Mikaela Ashley, Kieran Malloy and Lauren Dismond
March 15, 2021
University of Missouri School of Journalism students Mikaela Ashley, Lauren Dismond and Kieran Malloy were selected to attend the Publicis Multicultural Talent Pipeline (MCTP), an event focused on helping skilled people from multicultural backgrounds get their foot in the media industry’s door.
While past events have been hosted in places such as Atlanta and New York City, this year’s event was held in a virtual setting due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mikaela Ashley
Ashley, a senior from Chicago, formed a connection with a Leo Burnett representative that has already led to a summer internship offer. She has accepted the position and will begin work shortly after she graduates in May.
“If you would have told me that I would be working for Leo Burnett when I was a freshman, I would have told you that you were crazy,” she said. “This feels like a dream come true, it’s still hard for me to believe.”
Kieran Malloy
Malloy, a junior from Columbia, Missouri, has different career goals than Ashley, but found the event to be equally beneficial.
“Publicis did a great job adjusting to the pandemic,” he said. “Things went smoothly and I was able to connect with some awesome people despite the physical distance between us.”
After graduation, Malloy is hoping to be an account executive. He’s confident the MCTP program will help him with his job search.
Lauren Dismond
Dismond, a senior from Kansas City, Missouri, enjoyed meeting new people with similar interests. “Everyone that I met was so nice,” she said. “It was inspiring to be around so many successful young people.”
After graduation, Dismond hopes to get her master’s degree in the United Kingdom.
“I feel so thankful that I got to experience this event with my friends,” she said. “It feels good to have a leg up.”
