Emily
Communications Coordinator
Q: Where you are from?
Boise, ID
Q: If you knew it was going to be your last meal, what would you eat?
Not to play into the Idaho potato stereotype—but probably some loaded fries of some sorts—like cheese, onion, bacon, hot sauce, the works!
Q: What led you to pursue a career in your current field, and how has your professional journey evolved over time?
I have had a long and winding journey to get to the point I am at in my professional career. I started out in media at two different newspapers at university—both in Colorado and Utah. This early experience as a writer and editor kindled my interest in wider communications roles, leading me to explore opportunities beyond the campus newspaper.
This exploration culminated when I created my own arts and culture magazine, ROOT, where I directed content, managed contributors, and handled various editorial and business responsibilities. The magazine ran for eight editions biannually. Following this venture, I embarked on a journey as a senior writer, content coordinator, and journalist in Medellin, Colombia. Working in an international newsroom with diverse publications, I honed my skills in assigning stories, web production, publishing, writing, and editing across different content needs—from deep-diving features to quick news pieces.
At this point I had spent time in a myriad of communications roles, reading to some seriously diverse experience, and as fate would have it I was introduced to Rob Savette, the CEO of Almas Insight. I worked with him as a writer for some time, and we always got along swimmingly. When he embarked on getting Almas Insight off the ground, he reached out to me to see if I had interest in helping the team out editorially. That editorial work has blossomed into covering more niches within the communications ecosystem, and as they say—the rest is history.
Q: What was the most challenging project you worked on in your career? How did you overcome any obstacles to achieve a successful outcome?
I would have to say that launching my own magazine was most definitely the most challenging project I have ever worked on—if anything for the sheer scale of producing a piece of media like that. I always described putting together ROOT like putting together a super challenging, multi-layered, 48-page jigsaw puzzle. From start to finish, the magazine was about a 4 month project with multiple and varying responsibilities.
It also challenged me in new ways in marketing and business that I had yet to experience. I was the sole advocate for the magazine, which on the one hand was easy because it was pretty much an extension of me, of my passions, and of the things I believed in. But on the other hand, it was also a challenge to try and separate the way I felt about it from what I needed to do that was best for its execution. The experience with the magazine most of all required that I balance my love for writing with my decision-making duties as an executive editor, advertising coordinator, and business manager.
Q: What motivates you to come to work every day, and how do you stay engaged and enthusiastic about your job?
I really love to wield words to propel outcomes, whether that be for a client’s solution or for a story that deserves to be heard. I hope that my writing in the PR space helps to get the businesses I support editorially in front of the people that really need what they have to offer—by proxy improving the industry they exist in /society at large.
At Almas, I truly believe that the company can help transform the future of the workforce, helping to give people from all different backgrounds and socioeconomic classes a chance to develop a successful career path. Furthermore, I think Almas provides the work world what it needs, because it is a solution based on data. Data is a language which knows no bounds, culturally, linguistically, or otherwise, and can help organizations across industries and the world over bolster their employees and help people carve out their ideal career and lifestyle. Knowing this helps me remain enthusiastic when I am writing pieces for Almas and about them.
Q: Can you share a defining moment in your life or career that has shaped who you are as a person (rather than a worker)?
A defining moment in my career was actually recently, when I pitched a story on an environmental justice issue I saw in Colombia to a publication committed to conservation news. Going through the process of writing this science-driven piece, and playing Nancy Drew to collect all the evidence I needed to expose this environmental crime really lit me up in new ways in my journalism. This opportunity was the crowning jewel of my time in Colombia, and if you’re interested, here is a link to the piece on Mongabay on the growing global avocado industry and how it threatens a vital Colombian freshwater-producing ecosystem.
Constructing this story showed me how much I would like to use my writing and diverse experience to mobilize action for environmental conservation. I am determined to create content that catalyzes environmental justice and fosters a deep appreciation for the natural world so that it can be preserved for future generations. I see this as a great opportunity to contribute to society in a way that shares my passion for outdoor exploration and environmental stewardship—and to put my money where my mouth is, I have enrolled in an Environmental Journalism program in the Fall to help sharpen my journalistic prowess in this niche field.
Q: How do you maintain a work-life balance, and what activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?
Work-life balance is a priority for me, although in this day and age maintaining it is becoming increasingly challenging. I am fortunate in certain ways, however, because I am able to work remotely—and I believe that because of this I have more control over my day to day schedule.
I think everyone is different, but I tend to be more productive at certain things, at certain times of the day. I am most able to focus on my writing first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee in hand, for example, and so I always reserve this time of the day for that. Once I have spent a couple hours on editorial projects, I usually exercise or go to yoga and then I will crack into more projects or take meetings later in the day.
