Leadership, Legacy, and Innovation: Highlights from the 2024 Plank Summit and Milestones in Mentoring Gala

On November 6th, I boarded a train bound for Chicago, eager to immerse myself in two impactful events hosted by the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations: the Emerging Leaders Summit and the Milestones in Mentoring Gala. Representing the National Millenial and Gen Z Community, I had the privilege of connecting with industry professionals and rising leaders. In this blog, I’ll share the highlights and lessons that left a lasting impression.

The Emerging Leaders’ Summit 

My day began by exploring the WNDR Museum’s immersive art experiences. The museum’s interactive digital exhibits, colorful optical illusions, and stunning attractions left me excited for the activities and professional development ahead.

As the summit began, I quickly learned about the Plank Center’s mission to “ensure future leaders possess the knowledge, skills, history, ethics, and empathy needed to foster strong relationships between institutions, organizations, and those they serve for mutual benefit.” To fulfill this mission, the Plank Center organized two activities for emerging leaders to practice trend research, social media skills, and teamwork. For the first activity, The Plank Center randomly divided attendees into groups of six to eight people. Groups were challenged to create a TikTok that communicated the Plank Center’s mission using a trending sound. This activity helped me practice connecting PR and communication to current-day trends — a skill often used by PR pros. 

The second challenge required both teamwork and dance skills… yes, you read that right. In larger groups, we learned hip-hop choreography from local Chicago dance instructors and even performed our dance to a panel of judges. 

The main portion of the summit focused on how the public relations and communications industry is navigating artificial intelligence (AI) and new technologies concerning culture. Through a series of keynote speakers and panels, I learned how AI can and should be used to streamline creativity, innovation, and problem-solving. However, it is up to future leaders in technology to navigate challenges regarding ethics, transparency, bias, and cultural competency with AI tools.

GrandPR’s own COO, Ana Zapata, participated as a panelist to share her perspectives and experiences with AI. As someone who works in the tech industry, she stressed the importance of championing transparency to protect data privacy. She also discussed GrandPR’s new AI policy and its role in ensuring ethical usage. When speaking about how this policy impacts students’ work, Ana says, “We don’t want to totally ban usage, but we do want to provide them with guardrails and ways to ensure ethical usage so they are prepared when asked to use AI in the real world.”

Milestones in Mentoring Gala

After the Plank Summit came to a close, my group and I walked to the Union League Club of Chicago to attend the Milestones in Mentoring Gala. After an hour of appetizers, drinks, and networking, the award ceremony began. 

It is impossible to understand the mission and impact of the gala without mentioning Betsy Plank, a legend in public relations. With a career span of over 60 years, Betsy was the first woman to serve as national president of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), as well as the first to receive several PRSA awards. Her commitment to mentorship, exemplified by her belief that “mentoring is really one of the strongest ways to spell success in public relations,” inspired the establishment of the Plank Center in 2005. 

Now, the annual Milestones in Mentoring Gala recognizes leaders who demonstrate commitment to accelerating the success of others through mentorship within the public relations industry. This year, six honorees were awarded for the critical role they’ve played in developing new leaders and advancing the profession. It was truly inspiring to see how many strong and selfless leaders exist in the public relations industry.

My journey to Chicago for the Emerging Leaders Summit and the Milestones in Mentoring Gala was nothing short of transformative. These events highlighted the vital role of leadership and ethics in shaping the future of the public relations and communications industry. Witnessing the incredible impact of mentorship made me reflect on the legacy I hope to leave behind. The connections I made, the insights I gained, and the experiences I shared will undoubtedly guide me as I navigate my future career path.


About Alexia

Alexia is a senior studying Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Digital Studies. This will be her second year as an Account Associate for GrandPR. Alexia was also elected GVPRSSA President for the 2024-2025 school year. While she spent her summer as a copy editing intern for OneStream, she currently works at Grand Valley's Office of Student Life to help get more students involved on campus. After graduation, Alexia hopes to work within the tech industry.

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