In the Harvard Hotseat: Gabi Raison, PR account manager

The Harvard Hotseat got lost in an office move earlier this year, but we uncovered it from underneath a pile of review products, dusted it off and asked Gabi Raison to take her turn…

Tell us about your role.

I’m an account manager on the consumer team, working on Sennheiser, Lycamobile, Universe2go, Archos and Zappar. My role can be really varied; for example, I recently launched the British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A ballerina or magician.

What was your first job?

I worked as a nanny for a summer. One day the youngest girl was in floods of tears because she wasn’t able to finish her business on the toilet and thought she’d have to sit on the loo until she had. Needless to say, she managed!

What gets you up in the morning now?

A strong cup of coffee.

What does the next three years hold for the PR industry?

As the way that people consume media changes, with more people consulting blogs, vlogs and social media for their updates, we need to make sure we remain agile and relevant. Our role is storytelling and that has not changed: the shift will come in the channels that this is done through.

What’s your most embarrassing career experience? (You may change names to protect the innocent.)

I did an internship when I first started out, where to celebrate the launch of new Japanese rice crackers we took three “sexy sumo wrestlers” on a media house tour, giving out samples of the crackers. Not necessarily embarrassing for me, but it was November so I can only imagine how our hunks who were dressed in what was essentially a loin cloth were feeling!

What’s the best thing about working for Harvard?

The people – everyone is so friendly. I’ve only been here for three months but already feel very much at home.

What’s the best book you’ve ever read?

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov or The Outsider by Albert Camus.

What’s the worst film you’ve ever watched?

I can’t remember what it was called but it was a few years ago at the London Film Festival, and was about this recluse who lived in Scotland. There was only one word uttered during the whole two hour film: “socks”.

What are you reading at the moment?

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

PR is all about boozy lunches, isn’t it? What’s your tipple?

Gin and tonic or a nice glass of red.

What’s your top venue for a client lunch?

Riding House Cafe.

Tell us about your first computer (or mobile phone).

Nokia 3310. Classic and unbreakable.

Kindle or actual book?

Definitely actual book.

Thanks Gabi! Click here to check out the previous occupants of the Harvard Hotseat.