I always have a full-stop time, which isn’t a set time in the evening because it depends on how much time I spend in the day doing personal things—but it is a firm stop. Once I have completed what I need to I shut my laptop for the day and enjoy personal things like socializing, walking my dog, or cooking some dinner with my family. When I am traveling and working, it is this same rhythm, but fitting in exploration in between.
Q: What do you hope the future of work looks like? (Please give an example of a challenge you see today, and what a solution might look like, or a specific thing you hope for in the future workplace)
I hope the future of the workplace is just a more diverse ecosystem, with more custom-fitted niches for people within it. One challenge in today’s workplace is the growing implementation of automation, which has many workers worried about displacement in certain roles. I think that automation can lead to strategies to reskill and upskill workers, ensuring a smooth transition to new roles and industries and helping people to find more purposeful work.
For organizations, I think that in order to ensure this transition is a smooth one, they must invest in lifelong learning programs, providing resources for individuals to acquire new skills that are in demand. Additionally, creating a supportive environment that promotes entrepreneurship, DEI, and innovation can empower individuals to create their own job opportunities. I think this should also be coupled with organizations commitment to a healthy culture that supports inclusivity and a healthy work-life balance.
Ultimately, I hope that the future of work is an environment that prioritizes human well-being, supports continuous learning and development, embraces technological advancements, and values diversity and inclusion—helping people to thrive professionally and personally.
Q: What advice would you give to someone starting out in your field or looking to grow to their utmost potential?
For someone looking to enter the world of communications, the biggest piece of advice I could give would be: Don’t be afraid to try things on. In this industry, diversity of experience isn’t a bad thing.
Although the general historical standard has been that moving around too much in your career looks bad to people hiring, and I think this is true to a degree, I don’t think it’s ever a bad thing to expand horizons in your field and try to learn new things. This will give you a wide and diverse experience, and will hopefully help you to be a person who is quick on their feet—which is vital in communications.
Communication can change on the day, depending who you’re speaking to, and why, and on which platform to which you are communicating through—and so this ability to think creatively and quickly is a skill that can carry you a long way. When you are a person in the wide ecosystem of communications, I believe that exposure to different perspectives and experience with a little bit of everything is an extremely valuable asset and will set you apart from other people in the field.
Q: Where you are from?
Boise, ID
Q: If you knew it was going to be your last meal, what would you eat?
Not to play into the Idaho potato stereotype—but probably some loaded fries of some sorts—like cheese, onion, bacon, hot sauce, the works!
Q: What led you to pursue a career in your current field, and how has your professional journey evolved over time?
I have had a long and winding journey to get to the point I am at in my professional career. I started out in media at two different newspapers at university—both in Colorado and Utah. This early experience as a writer and editor kindled my interest in wider communications roles, leading me to explore opportunities beyond the campus newspaper.
This exploration culminated when I created my own arts and culture magazine, ROOT, where I directed content, managed contributors, and handled various editorial and business responsibilities. The magazine ran for eight editions biannually. Following this venture, I embarked on a journey as a senior writer, content coordinator, and journalist in Medellin, Colombia. Working in an international newsroom with diverse publications, I honed my skills in assigning stories, web production, publishing, writing, and editing across different content needs—from deep-diving features to quick news pieces.
At this point I had spent time in a myriad of communications roles, reading to some seriously diverse experience, and as fate would have it I was introduced to Rob Savette, the CEO of Almas Insight. I worked with him as a writer for some time, and we always got along swimmingly. When he embarked on getting Almas Insight off the ground, he reached out to me to see if I had interest in helping the team out editorially. That editorial work has blossomed into covering more niches within the communications ecosystem, and as they say—the rest is history.
Q: What was the most challenging project you worked on in your career? How did you overcome any obstacles to achieve a successful outcome?
I would have to say that launching my own magazine was most definitely the most challenging project I have ever worked on—if anything for the sheer scale of producing a piece of media like that. I always described putting together ROOT like putting together a super challenging, multi-layered, 48-page jigsaw puzzle. From start to finish, the magazine was about a 4 month project with multiple and varying responsibilities.
It also challenged me in new ways in marketing and business that I had yet to experience. I was the sole advocate for the magazine, which on the one hand was easy because it was pretty much an extension of me, of my passions, and of the things I believed in. But on the other hand, it was also a challenge to try and separate the way I felt about it from what I needed to do that was best for its execution. The experience with the magazine most of all required that I balance my love for writing with my decision-making duties as an executive editor, advertising coordinator, and business manager.
