(gentle music)
- Those classes, my liberal arts classes,
we're always like,
there was a lot of,
you know like fellowship
and like comradery.
(gentle music)
My name is Nicole Pope Gaia.
I'm originally from Nashville, Tennessee.
I own a PR company call NPG PR,
which is a company
based here in Nashville.
With offices in Los Angeles and Boston.
We're a full service firm
that specializes in entertainment.
But also, just recently
has really kind of
diversified into a lot more
of brands, corporate, technology, books.
We're kind of, I like to say,
we've got out feet firmly
planted in entertainment.
But, you know, I think diversity is key
especially in PR.
When I started my firm five years ago,
that was my, I just wat
to work on cool stuff
with cool people.
And hopefully it's lucrative.
And it's so far has been.
We're experiencing some
seriously rapid growth
and strategic growth right now.
And it's exciting!
I mean the sky is the limit,
and Nashville is such an
amazing place to be right now.
There's like, I mean,
a huge boom.
So, those naysayers that
when I moved from California,
and they're like, why are
you going to Nashville?
Now they're all saying, I
wish I was in Nashville.
You know, so much of what
I think in any industry,
in order to really excel
is to communicate.
And communication was really the basis
of what I learned at Auburn.
A lot of my classes, especially later on
we're kind of rooted in, you know
forging relationships and making sure
that you're basing everything off of
something true and something genuine
and something authentic.
And, that's something, I mean I definitely
feel like for me
that was probably the
number one take-away.
If you're gonna give back
you choose platforms that
you're passionate about.
That you feel have kind of lifted you up
through the years.
I think Auburn for me,
it's a part of who I am.
Co-sharing an event in a few months
with one of my industry colleagues
who I did not know went to Auburn.
Which is awesome, you know!
I'm like, I had no idea,
we're Eagle skip, you know.
And just to connect,I
think to stay connected
is a huge thing again.
Kind of, I base so much of what I
of something of like a
barometer of success for me
is the level of relationships that I form.
And I think, the kind of connections
with my fellow Auburn
alum, it's important.
I'll support Auburn in any way I can.
And I encourage other
people to do the same
because it's an anchor.
There are challenges
coming in to the workforce,
I think, at this point and time.
I'd say persistence, passion.
Do your homework.
Know who you're interviewing
with is super important.
Come to the table with
some of your own ideas.
You know, I think a lot of times
when I'm interviewing
potential new staffers
I can tell who's prepared
and who has a real love and passion for PR
To be as well rounded as you can.
To come in even if you
feel like it might not be
worth the employer's time.
Bring something up.
Maybe just an insight that you realized
or whatever.
I think it makes a huge difference
and you can tell the
minute someone walks in
whether they're prepared
and really want to be there.
(gentle music)
I'm Nicole Pope Gaia
and I own NPG PR
and this is my Auburn story.
War Eagle!
(gentle music)
