Education/training
Rising through the ranksIf you had told Kelly Pinellis during her college days that she would be working as an account supervisor for one of the world's most recognized and reputable advertising agencies, she would have dismissed you and put her nose back in her books. SOFIA SHEIKH |
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 [ 2005-09-28 ] |
Internship lead to her success
She never imagined that her studies would take her this far in the advertising world so soon after graduating from Centennial College's Advertising program in 1997. The key to her success was an internship in her final semester at college.
An internship -- where the school finds you a work term with an employer in the field you're studying for -- is often cited as the No. 1 reason students enrol in community college.
"The full-semester internship is what sold me on the program," Pinellis says. "No other college was able to offer such hands-on training."
Pinellis was eager to find an internship that best suited her demanding goals and lofty dreams. DDB Canada welcomed Pinellis as an intern immediately. DDB Canada is a juggernaut in the advertising community, earning numerous industry awards such as the Cannes Lion Awards and the Cassies, the Canadian advertising equivalent of an Oscar.
A highly successful creative advertising house that emphasizes teamwork in its success strategy, DDB was looking for fresh graduates like Pinellis who were willing to work hard. Thanks to her successful training and in-class studies at Centennial, Pinellis was able to produce the creative results DDB Canada was searching for.
After a very successful internship with DDB Canada, Pinellis gained enough confidence to help her set even higher career goals. Unfortunately, DDB Canada was unable to hire Pinellis right after the internship. She ended up taking a job at a local bank temporarily until DDB Canada added her to their team just months later.
Pinellis was keen to return to DDB -- and just as eager to begin her newly married life and start the family she always dreamed of. Juggling work and home seemed quite stressful at times, but Pinellis' dedication and positive attitude saw her through it. A child, a home, a husband and career were always on Pinellis' plate, but she managed to balance them all.
Fresh on the scene at DDB Canada, Pinellis welcomed her new title as account coordinator. It wasn't long before she became junior account executive and then account executive. Before she knew it, Pinellis was named senior account executive -- a testimony to her dedication, creativity and hard work.
Responsible from start to finish for advertising campaigns that span all types of media, Pinellis has shown her co-workers and herself that she truly is capable of taking her position to a higher level. Her clients include Subaru Canada, Clorox and Johnson & Johnson.
"Centennial instilled a confidence in the classroom that later helped me channel this creativity into my work at DDB Canada," she says. "I highly recommend this program to anyone who is looking for a creative outlet in a fast-paced, highly demanding and highly rewarding environment."
For more information about Centennial's Advertising and Advertising Account Management programs, visit www.centennialcollege.ca.
Sofia Sheikh is a student in Centennial's Online Writing and Information Design program.
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