Come Alive

What? #RPA #Interns #RPACulture

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As the Aurora Theater shooting unfolds the social media world reacted as well as some other brands/entities. The current running ‘trends’ on Twitter have a lot to do with the events and news that has unfolded throughout the day. 

Using some analytics, the hashtag ‘#theatreshooting’ peaked early morning as the news spread around as seen above. 

As shown above several words including Colorado, Victims, and respect were used as more than 5,000 tweets have included the hashtag in just the last hour alone. 

It amazes me how social media has been able to showcase just how people can reach out and show their thoughts, emotions, and feelings across the globe to such incidents. My own thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and family members of those who were involved. 

In some instances even brands have been apart of the conversation like Starbucks: 

Starbucks, timely posting has a bit of a mix of responses ranging from agreeing with company to asking them to do more. I personally think it was an appropriate status and stands well as a brand that cares and not just a faceless company. 

A horrible example of a brand’s posting is the NRA as shown here. As it seems that the posting was timed and planned out the timing simply couldn’t have been any worse. The tweet has since been removed (and it seems as if the Twitter handle itself has been deleted), but not before it was noticed and mentioned all across the social backchannel even becoming on of Twitter’s trending topics. For a brand to not ‘notice’ what was being published and what was being done so in a timely manner is a grave mistake. If there is one thing I’ve learned about interning and our brainstorm it’s that timing is everything. Thumbs down NRA. 

Working in the social media world, I was glad to see the support that the globe shows from such an event. How quickly the social world can spread news and thoughts makes it even more pressing that companies stay on top of timely events. 

As I’m chowing down on what I thought was a meat sandwich (turns out it was just eggplant - damn Californians), and talking to Genevieve (a fellow RPA intern) up walks over an older man and sits down at our table. He then introduces himself as Gerry Rubin. The ‘R’ in RPA. 

This is the meet the leaders luncheon that occurs every summer where the RPA interns meet and have lunch with the executives of the company. You know just your casual lunch. 

Gerry Rubin was genuinely interested in who we were, and where we came from. His kind face and words were highly moving. He discussed how he entered the business and how RPA formed, which I found highly interesting. One thing that stood out to me was that he valued the people the most. He goes around the office and greets people with a genuine Hello - not through e-mail, not through the phone, but face to face. What large company executive does that? Gerry Rubin. 

It was a testament to the executives and the overall culture that is RPA. 

RPA, as we learned has 47 interns this summer (a few have already been hired). This is the largest summer intern class that RPA has ever had, and is the largest ad agency intern program in L.A. 600 people applied with only 30 people making it to the final round. I feel completely honored and proud to be a part of this internship class. 

Sitting in a room full of so much advertising potential led to a room discussion of ‘Why advertising?’ When we were hired on we all filled out a quick little bio about ourselves and one of the questions was Why Advertising? I didn’t actually think those would be seen by people - much less the top executives of the company. Oh no, but they were. 

Larry Postaer pulled out one of his favorite answers: Why Advertising? “Because advertising is art with a job.” So true. 

Why did I choose advertising specifically? Well I had a huge change of heart after traveling abroad to Cambodia more than a year ago. I wanted to change the world’s view of media and do something positive with that. Then I found advertising. My goal is use advertising in a beneficial way that makes a positive impact on the society that I live in. Whether that is through non-profit work, or through that feel good moment you can have by seeing “Million Mile Joe” smile as he watches a parade made just for him - that’s what I want to be apart of.

Now, it just so happens that I also have a knack and passion for all that is social, so combining the two leads me to social media and the advertising world. 

For the executives advertising was their passion at an early start and from that they created what RPA is today. A place that is concerned with the people and a simple in person ‘hello’ because that’s what matters. That is the type of friendly, warm, and meaningful environment people want to work in. That is RPA. 

Is this the real life or is this just fantasy? 

It’s been officially two weeks since I’ve moved across state lines and I can’t help get the feeling out of my head that I’m only here temporary. I mean all of my stuff is here, I’m subleasing a place. For all intent and purpose I’ve moved to California. 

Then why can’t I seem to understand that I live here now!? 

I’ve enjoyed my California experience thus far. I’ve met some great people at work and have been working on some really cool stuff at my internship. I wake up and look around at my surroundings and still feel very lucky to be in the place that I am. 

It’s a bit surreal still to know that I’m in a spot where movies have been filmed. Just last night I ate at a dinner where the morning after scene was shot in the movie ‘Knocked Up’. 

As I was walking through the canals in Venice - yes they exist in CA as well, I kept thinking about home and how I had ended up in the awe inspiring place. I think it’s great to reflect sometimes. To have flashbacks and to appreciate the steps you take. 

So I guess as I’m pondering if this is reality or not - I’ve sort of started to settle into the swing of things and found my new life. The new journey that I’ve started has begun and it’s time to take full advantage of it.