Q: What motivates you to come to work every day, and how do you stay engaged and enthusiastic about your job?
I really love to wield words to propel outcomes, whether that be for a client’s solution or for a story that deserves to be heard. I hope that my writing in the PR space helps to get the businesses I support editorially in front of the people that really need what they have to offer—by proxy improving the industry they exist in /society at large.
At Almas, I truly believe that the company can help transform the future of the workforce, helping to give people from all different backgrounds and socioeconomic classes a chance to develop a successful career path. Furthermore, I think Almas provides the work world what it needs, because it is a solution based on data. Data is a language which knows no bounds, culturally, linguistically, or otherwise, and can help organizations across industries and the world over bolster their employees and help people carve out their ideal career and lifestyle. Knowing this helps me remain enthusiastic when I am writing pieces for Almas and about them.
Q: Can you share a defining moment in your life or career that has shaped who you are as a person (rather than a worker)?
A defining moment in my career was actually recently, when I pitched a story on an environmental justice issue I saw in Colombia to a publication committed to conservation news. Going through the process of writing this science-driven piece, and playing Nancy Drew to collect all the evidence I needed to expose this environmental crime really lit me up in new ways in my journalism. This opportunity was the crowning jewel of my time in Colombia, and if you’re interested, here is a link to the piece on Mongabay on the growing global avocado industry and how it threatens a vital Colombian freshwater-producing ecosystem.
Constructing this story showed me how much I would like to use my writing and diverse experience to mobilize action for environmental conservation. I am determined to create content that catalyzes environmental justice and fosters a deep appreciation for the natural world so that it can be preserved for future generations. I see this as a great opportunity to contribute to society in a way that shares my passion for outdoor exploration and environmental stewardship—and to put my money where my mouth is, I have enrolled in an Environmental Journalism program in the Fall to help sharpen my journalistic prowess in this niche field.
Q: How do you maintain a work-life balance, and what activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?
Work-life balance is a priority for me, although in this day and age maintaining it is becoming increasingly challenging. I am fortunate in certain ways, however, because I am able to work remotely—and I believe that because of this I have more control over my day to day schedule.
I think everyone is different, but I tend to be more productive at certain things, at certain times of the day. I am most able to focus on my writing first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee in hand, for example, and so I always reserve this time of the day for that. Once I have spent a couple hours on editorial projects, I usually exercise or go to yoga and then I will crack into more projects or take meetings later in the day.
I always have a full-stop time, which isn’t a set time in the evening because it depends on how much time I spend in the day doing personal things—but it is a firm stop. Once I have completed what I need to I shut my laptop for the day and enjoy personal things like socializing, walking my dog, or cooking some dinner with my family. When I am traveling and working, it is this same rhythm, but fitting in exploration in between.
Q: What do you hope the future of work looks like? (Please give an example of a challenge you see today, and what a solution might look like, or a specific thing you hope for in the future workplace)
I hope the future of the workplace is just a more diverse ecosystem, with more custom-fitted niches for people within it. One challenge in today’s workplace is the growing implementation of automation, which has many workers worried about displacement in certain roles. I think that automation can lead to strategies to reskill and upskill workers, ensuring a smooth transition to new roles and industries and helping people to find more purposeful work.
For organizations, I think that in order to ensure this transition is a smooth one, they must invest in lifelong learning programs, providing resources for individuals to acquire new skills that are in demand. Additionally, creating a supportive environment that promotes entrepreneurship, DEI, and innovation can empower individuals to create their own job opportunities. I think this should also be coupled with organizations commitment to a healthy culture that supports inclusivity and a healthy work-life balance.
Ultimately, I hope that the future of work is an environment that prioritizes human well-being, supports continuous learning and development, embraces technological advancements, and values diversity and inclusion—helping people to thrive professionally and personally.
Q: What advice would you give to someone starting out in your field or looking to grow to their utmost potential?
For someone looking to enter the world of communications, the biggest piece of advice I could give would be: Don’t be afraid to try things on. In this industry, diversity of experience isn’t a bad thing.
Although the general historical standard has been that moving around too much in your career looks bad to people hiring, and I think this is true to a degree, I don’t think it’s ever a bad thing to expand horizons in your field and try to learn new things. This will give you a wide and diverse experience, and will hopefully help you to be a person who is quick on their feet—which is vital in communications.
Communication can change on the day, depending who you’re speaking to, and why, and on which platform to which you are communicating through—and so this ability to think creatively and quickly is a skill that can carry you a long way. When you are a person in the wide ecosystem of communications, I believe that exposure to different perspectives and experience with a little bit of everything is an extremely valuable asset and will set you apart from other people in the field.
