UC grad finds successful role at Procter & Gamble

When Monica Salatin finished her undergraduate program in media studies at CUNY Hunter, Macaulay Honors College, she knew she wanted to deepen her education in communications. So, when she received a full scholarship to study at UC’s Master of Communications program, she took the opportunity. 

While at UC, Salatin took advantage of the experiences the college had to offer, including conducting research, and a position with the marketing and communications office for the College of Arts and Sciences. These opportunities provided her with the hands-on experience she wanted, setting her up for her career. 

Her efforts did not go unnoticed, including by professor of communications Eric Jenkins. Jenkins and Salatin co-authored a paper together during her time as a student. 

I learned early on that communication is a field that is constantly changing. The platforms we communicate on and the way in which we communicate with each other are always advancing and it keeps you on your toes. There is always something new to learn and every day at work is completely different. It keeps things exciting! 

 My favorite thing about this field is that you can easily see your end result, even if you’re working behind the scenes. There is nothing more validating than seeing your article published or an idea you had come to life in a new and exciting way for everyone to see.

For the past few years, I’ve been in the field of executive communications, helping industry leaders find and share their voice and ideas with audiences inside their organization and with those externally as well. There is no better feeling than working through a speech or presentation with an executive and seeing an audience relate to or engage with it.

It’s an immediate sense of accomplishment that you are helping someone share their voice and helping others learn from them at the same time.

I think one of the unique experiences I’ve had in the master’s program that I wouldn’t have had anywhere else, was the exposure to research. In the two years I was at UC I had such knowledgeable professors and learned about communication from a completely different perspective.  

By learning qualitative and quantitative research, I was able to bring these skills to industry roles and really dive deeper as I evaluated data and consumer/employee sentiment. I would then use these qualitative and quantitative findings to build out impactful communication plans backed by research.

I even had the opportunity to conduct my own research with Dr. Jenkins. We presented together at a National Communication Association conference and were published in the Southern Communication Journal.

I am currently working in the company and role I have always dreamed of. Prior to attending UC, I had an internship at a NYC public relations agency working on brand communication and influencer relations for P&G brands. I loved the work I did for the company and left the internship knowing that I wanted to work for P&G one day. I knew that by pursuing my master’s degree at UC, I’d be one-step closer to achieving that goal. 

 In 2024, P&G posted my current role, and I’ve been able to live out my full-circle moment. I am currently leading internal and external communication for one of P&G’s global organizations and its leader. I couldn't be happier!

By the time I graduated with my master's, I knew that I wanted to do corporate communication for a large organization. I was so fortunate that Cincinnati is home to many well-known companies, and I began my career at Kroger.  

In my roles at Kroger, I learned and grew so much both personally and professionally. I was given hands-on experience and made valuable life-long connections I couldn’t have made anywhere else. While I was doing a wide variety of communication there, my passions were building things from the ground up and supporting our executives with communication whenever I was given the chance. 

 I was able to take those learnings and find a role at P&G that truly aligned with my passions on an even larger global scale.

What I cannot recommend enough to any college student is to do internships! I took advantage of my time in school to try every possible industry and communication internship role I could. While I was paying attention to what I enjoyed doing, I was paying even more attention to what I didn’t enjoy doing. This helped me determine what I wanted to do in my career. 

Also, take complete ownership of your future. Take advantage of your time in school to intern at companies you’re interested in working for, build relationships, learn what you like and learn what you don’t like. This is your period of trial and error so don’t be afraid to take risks and try something new. You never know where you’ll end up but never give up until you find your dream role!

Featured image at top: UC alumna Monica Salatin (right) and colleague in front of a P&G sign. Photo/provided.