This spotlight series features career advice from IPR ELEVATE Members. IPR ELEVATE is a diverse and select membership community of high-performing innovators and catalysts for growth, change, and advancement who support the mission and insights-focused work of IPR.
Janine Savarese brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic public relations and marketing. With a focus on storytelling, Janine has developed communications strategies for major companies, brands, and thought leaders across industries, including technology, healthcare, financial services, professional services, and education. She consistently delivers measurable results for her clients due to the deep relationships she has built with top-tier media and industry influencers over the years.
Prior to founding her own consultancy – which was later launched as NextTech Communications as part of The Bliss Group – Janine served as the Executive Managing Director of Public Affairs for New York University’s Stern School of Business. At Stern, she spearheaded public relations campaigns for the school’s dean, faculty, and centers covering the economy, entrepreneurship, finance, fintech, leadership, marketing, management, workplace diversity, and sustainable business.
Janine’s current client portfolio spans across numerous industries including digital identity and cybersecurity, financial services and fintech, healthtech, legaltech, edtech, workplace and HRtech, and more. She has led campaigns for notable organizations including Bank of America, S&P Global, Nasdaq, Ameriprise, Tupperware, Hikma, Sprint, and edX to name a few.
Janine is a member of the Institute for Public Relations (IPR) ELEVATE, a cohort of communications professionals that focus on research-backed initiatives in strategic communications and serves on IPR’s Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. She is also an active leader in the Next Practices Group (NPG) companies, including NPG Health and NPG Purpose.
Janine is a graduate of Fordham University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Studies and Communications.
1) What are your top 5 tips for achieving success?
- Set short-term and long-term goals. Be realistic about how and when you might attain them. Make sure to be honest with yourself along the way, as a few (or many) will change over time.
- Be committed and consistent, not only at work but also in your everyday life. Consistency requires long-term commitment and involves determination, effort, and most importantly grit.
- Do not give up and never take no for an answer. Try a different approach or find a new solution instead.
- Network and build meaningful, long-term relationships. Your network is the foundation of your career journey.
- Recognize no one is perfect and be transparent about your mistakes. You can be the smartest person in the room but if you are not authentic, collaborative, trustworthy, and dedicated, people will not want to work with you. Keep learning, have fun, and be open to change.
2) What inspired or led you to the public relations industry?
Honestly, I found the PR industry by accident while I was working for the internship office at Fordham University. My original plan was to become the next Katie Couric, so I would apply to internships like The Today Show and Good Morning America. However, one day at work I came across an internship description for a small, entertainment PR firm and decided to apply to that one as well.
After a day of interviews with all three, I chose the PR agency and never looked back. And, because the firm was so small, I was immersed completely in their team on the first day. I loved (and still do) the unpredictable, high-energy, demanding environment where there is always an opportunity to learn and be creative.
3) What advice do you have for someone new to the industry?
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s much better to do things right the first time with the proper guidance rather than doing something wrong multiple times because you weren’t sure and afraid to ask a question. Communication is key and your colleagues will admire your intellectual curiosity and willingness to seek help and support.
- Seek out a mentor. A successful and established mentor will provide you with honest guidance and long-term career support. Align with your advocates and as you grow, mentor and advocate for others.
- Be prepared to fail at some point. People make mistakes – it is natural and a part of life. But how you react to that failure will set you apart. Proactively acknowledge the situation, come up with a solution to address the mistake, and turn it into a learning experience.