Weber Shandwick recognizes talent at IE School of Communication

Global public relations agency Weber Shandwick took part this Monday in the presentation of end of course projects by students of IE University’s Master in Corporate Communication. In the course of the event the Weber Shandwick Prize for the best project was awarded to Building Brand Awareness for the National Geographic Store Journey.

The students that made up the winning team were Bailasan Badwan (Jordan), Gregory Dost (US), Lea Labudovic (Serbia), Amal Ounir (Moroccos), María Clara Otegui (Uruguay), Teodora Salvan (Romania), Guillermina Wiegers (Argentina) and Duangkamol Saleerat (Thailand).

The President of Weber Shandwick España and Executive Vice President of the agency’s European operations, Rose de La Pascua, and the company’s Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications EMEA, Jim Donaldson, examined the different projects presented by 34 students from the program.

Rose de la Pascua explained that identifying talent is one of the key factors for the agency’s success, saying that “collaboration with IE School of Communication guarantees access to professionals with both talent and a top-tier education.”

The students were divided into four teams which prepared innovative communication projects aimed at major business organizations, namely Google, Grant Thornton, Vente Privée and National Geographic Store. The projects tackled key issues that included corporate reputation management, branding, internal marketing, and positioning. For each of the projects students were coordinated by the heads of communication of the participating firms.

“Today, one of the essential prerequisites for operating in a globalized world is knowing how to work in multicultural teams”, said Laura Illia, Academic Director of IE University’s Master in Corporate Communication. “Entrants in this competition organized by Weber Shandwick comprised students from twenty seven different countries, and the aim was to place a special focus on the role of teamwork as opposed to individual aptitudes.”

As part of the agreement undertaken by Weber Shandwick and IE School of Communication, the agency has invited Laura Illia, Director of the Master in Corporate Communication, to form part of the final phase of the European WS Future Leaders Academy (FLA), a dynamic training program aimed at the best Weber Shandwick talents in Europe, set to take place next fall in London. 

Building brand awareness for the National Geographic Store Journey

The overriding objective of the winning project undertaken by students from IE University’s Master in Corporate Communication is to strengthen the corporate reputation and brand of National Geographic shops among different segments and to draw up a shared communication plan for its flagship shops in Madrid and London. 

About Weber Shandwick

Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations firm with offices in 81 countries around the world. The firm has won numerous awards for innovative approaches and creative campaigns, and it has deep expertise in social media and digital marketing.  Major practice areas include consumer marketing, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate and crisis management. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit the website.

About IE School of Communication

IE School of Communication offers a vibrant and critical environment in which to develop optimum thought and action skills for an interactive world that revolves increasingly around communication. The School runs graduate and postgraduate programs in different areas of communication, including visual media communication, corporate communication, digital journalism, and political communication. 

The English-taught Master in Corporate Communication is designed to equip students with a strategic vision of corporate communication. The student body of the latest intake comprises 20 nationalities.