Ariana Donaville, BS '17, MS '20 (public relations)

Job Title: Senior Account Manager at Rebellious PR & Consulting

Part of the Daily Emerald "Ducks Take Flight" feature
Written by Lizzy Lee, UO student reporter

Ariana Donaville obtained her bachelor's degree in Public Relations in 2017 and a master’s in Strategic Communication in 2020 at the University of Oregon. She is now the Senior Account Manager at Rebellious PR & Consulting. Ariana is also a board member of the UO Black Alumni Network and owner of Whiskin’ Things, her online bakery.
 

What drew you to studying public relations?
 

PR is something that I found my way to at the UO. I was initially a business major, and I really wanted to do marketing. But when I found out about PR, I found it was directly aligned with what I wanted to do, mostly because I still get to be a journalist in some way. I took my first class, and I was so inspired that I thought, “This is it. This is where I'm supposed to be.” I actually changed my major, and I pursued PR. I'm so happy I did because not a single day is the same for me, which keeps me interested in the work I’m doing. 

What do you like about working in a diverse, intercultural environment like Rebellious?
My PR agency, Rebellious PR & Consulting, is doing amazing work. We solely focus on servicing minority entrepreneurs, wellness experts, and founders. It's been cool to work with entrepreneurs who are genuinely passionate about the organizations and the businesses they've started. I work with clients who come from many different backgrounds and work across various industries. I'm fortunate to have that experience, while also loving my job and building genuine connections with my co-workers. It is also fulfilling to work with people that look like me within the agency, while also working with founders that look like me. That is truly a chef's kiss, so shout out to Rebellious.

What are your tips for effective networking? And how can you advise students to build a professional network early on?
The best advice I've received when it comes to networking is: the worst they could tell you is no. I really take that into my own networking, whether I reach out on LinkedIn, connect with someone in-person, or cold pitch to secure informational interviews. Networking is how I secured each position since graduating from the University of Oregon, so it's all about being open. Students should utilize the faculty and the staff to get connected with the right people in the right places. 

If you aspire to be a master networker by senior year then start freshman year. Start by conversing with people and attending networking events on campus. People and professionals are not as scary as they may seem. They are humans too.

How can public relation graduates be most competitive and effective in their first job after graduation?
Getting into the habit of reading the news every day will help you shine as an entry-level team member for any communications position post-graduation. By reading the news daily, you’ll get familiar with the types of journalists who write about different topics across various industries. I ended up at a PR agency with a focus on consumer tech post-college. Leading up to my internship, I read the news daily to get acquainted with the reporters and publications I knew we'd be targeting to secure coverage for our clients. 

Many different industries need communications professionals, so if you want to do health care PR, look at those PR agencies that focus on health care. Do your research to identify which agency is doing the type of work you want to do. Make sure that you're consistently reading news in that industry because as soon as you go into that interview, you need to show them that you're on it. 

What are some responsibilities that companies should have towards working to obtain a diverse and intercultural environment?
It's all about having the support needed to retain that diverse talent. I continuously see organizations actively recruit individuals from different religious backgrounds, or people with disabilities, or of talent, or color. They can always secure diverse talent, but they struggle to retain us. Studies have shown that there is a lot of movement of talent with different identities because we find ourselves at an organization, but there is no support at the company for us to grow. Ensuring funds are spent towards supporting talent from diverse backgrounds is necessary. 

I've also watched a lot of companies throw money at different causes because it looks good, but most companies fail to realize that educating employees and engaging them in conversations about various social issues is an important part of that work, too.

How is balancing your own business, Whisking Things, while also working in PR?
Whisking Things is an online bakery for a reason. Running an online bakery allows me to bake when needed without worrying about crazy operating costs. Baking is an act of self-care for me, so I wanted the freedom to take on what I want, when I want. 

When times are stressful, pulling together Whiskin' Things orders helps me remove myself mentally from PR and ground myself. I currently run my business out of the Pacific Northwest, between Portland and Seattle, but my close friend and business partner bakes and delivers orders in Sacramento and the Bay Area. You can check out our work on Instagram at @whiskingthings.