to NYC, and how did you overcome them?
Everything is amplified in New York. A great day may bring you opportunities you truly couldn’t experience elsewhere, but a bad day can be really bad. It is a GRIND. And it can feel claustrophobic with the crowds, the small spaces, and the nonstop pace. Especially when I was in my 20s and had more energy, taking advantage of as many “only-in-NYC” experiences as possible reminded me why I wanted to live here. I tried to center myself by finding some rare quiet moments outdoors as often as possible.
How do you balance work and personal life in a city as dynamic as NYC?
It’s a challenge. We’re all constantly connected to our devices now, but many industries in NYC work outside of a 9-5 structure, which exacerbates the feeling of always being on-call. Trying to be intentional about disconnecting is helpful no matter where you live or work.
Working in NYC can sometimes come with some great perks of the job, too – like free theater or sporting tickets or invitations to events – so sometimes work can actually enhance your personal life!
What are your favorite aspects of living in NYC, both professionally and personally?
On a very personal level, I thank NYC and working in the arts for bringing my husband and I together - we met working at Juilliard. More broadly, the best thing about NYC is its diversity. People are fascinating, and you learn so much about the rest of the world just by interacting with such a cross-section of humanity on a daily basis.
The energy and excitement of the city are things I hope I will never grow tired of. Also, as an arts lover, I’m able to take advantage of really incredible performances. Professionally, I’m constantly challenged to keep producing high-quality, engaging events for very discerning donors. It continually stretches my skills.
How do you stay connected to Flagler College and its community while living in NYC?
My Flagler network has been much more a part of my personal life than my professional life. Most of my closest longtime friends are fellow Flagler alumni. I relied on them when I first moved here, and we have stayed extremely close for over two decades now. Most of us have moved to the suburbs but still live close to each other and get together often. We’ve been together for so many ups and downs, and I don’t know where I would be without them. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention my awesome sister, Sheia Pleasant, who is Flagler’s Director of Financial Aid and helps keep me current on Flagler’s happenings.