We’re reconnecting with past interns throughout the end of 2024 to share their stories and experiences with our followers! While many previous interns have gone on to become full-time employees, some have stepped away to finish their college degrees and charted incredible careers elsewhere. 

Meet Ashley McDuffie: social media guru and business-leading young professional. She worked with Obsidian as a level II intern in 2018, supporting our entire roster and building various practical PR skills. She shared with our team what she’s doing now and how her tenure as an intern influenced her current professional horizons. 

Tell us about your current role and what you do! 

I currently serve as the vice president of social media at a digital marketing agency in Nashville. In this role, I oversee all our accounts from a strategic, big-picture perspective. Our clients span diverse industries, from hospitality and construction to wellness. I enjoy the process of learning about each client’s brand, their tone of voice, and their target audience, then collaborating with my team to translate those insights into creative marketing efforts.

How does what you learned as an intern at Obsidian apply to your work today?

While I might not use traditional PR skills like writing press releases or managing media placements, I definitely rely on crisis and risk management in my role. Having a background in PR is invaluable when building out campaigns, as it allows me to anticipate how audiences will perceive certain elements and help ensure we’re addressing potential issues before they arise.

Did your time at Obsidian influence your career?

My time at Obsidian was instrumental in shaping my career. I had the privilege of working alongside passionate and driven women, and now, I find myself in a similar environment, leading a team of talented women, including interns and young professionals. The kindness and encouragement I received during my internship taught me a great deal about work ethic, collaboration and how to unite a team toward a shared goal.

Do you have a memory to share with us?

One standout memory from my internship was working on influencer outreach for the Moxy Hotel as it was preparing to open in Downtown Memphis. It was exciting to be part of that early-stage project, and it’s especially interesting to reflect on how much the influencer industry has evolved since then, particularly since this was back in 2018!

Here’s a memory from Taylor on our team! 

Even as a college-level summer intern, I trusted Ashley with account social media. Looking back through my emails with her, she brought innovative, fresh (and grammatically correct) content. I am unsurprised that she found her niche in social media strategy and leadership!