The Basics
Name: Kristin Bass-Petersen
Degree: Master’s in Media & Communication Studies
Graduation Year: 2010
Hometown: Santiago, Chile
Current City: Tallahassee, FL
Job: VP Digital Media Services, The Pod Advertising
Meet Kristin
Who do you admire and why?
My husband for living so far from his family and culture, and somehow managing to put up with the insanity of living in America.
What Jeopardy category could you clear, no problem?
90s alternative rock
Favorite snack?
Earth Balance Cheddar Squares.
Best account to follow on social media?
Ha, me? @otterkhaos on IG. Naw, for real though, 9gag has to be the best one to follow. Also @doggosdoingthings. I’m a sucker for distraction and humor!
Best piece of advice you’ve received?
“stay out of direct sunlight”
The Career
Tell us about your job:
Working at a full-service advertising agency is very challenging, but equally rewarding. After having worked at an events-based videography company for nearly a decade, working for such a variety of clients who all have very different needs keeps me on my toes. One day I might be taking corporate headshots, another day I’m animating 2D characters. The energy of the team I work with is invigorating; everyone has a passion they’re pursuing and we all respect each other’s strengths and expertise.
What does your average day look like?
Checking and responding to emails and client social media pages for roughly an hour; then hop into whatever list of deliverables needs to be completed. There’s probably no “average” day since each day comes with a different deadline to be met. I guess the average day leans toward being somewhat chaotic– otherwise it wouldn’t be media production!
How did your education prepare you for your career?
It taught me patience, time management, respect for all members in a group project, and the value of taking time off.
How has working in your industry changed the way you look at the world?
I’m more critical (and cynical!) of advertising, I can say that for sure!
Who do you look to for inspiraton?
Everyone and everything around me really, but I find most inspiration when I step away from everything and go for a walk.
How do you handle work-life balance?
Loving what you do is critical; it makes the work part less of a negative force since generally you spend more time at work than you do at home. Despite loving my job, there are deadlines and clients to be managed, so it comes with stress no matter how prepared or skilled I am.
What advice would you give yourself in college?
Backup your work frequently.