Brittany Agro (GJ07)

“Life throws you curveballs, and plan B’s are always necessary,” says Brittany Agro (GJ07), who has successfully navigated many obstacles on her own career path. Now an assistant editor at Pharmaceutical Executive magazine, Agro explains that her upbeat and focused attitude was essential in guiding her to her dream job in the New York publishing industry.

Agro’s career plans were straightforward at first. After graduating from Medill, she started packing for London, where she had accepted an internship at People magazine. It would be an important step to securing a bigger magazine job, she figured. But just before Agro’s departure, her father was hospitalized with pneumonia. She canceled her plans immediately and took over as a director at her father’s medical occupational training school.

“I went from feeling like an editor to feeling like a senior-level executive overnight,” she says of the transition. Her career had changed suddenly, but Agro approached the position as a learning experience; once her father returned, Agro began planning how she would combine her newfound talents in business with her passion for journalism. Her next step, she thought, would be a PhD in mass communications.

Before enrolling in a program, however, Agro started to doubt whether it was really the path she wanted to follow. She was still drawn to the magazine industry, and she wasn’t ready to give up on her initial dream. Once again facing a crossroads, Agro took a moment to consider her most important goals. “I relied on my instincts that kept pushing me toward New York,” she explains about her decision to abandon the PhD plans and focus on publishing.

Despite the pressure of the career change and a competitive job market, Agro remained confident about her opportunities. “[Medill] provided me with the essential skills and mindset needed to navigate those twists and turns,” Agro explains. She adds that she was grateful for her Northwestern colleagues and classmates, who were “a source of inspiration and knowledge.”

Her perseverance in the job hunt paid off, and Agro at last found her current post at Pharmaceutical Executive. By focusing on her goals, drawing confidence from her experiences, and maintaining a strong network of contacts, Agro had landed on her feet once again.

Recognizing that many talented alumni and students are facing a tough job market today, Agro offers advice for those whose paths may have hit a few bumps: “Keep your goals in mind and stay positive. Challenges will arise; rise to meet them.”
 
Though Agro faced a few more roadblocks than she had expected on her career path, she says she is proof that with a little persistence, resourcefulness, and optimism, the challenges are certainly conquerable.


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Posted April 25, 2009.