This summer, we’re excited to welcome two new interns to the Hencove team. Emily Snisarenko joins the ‘Cove as a rising junior at Boston University, studying public relations. In addition to her studies, Emily serves as the art director for The Buzz, BU’s largest student-run lifestyle publication.

We chatted with Emily about what sparked her interest in marketing, how she’s navigating student life during a pandemic and what she hopes to learn this summer.

Hencove: Tell us a little about yourself!

Emily: I am originally from Oakville, Ontario, a suburb just outside of Toronto, and later moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where I lived for 10 years. I currently attend Boston University where I am majoring in public relations with a concentration in sociology and am set to graduate in 2022.

Hencove: What drew you to marketing and communications?

Emily: I was initially drawn to marketing and communications because I thought that it was well-suited to my interests and strengths. I really enjoy writing and the fact that communications takes a certain level of creativity. Being able to produce engaging, unique and effective writing is such an important, versatile skill. It feels almost like a challenge every time a project comes my way.

Hencove: It’s certainly been an unpredictable year to be a university student. How has your life as a student changed since the pandemic began and what has been the greatest adjustment? 

During the spring semester, the transition off campus was pretty smooth for me. I am in Boston full-time now, my family is close by, and even during the school year I live off campus, so I was able to stay in my same physical space. The majority of my professors were able to adapt to Zoom well, and they took student feedback seriously to make sure we felt comfortable. I’m very lucky to have not been catastrophically affected by the sudden change, and I’m even luckier that so many people in my life made sure that I was still able to succeed.

Hencove: What was it like searching for internships? Were there any differences from past years?

Emily: Searching for internships was especially challenging this year. Because of the uncertainty that coronavirus threw all of us into, a lot of companies and industries implemented hiring freezes and canceled internship programs. I was looking at opportunities that were canceled and the response rate to inquiries seemed especially low. While I have always scanned the industry to see what opportunities are available, this was the first year that it felt like a necessity for me to continue to work and gain experience to progress professionally despite the current employment climate.

Hencove: What are you most looking forward to in this internship?

Emily: I’m really looking forward to actually working with clients. A lot of what happens in school is customizable and fixed—we can pick project topics and we know what to expect and when to expect it from the moment the assignment is given to us. Working with clients is an opportunity to help me apply that knowledge in a realistic, fast-paced and ever-changing environment. Similarly, it’s one thing to be able to produce good work that I have full control over, but it’s a complete other crucial skill to be able to apply notes and client feedback to what I do and merge personal creativity with client guidelines.

Hencove: Marketing is constantly evolving. What’s one marketing tactic or strategy that all brands should be thinking about? 

Emily: I think graphic and layout design are incredible ways to enhance a piece of writing, press release, or social post. There’s so much potential for design to emphasize a message and impress, so everyone should put energy into design as a key partner to writing. While I don’t always notice if a design component is lacking, I do always notice if a design component is outstanding.

Hencove: Okay, time for a few fun questions!

Favorite hobbies outside of work?

I love being outdoors! I really enjoy running, biking, swimming, going to the beach, hiking, or even just having a picnic outside. When the weather is nice I like to be out and about as much as possible.

What’s a good book you’ve read recently?

I recently read Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens which I loved, but I would say my favorite author in general is Sally Rooney, who has two great books called Normal People and Conversations with Friends.

Where is one place you’d like to visit?

There are so many places that I’d like to visit, it’s hard to pick just one. I would say Indonesia is top of my list right now.

What’s your favorite food? 

I love Thai food, it’s always my go to if I’m ordering takeout.

What is one thing on your bucket list? 

Since I love travelling so much and have so many places that I want to visit, one thing on my bucket list is definitely to go to all of the continents and swim in all of the world’s oceans. I love being in and around water and was a competitive swimmer for 10 years, so diving into every ocean sounds incredible. I’ll tack on other major bodies of water while I’m at it too—the Mediterranean counts in my book!

Welcome to the team, Emily!