ADVERTISING – This spotlight series features T. Howard Foundation (THF) alumni working in advertising.
Pearly Hidron (THF ‘14)(THF ‘15)
Please describe your role.
As a Digital Marketing Specialist at Accenture Interactive, I provide strategic analytics-driven digital strategy consulting to clients to help them create the most innovative customer experience and improve digital marketing or ecommerce effectiveness.
What do you enjoy most about your company?
I enjoy creating and working collaboratively on meaningful, impactful and consumer centric projects for my client(s).
In what way did this type of work interest you and how did you get started?
I have always been interested in understanding and translating people’s needs through communication. In college, this led me to discover the T. Howard Foundation which gave me the experience of interning as a Market Intelligence Intern at NBCUniversal. It was an incredible experience and really jump started my career. I still keep in touch with my former supervisor who serves as a mentor to me. I’m grateful for T. Howard for allowing me, as a diverse college student, a peek into the media and entertainment industry. It allowed me to develop my digital marketing skill set. Digital Marketing consulting allows me to do this with significant scale and impact by solving marketing problems.
How has your affiliation with the T. Howard Foundation influenced your career?
My affiliation with the T. Howard Foundation has provided me with a greater network of like minded individuals. It’s so great to see how large and connected we are. I recently discovered one of my coworkers is also a T. Howard alum!
What personal attributes have been essential to your career success?
Curiosity and integrity have been essential to my career success. Curiosity presents itself by giving deep thought, asking the right questions, and attention on projects I’m working on. Also if you’re presented with an unknown, having the courage to gather the information to problem solve. Especially early on in your career, it’s very important to be integral with yourself and follow through with the work you’re doing. When you’re consistent with this, it will help build confidence and reputation.
If you were entering this career today, how would you prepare to facilitate entry?
My greatest advice to people who are interested in entering this career is to do a ton of research online or reaching out to people with the experience. I would also look at job descriptions and see what type of skills or experience they’re looking for. Then I would find ways to build experience in gaining those skill sets. It does not necessarily have to be through a formal internship, you can always be creative and work on personal projects that allow you to develop the skill set. I think this increases your odds to enter the career you want.
Do you perform your work in a cubicle, office or open workspace? Please describe what’s on your desk at this moment.
Currently during this pandemic, I am working from home. I’m very grateful my employer allows this. But pre-pandemic, there was an open workspace at the Accenture Interactive office in NYC. When it was safe to do so, I also had the opportunity to travel for client work. As to what’s on my desk at this moment, other than my laptop I work from are: a bottle of water to hydrate throughout the day, notepad with pen, and a tropical painting of the sunset.
Use one word to describe how you practice self-care.
Meditation. I started meditating a few years ago and have felt the incredible benefits of practicing mindful meditation everyday. One of my morning routines is listening to any free guided meditations on the internet for at least 10 minutes. It really helps to practice gratitude & gives me peace of mind. There’s also so much science and research that supports the positive effects of meditation. It also inspired me to self-publish a children’s book called “Sol & Luna: A Story of Two Friends, Gratitude, Love for Yourself and Love for Others”, which you can find on Amazon.
Are you an early bird or a night owl? How does this show up in your working habits?
I am an early bird and I prioritize most of my important and urgent tasks in the morning. I work until necessary, but working with natural sunlight really makes me feel more invigorated. I also feel deep satisfaction when I can get my most important tasks completed before noon.