Katherine Buck ’20

Katherine Buck '20 | Communication major and Politics minor

During her time studying communication and politics, Katherine Buck ’20 took full advantage of many academic and extracurricular opportunities that prepared her for her current job in the Boston media market. As a New Hampshire Institute of Politics (NHIOP) Kevin B. Harrington Student Ambassador, Buck had the opportunity to work as a CBS Student Runner during the 2020 presidential primary debates. After graduating, Buck worked as a digital client service coordinator at Hearst Television’s WCVB Channel 5 News and a community and talent relations coordinator at Very Local. Today she works as an associate manager of ecommerce for Inspire Brands, Inc. 

Tell us about your experience working as a digital client service coordinator.

I worked on a sales team alongside ten account executives who teamed with local (and sometimes national) clients on advertising. The account executives sold both television and digital advertising, but my role focused primarily on digital product such as display/video advertisements on the channel’s website or Over The Top streaming commercials, to name a few. I monitored clients’ campaign performance and maintained relationships with our clients by providing them with monthly updates whether it was by email or status calls. I also developed marketing materials and case studies that account executives used in the field and on meetings to prospect future clients and help them understand how the products could help their business goals. 

Did you participate in any notable extracurriculars at Saint Anselm? 

I was part of the Saint Elizabeth Seton Society from sophomore to senior year and during my senior year I was president. I was also in the National Society of Leadership and Success my junior and senior year. During my senior year I served as the secretary. I was also a New Hampshire Institute of Politics (NHIOP) Kevin B. Harrington Student Ambassador. 

How have you used your knowledge from Saint Anselm in your postgraduate roles?

Communication is such a broad major, but it helped me learn what I wanted to focus my career on. I knew I wanted to go into some type of social or digital media, and I could take classes, such as Media Writing, that would tailor my skills to that. In Media Writing, I learned about writing scripts, storyboards, public service announcements, and more. Studying communication also allowed me to take classes where I could refine my other skills, such as Public Speaking and Business and Professional Writing. Both of those classes were vital when communicating with account executives, management, and clients. The classes Saint Anselm requires, both for core requirements as well as for the Communication major, allowed me to explore a lot of different courses that made me a well-rounded student and provided me with skills that would go beyond the classroom. 

What services at the College would you recommend to undergraduate students?

I don’t think I would’ve been as prepared for the rigor that came with the postgraduate interview process without the CDC.They really helped me shape my resume and cover letter throughout my four years. I did a mock interview during my senior year that helped me understand some general questions that could be asked during an interview and learned what questions I could ask at the end of an interview to learn more about the company I was interviewing with. 

How was your experience as a CBS Student Runner during the 2020 presidential primary debates?

On primary day we were given different tasks and locations to report to, and I was assigned to CBS This Morning at Café la Reine in Manchester. The show’s co-host, Tony Dokoupil, was scheduled to report live from Café la Reine in the morning, and then later from a polling station in Manchester. I was asked to join a producer for the segment to be held at the polling station. When we arrived, the producer received a call that the polling station segment needed to change completely. Given limited time, the producer quickly helped create new shots for the segment and then walked his team and Dokoupil through the new segment. Being able to witness what happens behind the scenes of a live broadcast was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I will never forget.

How did working as a student runner influence your experience in the workplace?

During the debate we had to be overly prepared and quick on our feet for what we couldn't anticipate. I think this has helped a lot in my postgraduate roles, whether was helping one of the account executives or working with clients. It was best to be overly prepared when we presented clients their campaign results, but they sometimes had questions I didn’t plan for. Working as a student runner also helped me learn that it’s okay to say that you aren’t sure and need to follow up with the information/request they are asking for. It’s much better to deliver the correct information in a follow-up email than to give the wrong information and have to correct it after. 

Service was also a huge part of being a news runner during the debates. We could have been asked to go out and get specific supplies or a prop to be used on the set during the live show. A couple of other runners and I even spent a day trying to find a different table and set of chairs to be used during the live segment. I think this helped me realize that even though these details might seem small in the moment, they make up the bigger picture. It has helped me in my career as being support staff to a sales team. Someone might ask for something that seems small, but it could make a big difference in a client relationship. 

What advice would you give to current or future students who want to pursue a similar career? 

My advice is to use the resources Saint Anselm has to offer! Whether it’s going to a professor's office hours or utilizing the CDC, I think small things make a big difference. Everyone who works at the College really wants to help students succeed both in school and after they graduate.

I would also say to find a couple of extracurriculars that you are really passionate about and get involved as much as you can. My extracurriculars helped me put myself out there and develop more of my leadership skills. I would suggest doing as many internships as possible (which is easier said than done I know!) During my time at Saint Anselm, I did three internships that helped me not only gain experience but taught me what I would like or dislike about these career paths.