We’ve got a new member on our full-time team at Obsidian PR! Whitney Albert joined our team as an account manager at the firm this summer after moving to Memphis from Little Rock, Arkansas. So, let’s get to know her a little better!

How did you get your start in the PR industry?

As a child, I knew I loved to write and talk. Once I realized I could channel both of these “skills” into a healthy career path (i.e., public relations), I was all over it! I had a professor who I really respected tell me “I had it [PR] in me.” At that point, the foundation was officially laid, and the rest is history.

If you could go back and tell yourself one piece of business advice, what would it be?

Never be intimidated by the factors that you can’t control – specifically, those that relate to your race, gender and age. When I started out seven years ago, I was often interfacing with people who not only looked different than me, but who also had children that were older than me! Initially, I felt as though I couldn’t add value because of these differences. Over time, however, I realized that as long as you’re serving the client and helping him or her reach goals, those other factors just don’t matter.

What’s something that most people don’t know about you, but you wish they did?

I have a soft spot for dogs. Because I currently don’t have pets, some people assume I don’t like animals. I’ve actually had two dogs in my lifetime, and I loved them both dearly. For one reason or another, we had to part ways, but who knows what the future holds? There may be another dog in there somewhere. But for the record, I am definitely not a cat person!

When you’re not working, what’s your favorite thing to do?

I love shopping! I can shop when I’m happy, sad, stressed, confused and any other emotion that you can think of. By shopping, I don’t necessarily mean spending money. Sometimes, just window shopping makes me happy. I guess shopping is my avenue for release.

What are you most excited about working with Obsidian?

Obsidian represents an opportunity for me to further explore my passion for storytelling. Understanding my work experience is mostly in marketing, I’m looking forward to honing my skills of sharing my clients’ stories in the right way, via the right medium, at the right time.