When I first entered the Culloton + Bauer Luce office, I was not an expert at reading the news. To be honest, I was not very good at reading the news. As a business student, I knew that keeping up with current affairs was important, but I was never quite sure where to start.

Given the task of daily client research and reporting, I was required to read and analyze countless different news and media sources. I held the responsibility of providing important information to the team, drawing from both reliable and relevant sources. Sooner than I expected, my skill in engaging the news started to rapidly improve. I was responsible for producing daily news clips, which consisted of short snippets of news articles on our clients at C+BL. I had to learn and adjust to utilizing advanced software and surf the web for reliable, relevant, and updated information by an 8:30am deadline.

Soon enough, this assignment gave me great exposure to efficiently navigating media channels. I started to confidently engage the daily news at my leisure, which I found extremely helpful in understanding real world applications of my studies of business and economics. I unlocked an ability to spark interesting conversations with my parents and mentors and understand their seasoned perspectives on current events as they apply to business, our city, and the world.

Crisis communication falls under a fascinating niche of professional work, as it requires utilizing carefully crafted strategies, consistently staying updated with media, navigating emotionally sensitive situations, and implementing top-notch problem-solving skills. Through knowledge of current media and productive solutions to issues of reputation management, the C+BL team makes clear that solving the most daunting problems is possible, and that they have the tools to do so.

I am certain that combining my exposure to helping aid corporate crises and engaging daily media channels will enhance my abilities as I move forward with my career.

In some way or another, one of the main objectives of business activity is solving problems and efficiently communicating solutions within the context of real time current events. The C+BL team demonstrates that objective in a well-formulated strategy that has given me top-notch exposure to professional skills in a real-world context. Being able to deal with adversity with a self-starting attitude and clear-headed mindset is a valuable asset that the C+BL team has beautifully demonstrated, and that I hope to emulate in my future professional endeavors.

This article was written by our summer intern Maggie Junkins. Maggie is a rising Junior at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Economics.