Brian Ackermann works as a Manager of Client Experience, Digital Health at the global public relations firm Weber Shandwick. In his role, he helps clients articulate their message. Ackermann explains, “Currently, I manage paid social media campaigns for some of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world, including Novartis and Sanofi. My responsibilities include project management, counseling clients around digital communication, and influencer relations.” It was a nascent field when he graduated Baldwin High School in 2012. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in public relations and advertising from Duquesne University. “Digital communications and social media did not exist as a career option when I was in high school, so I slowly became interested in the field during my time at Duquesne and during internships. At first, I enjoyed the copywriting and creative ideation part of the job as I always enjoyed writing, but then I became more fascinated with the influence social media has on our culture. The power of online influence is massive and only gaining momentum — and it's exciting to be at the forefront of a cultural shift,” he notes.

Ackermann laid the groundwork for his career during Baldwin High School.  He reflects, “I really enjoyed working on The Purbalite (back when it was only print) and the skills I picked up through conducting interviews, writing stories, and managing difficult topics and points of view still help me today. I can remember a particular instance where I wrote an opinion piece around the school's response to anti-bullying week, which received mixed responses. When you work in a field where you have clients to please, you are constantly managing mixed responses and feedback and learning how to manage feedback early on can only help you in the future.”

He encourages current students to avail themselves of as many opportunities for career exploration as possible. “Try to gain as much real-world experience as possible and build lasting relationships. If you're interested in a particular field, ask to shadow someone who does that job. If you're looking at colleges or trade schools, reach out to someone who goes to the schools you're looking to attend. Most students don't do this, even in college, so taking that initiative can help you get noticed and help you learn more about working in a particular field,” he shares.