Sage U Fireside Chat: Emily Ergas on the Importance of Language in Messaging
Written by Lindsey Beane, PR Assistant Account Coordinator
At Sage Communications, we’re committed to professional development. This commitment to ensuring our talented employees are engaged and never stop learning is manifested through our Sage U program, an all-learn, all-teach model focused on knowledge sharing.
In our latest Sage U Fireside Chat, PR Senior Account Executive Emily Ergas details how her journey, professionally and physically, shaped her PR career as she navigated her way through California, Texas and even Spain.
The Q&A is below:
What inspired you to enter the PR industry?
Emily: I love words and how the selection or order of words can change how someone interprets what’s being said. My time abroad and learning languages taught me the value of language, how a culture can impact a language, and the intricacies of translating — the same sentence can be said differently across languages.
I lived abroad in Santiago, Chile, and Madrid, Spain, teaching English. These experiences helped me become as fluent in Spanish as possible.
After returning to the US, I started working at a small, boutique PR firm in Austin, Texas. After three years in Austin, I came to Sage seeking new experiences and a place where I felt my career could grow. Sage — being located in the DC area — also provided me an opportunity to be close to areas of international studies and diplomacy, which I was interested in during university. It was a great decision.
What was it like working at a small agency and how were you able to learn from that experience?
Emily: When I started, I relied heavily on my knowledge of PR that I learned from prior internship experience. This was the first job where it was all really on me. Certainly, the value of working at a small firm was that I was given many opportunities just starting out. There were a lot of opportunities for me to learn. I was client-facing very early, which allowed me to learn about client relations and how to anticipate common questions clients may ask.
I also learned the value of networking. I attended a lot of events where I went on behalf of the company, which gave me a really great opportunity to learn how to network with media and other PR experts. It also gave me a sense of what I should be anticipating as I climb in my career.
What do you see as the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and what advice would you give to PR professionals just starting out in their career?
Emily: “The worse someone can say is no.” When I started pitching and doing media relations, I was very timid. It’s good to keep in mind that it’s not a personal reflection on you as a professional if someone turns you down. Don’t hesitate to follow up because they at least owe you a “no.”
I think it’s really valuable to reach out to peers to build mentor relationships and tap your coworkers for their knowledge. In most work environments, you are going to have teams built from experiences working in different fields. Building relationships is super important for your own personal and professional development.
What would you say that is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Emily: I used to be an Irish step dancer. I have a grandma from Ireland so my family history inspired me to take step dancing for 10 years. Also, my great grandfather was an MLB player. His name is Jimmie Foxx and he’s in the Hall of Fame for his time playing on the Philadelphia A’s and the Boston Red Sox.
Who inspires you?
Emily: I don’t usually have role models but right now I would say Michelle Obama. She looked great at the inauguration and seeing her reminded me of all the great things she did during her time as First Lady and of her amazing career. I also like to say my mom because of her positivity. It’s something I really admire.
Sage Communications is committed to the professional development of every member of Sage Team. We strive to learn through our team’s skills by having them share their experiences with one another.
