#32Under32 Spotlight: Whitney McChane

Whitney McChane, Vice President, Director of Research at Carmichael Lynch Relate and 2013 #32under32 winner.

What’s the most career-defining thing that’s happened since you won?
I launched the Public Relations Research team at Carmichael Lynch Relate, which is a complement to the brand planning team on the advertising side of our agency. We monitor cultural trends, news consumption habits, consumer attitudes and more, and develop insights that support creative and strategic public relations campaigns. I have always enjoyed research and data – which is a bit unique in the PR world – so it’s fun to take that passion to the next level with a team and service that creates a competitive advantage for my colleagues and our agency.

What advice do you have for the upcoming class?
Don’t let the status quo hold you back. The fear of hearing “no” is usually worse than the “no” itself. Want to do something that hasn’t been done before, or that others have failed at? You absolutely should. Be bold and fearless. Don’t worry about failing. When you get knocked down, just get back up and forge a new path forward.

What’s your go-to move at a networking event?
Before I get to the event, I come up with 5-10 questions I could ask any human being. Not just professional or industry questions but things about news, weather, hobbies, etc. Then I grab a drink and try to find a friendly face who looks open to conversation.

What’s a habit that you picked up that helped your career?
One of the tools that improv actors commonly use is called “Yes, and…” It’s the idea that rather than disagreeing or saying “no,” you should accept what the other person has stated (say “yes”) and then expand on that line of thinking (which is where the “and…” comes in to play). It’s particularly helpful in the agency world when we’re all so busy and the work is part art and part science (which is a nice way of saying there are many conflicting opinions). Sometimes it would just be so much easier to say no or to disagree. But “yes, and…” is a far more productive, collaborative approach. It leads to better communication, brainstorming, teamwork, and more.

What’s the best conversation you’ve had at a networking event?
Toward the start of my career, I moved to Chicago for a job that didn’t work out. To make money, I was staffing special events like sampling, pop-ups and sporting events. The money was good but the work itself was very boring and we were never properly trained. At a networking event, I mentioned some of the special events I had been staffing, as well as some of the ideas I had for making it a better experience for both event staffers and guests. As it turned out, the person I was talking to was the CEO of an event marketing firm! This conversation led to my first “real” agency job and kicked off a number of years working in event marketing.

We hope you’ll join Whitney at the #32under32 Awards at the Varsity Theater on May 17, 2018.