Come Alive

Why advertising?

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.