Excitement, anticipation, and (minor) panic

That just about sums up how I felt when I woke up that first Monday. It was my first “big-girl” job after graduating from college, and I couldn’t wait for the journey to begin. After 171 job applications, over 70 interviews, heartbreak, and (finally) the right job offer, I was about to walk into my new home at ThreeSixtyEight.

Would I fit in? Would I be able to keep up? Would I leave an impact?

All of these thoughts ran through my head as I drove to the office. I remembered that I had these same exact feelings on the car ride to college four years earlier. Virginia Tech became my new home, where I met incredible people, pursued dual degrees in Marketing and Management, and served my community each and every day. Going into my senior year, I promised myself that I wouldn’t settle on a job– I knew that I was meant to use my talents and passion to help others. I just had no idea how I was going to do that quite yet. Up until that last week of my senior year, I expected to have a job offer in hand when I walked across the stage at graduation. But obviously, that wasn’t the case. While opportunities came and went, I struggled to find clarity on how I would keep that promise to myself. When I stumbled across ThreeSixtyEight in a LinkedIn search, I had a gut feeling that this was it. 

From my first encounter with the team, an email that I spent hours designing with typically meticulous, signature Bri flare, I felt welcomed with open arms. Immediately, I connected with the people, the culture, and the drive of TSE. I had never had so many impactful conversations back-to-back, where everyone wanted to know one thing: how could they help me. Help me? I applied to help them, yet every single person wanted to know how they could add value to my day, and to my experience with them. And that’s when I knew that this was the agency I had been waiting for. I knew immediately that these people would have my back, personally and professionally, and would challenge me to grow incredibly through this next chapter of my life.

Fast forward to the end of my first month in Baton Rouge, and I couldn’t be happier with where I landed. Being the first person in my family to move away on their own accord and seek adventure, I didn’t want to set expectations for any of it because I knew that it was too late to turn back. I had already taken the leap of faith and here I was in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; all I could do now was hit the ground running. But any expectations I could’ve set would’ve been blown out of the water by what has actually taken place over these past few weeks. 

I walked in on my first day to a group of people excited to see me and a desk stocked with all my favorite snacks (if you know me at all, Goldfish and bourbon are definitely the way to my heart). I felt completely at home by the end of my first week, when the whole team went out to lunch together to celebrate our accomplishments and some birthdays (oh, and me!). I’ve participated in meetings with brands that want to change their industry, connected with individuals actively improving the community, and attended several events that truly excited me about the future of Baton Rouge and ThreeSixtyEight.

After one month at ThreeSixtyEight, I can say I am encouraged to seek out opportunity everyday. I feel trusted in the work I do and know that I will rarely be told “no” to pursuing my ideas. Whether it is sitting in on a meeting to learn from my team, starting a passion project on the side, or bringing a completely new idea to the table, I feel empowered knowing the team is invested in my growth as a person and making things around them better.

I see that it’s not just me–this is the infectious spirit they bring to every relationship. ThreeSixtyEight is my new home, and I am so excited to see what our future holds.

– Bri