Susset Cabrera is a public relations professional and blogger behind Miami Beats and Sazon, which features local events, charities and more around the Miami area.
Founded by Susset in May 2010, Peacock Public Relations is a full-service public relations, marketing, events and social media company headquartered in South Florida. The company has established a diverse clientele including professionals and institutions from the retail, music, fashion and entertainment industries.
- Brea: You have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. What attracted you to Public Relations?
Susset: Right after graduating from the School of Business at the University of Miami, I ran into my advisor from The Miami Hurricane Student Newspaper (I had worked at the newspaper since freshman year in college). This professor asked me what my plans were “now that I had finally graduated” and I told him I wanted to pursue an MBA. But, he suggested I look into a masters degree in public relations since I was always very social throughout my college years. I personally didn’t know much about the field because they didn’t offer PR classes at the business school. However, once he explained the functions of PR to me, I felt like I had been a publicist without even knowing it. During my time at the newspaper, I pitched my friend’s band to the music editor and they ended up running a full page cover story on their new work. It was definitely one of those “aha” moments for me!
- B: PR students often hear that there is no need to pursue a master’s degree in PR. What made you want to attain your degree in that field?
S: Well, I had the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree and I wanted to focus on a specific industry rather than go for an MBA which is pretty general. Once I learned about PR and it resonated with my interests, I decided that I needed to learn as much about the field as possible. My graduate degree has definitely molded me into an expert in my field and I’m proud of the hard work I had to go through to finally obtain my second advanced degree.
- B: Did you experience any post grad hardships and how did you overcome them?
- Brea: Tell me about yourself
Alisha: I’m Alisha, 25 year old lifestyle blogger and small business owner currently living in North Carolina. When I’m not working you can find me getting my reality TV fix, stalking social media or playing with my pups.
- B: What do you like most about PR?
A: What I love most about PR is being able to see the growth of brands and knowing that I had some part in making that happen! As a small business owner I know how great it feels to see your product show up on one of your favorite sites. I also love that PR because it requires me to use my other passions as well like writing and using social media.
- B: As a fellow PR grad, what advice do you have for those who are graduating this spring?
A: I would definitely tell you to keep networking your butt off and building relationships even after you graduate. Also don’t get down if you haven’t landed your dream position yet, try things like doing some freelance work and/or blogging to stay in the PR loop.
- B: If you could go back to undergrad, what would you do differently?
- Brea: Tell me about yourself
Elise: I’m a soon to be graduate from Wayne State University in Detroit with a degree in English. I’m a fashion and beauty obsessee but I definitely was not always that way. I grew up a science geek (and somewhere in my heart I still am one) and one day picked up an issue of Teen Vogue and it changed my life. The fashion industry inspires me every day, and it spans beyond clothing. I love the designers, the seasonal strategy and the concepts of merchandizing.
Oh! And I’m a caffeine addict. My preferred modes are slurpees and iced lattes, extra shot.
- B: Congrats on your upcoming graduation! What advice would you give to students just beginning their undergrad journey in PR?
E: Thank you! I am so excited (also a bit scared!). Most people would say networking, which is so true—it’s never too early to start. But, I think that students just starting in any field, but particularly in PR, need to sit down for a couple hours and think about their decision and ask themselves a few reflective questions.
1) Is PR something that you want to challenge yourself with every day?
2) Why PR? Because it’s glamorous (because take it from me, it is not glamorous every day)?
3) Are you going into this field for the right reasons?
Making a pros and cons list and taking time to reflect on your decisions will help you grow, and hopefully motivate you to take the next steps in school, such as joining PRSSA.
- B: What area of PR are you interested in and why?
E: I’m most interested in fashion/beauty PR. There’s something so intriguing about an industry that is as quickly paced and competitive as fashion. It definitely helps that I have a complete obsession with the goings-on of the fashion and beauty industries. It’s a faction of PR that is both beautiful and calculated, tactical and glamorous at times. Most importantly, it’s the area that exhilarates me and pushes me to wake up each morning ready to work.
- B: What is your dream job?
