Meet Taylor Pattie, a social media manager and a 2019 VCU public relations graduate. After graduation, Taylor moved to the Big Apple to start her career, as well as pursue her passion for singing and performing. Read more about how the community at VCU helped Taylor get to where she is now.
What was your career/life journey after graduating from VCU?
Following graduation, I moved back to my hometown of Williamsburg, Virginia, to begin my first "big girl job" at a pharmaceutical marketing agency. I quickly realized that pharmaceuticals were not for me (lots of proverbial red tape and lawyers that make our jobs all the more difficult). COVID hit about three months into my time with the agency, so I pivoted to tap into my previous experience in the restaurant industry and continued my freelance social media management work with a long time client, Cochon on 2nd, until I landed my first full-time social media management job with the incredible southeastern food and beverage communications agency, Sprouthouse. It was an amazing opportunity filled with travel, food and so, so much learning! With the agency being fully remote, I was able to relocate to NYC, a long time dream of mine. After moving to NYC, Sprouthouse and I parted ways as I searched for something new and pursued my passion for singing and performing once more.
What are you up to now?
This July marks my four year anniversary in NYC, and although life comes with its challenges — more so now than ever — I have to say that I am extremely proud of the career and life I've built here. After relocating to NYC, I found myself back in the education sphere at an incredible global independent private school, Dwight School. I have also become firmly planted in the classic NYC tradition of Piano Bar! I’ve performed in bars around the city for the last three years or so, and landed a residency at The Stonewall Inn Piano Bar! It's been an absolute whirlwind and I'm just so grateful, honored and thankful to be here.
What is your favorite memory from your time at VCU?
Taking Judi Crenshaw's social media course my junior year was one of my all-time favorites and it completely changed my career trajectory. At the time, I had just transferred to VCU from a previous institution and was feeling a bit nervous about the entire experience. Her course reminded me of my leadership skills, my ability to collaborate and coordinate a team, and ignited a love for social media management, marketing and strategy.
Reviving and running the VCU Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter was also a real joy. When it came to my attention that the chapter had fallen to the wayside, I felt that it was just not acceptable, especially with such a strong PRSA chapter and a city filled with opportunity for aspiring PR/comms pros. With Judi's close mentorship, she and I raised the membership by nearly 400% in 2018-19, and reinstated agency tours with quite a few agencies in the area including Hodges, Padilla and CarMax. It was great to work with my fellow students to pursue our passions and show the agencies in our area what VCU grads are made of.
What was the impact of winning the Black History in the Making award?
As a biracial person growing up in the South was always a bit interesting, to say the least. Living between two opposing cultures was always a source of confusion for people around me, often making me feel small or not "black/white enough" to fit in anywhere, other than in the arts. With that context, winning this award was a complete shock! I had no idea I had even been nominated, and to be chosen by my mentors and professors, especially at such a large institution, was a huge deal for me. I carry the award with great honor and pride. Sentimentality aside, I really felt like it was a strong addition to my professional resume and hopefully made me a standout candidate, especially with the BLM movement and DEI initiatives running full steam ahead at the time.
What is one piece of advice you have for current students?
College is all in what you make of it. It was one of the first times I felt empowered to go anywhere, do anything, try anything. I encourage you to do so. Get involved in things you care about, ask complex questions, be annoyingly inquisitive, find your passion (or passions!) and joy. As cheesy as it is, you are the controller of your own destiny, and heck you're paying for it! Seize it, make it yours! You can DO IT!