Title: Senior Account Executive
Company: McDermott Ventures
Education: B.A. in Political Science & Communications – University of Oregon
Brooke has worked at McDermott Ventures, a boutique strategic communication, public affairs and public relations firm since her arrival in Boston more than four years ago. She is also a contributing writer for Colors Magazine.
Four years ago, amid reports of a “Brain Drain” that was sapping the business community’s most talented workers, the Greater Boston Chamber created the Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program to identify the leaders of tomorrow and engage them in the business and civic life of our community. Every week, Chamber President & CEO Paul Guzzi has a conversation with one of the more than 200 alumni of the BFL program to introduce the region’s next generation of business leaders to Metro readers.
What is the coolest part of your job?
Developing effective and thoughtful strategies that bring success to my clients.
What is the corporate culture like at McDermott?
McDermott Ventures is a boutique firm, made up of a few professionals, so there is a lot of face time with the boss, which is very beneficial to my professional growth. We all work together extremely well and have truly developed a streamlined, well-oiled machine.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Working [as an intern for Oregon Republican Gordon Smith] in the United States Senate. While the experience was not uniquely mine, being a part of the community on Capitol Hill was an experience I’ll never forget.
What is your favorite thing about working in Boston?
Boston is a world-class city with a small-town feel. I noticed immediately after moving here that everyone knows each other and there’s no six degrees of separation here. Most people want to really invest in making Boston great. It’s inspiring.
If you could have a dinner with one person, who would it be and why?
Al Franken. I’ve read everything he’s written. He’s intelligent, unafraid to take on the opposition and laugh-out-loud funny.
What piece of advice would you give a young college graduate starting out on his or her career?
Meet with as many people in as many industries as possible — even if you think you have no interest in the field. When you have all the information, then you can make informed decisions about your career.
To what do you attribute your success?
My mother is the biggest influence in my life. She instilled the values of hard work, leadership and the drive to keep asking myself the tough questions: “What do I want out of my life? How will I get there?” and “Never let anyone keep you from doing something by telling you, you can’t. Imagine the feeling when you show up having done it.”
If you could have any job in Boston, other than your own, what would it be and why?
A food critic. I have a Zagat guide for every city I’ve lived in always on hand. I make notes on my favorite restaurants or dishes in the margin. I even write stuff on napkins and in my BlackBerry. Food is just really important to me.
Who do you admire in the business world?
My boss, Pamela McDermott. She has numerous qualities I admire. She always makes sense of crisis or multi-faceted issues, calmly and thoughtfully. She’s a business leader who asks for input, takes charge but knows when to hand over the reins and is extremely busy, while managing to keep it all balanced.
