Deacon Spotlight: Bridget Ring
Bridget Ring (2021, BA Communications & Entrepreneurship)
Account Executive at Ogilvy in New York, NY
Tell us about your current job role/employer and what you’re currently working on.
I’m an Account Executive on the consumer public relations team at Ogilvy. During my time at Ogilvy, I’ve worked across an array of consumer-facing brands and I currently sit on our travel team. We work with international tourism boards to promote their destination to the US market. No day looks the same since the travel industry changes rapidly, but some of my responsibilities include pitching media and securing coverage for my clients, planning press trips, staffing executive interviews, and planning media events in NYC and beyond.
What personal and/or career experiences did you have prior to landing your current job and leading to where you are now?
I knew I wanted to go into the communications space following graduation, so I interned at multiple agencies to get a sense of what type of public relations I was most interested in. During internships, I got to try political communications and B2B public relations in the legal industry. In my final internship before starting at Ogilvy, I began working in the B2C space and knew this was the lane I wanted to stay in. I’ve worked for clients in the food and beverage, technology, and beauty industries before landing on travel.
What was the most challenging aspect of your first “real world job” and what did you learn from it?
The most challenging aspect of starting in the corporate world was that I no longer had strict metrics that defined my success. Career progression is not as linear as education — you have to learn to advocate for yourself and proactively seek feedback from your supervisors. The only person controlling your career is you, so you have to dedicate time and energy to making sure you’re growing and publicizing your wins.
What advice would you give to new Wake Forest graduates about developing their personal life habits after college (finances, health, values, work/life balance)?
The most important thing is finding what makes you happy and fulfilled outside of the office and making it a priority. Whether it’s cooking, reading, or running, you need to actively make the effort to keep these things in your life. While you’re adjusting to a new job, it is easy to want to go back to your apartment and crash after work, but making the effort to do the things that bring you joy are always worth it.
How have you made personal and professional relationships in your city, company, or community?
The best way to make relationships in and out of work is to be genuinely interested in other people’s lives. It’s obvious if you’re only talking to someone for a transactional reason. Find people who inspire you and prioritize these relationships. Some of my favorite people life after college have been people I’ve met at work. Say yes to new opportunities and remember that fostering a personal relationship with people is more important than networking.
What advice would you give to current Wake Forest students and/or young alumni who are about to start their first professional job?
Be honest about your career goals! You are in charge of your own life and being passive about the direction of your career will not help you find a job that you are passionate about. Figure out what is most important for you in a career and only make decisions that move you in this direction.
Story published in January 2025. For current updates on Bridget’s career path, visit her LinkedIn profile.