Consequential Voices Speaker 1: Robert Gibbs

In my public relations senior capstone this spring, Professor Olson has included a speaker series, entitled “Consequential Voices”, to provide us with the opportunity to connect with and learn from communications professionals in a variety of industries. We started off the Consequential Voices series with Robert Gibbs, former executive vice president and global chief communications officer of McDonald’s from 2015 to 2019 and White House Press Secretary for the Obama administration from 2009 to 2011.

While I did not anticipate attending Zoom University for my second semester senior year, there have been some silver linings and unique opportunities as a result. For my public relations senior capstone, Professor Olson has created a speaker series, entitled “Consequential Voices” where we will have the opportunity to video conference call with a variety of different communications leaders across a variety of industries. On February 17th, we were visited by former White House Press Secretary and former Executive Vice President and Global Chief Communications Officer of McDonald’s Robert Gibbs. Having served in two high-level, stressful and important roles, Gibbs was able to provide our class with many thoughtful responses to questions, personal anecdotes and advice for beginning our personal careers.

Key Takeaways:

• There are no tasks too small or too mundane to partake in at the beginning of your career. Be willing and eager to try anything thrown your way.

• Do not let the fear of potentially failing hold you back.

• Take any and all opportunities you are given to build your skill set, as you never know when it may benefit you in the future.

• Think about what are your key considerations when accepting a role, and how these will play out.

• It is better to be uncomfortable and learning than bored and staying in place.

• Trust your gut.

• Be honest. Your word is an incredibly powerful thing in the communications world.

The conversation began by Professor Olson asking Mr. Gibbs to talk about his first real job and skills he learned from it that he still utilizes to this day.

Gibbs said his first high level role was between his sophomore and junior year of college, when he secured an internship on Capitol Hill working for a congressman who represented his district at home in Alabama. When applying for the role, he said he did not feel optimistic and figured it would go to someone with connections, but when got the job, he knew he would come ready to perform his best and soak up anything he could.

He gave a short anecdote about how before heading to Washington, D.C., he was given an outline of The Capitol to study, as one of his responsibilities as an intern was to give tours. On the first day while he was being introduced to his supervisors a couple walked in looking for a tour, and without hesitation, he offered to do so and “set out to give them the best tour of their lives.” He continued with that same drive and work ethic during the month he spent in at The Capitol, and knew by day three he would be coming back one day. He concluded by saying

“as an intern, there is nothing too small or too mundane, strive to have a willingness to want to be involved in everything.”

Another point Gibbs spoke on was advice for young professionals, and how to navigate a professional career. For advice, Gibbs offered “don’t be afraid to fail” and sometimes turning down what may appear to be the “easier and better job” will challenge you and help you grow in ways you never could predict. When entering the professional world, Gibbs urged us to think of new and innovative ways to build a broad skill set and always be thinking “How can I build my skill set for the jobs in the future?” He shared that when he interned at The Capitol, he would gather all the disregarded press releases and study them, figuring out the structure of a press release and how he would change them in his own words if given the chance. He concluded the topic by saying “Nowadays, you can either be a deep, deep specialist or gain a lot of skills across a lot of different things in a spectrum,” and urging for the latter.

Gibbs also spoke about multiple challenges he faced in his professional career. He explained that when working at McDonald’s, he would almost daily run into viral videos of incidents occurring in McDonald’s locations that had nothing to do with the company, yet dragged them in by association. Gibbs said that while it took him some time to get in the rhythm of working at McDonald’s, it did also force him to be more creative than his time at The White House, as he had to get the attention of reporters whereas at The White House he had a dedicated following.

Gibbs said his most challenging scenario in his career was the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill, as it tested his “pure crisis management response abilities and a government's ability to respond to a crisis”. He said that they would wake up every morning and blast out communications to the press of the specific actions they had taken the day before to mitigate the problem, but it was still hugely challenging to continue communicating other challenges of the government while the oil spill was being handled.

Gibbs wrapped up his talk by providing insight on his many considerations when accepting a role and what he believes to be the most important skills now during such an unprecedented time. Gibbs said he has three main considerations and ways in which he decides on a role.

1. What is the opportunity present. Do you completely understand what is expected of you?

2. Are you going to learn new and better skills in this role and will you come out more well rounded in the end?

3. And finally, trust your gut when making the final decision. Make sure you feel comfortable doing the responsibilities required, but also look for a place you can grow. Doing the same tasks over and over again will not challenge you, and it is better to be slightly uncomfortable and learning than bored and staying where you are.

Gibbs concluded by noting what he believes to be the most important skills in the industry now.

“Your word and honesty is what is going to take you a long way or drive you from this profession.”

He said that now more than ever, it is imperative to understand just how important it is to be honest and truthful, and how your actions affect more than just you. It is imperative to base everything in facts and let the truth guide the conversation.

While I wish we could’ve spent the whole morning with Mr. Gibbs, the opportunity to speak with such an accomplished, humble individual for the hour we had. I would like to thank Mr. Gibbs for his time and insights, and I look forward to hearing from many more "consequential voices" this semester!

"Opportunity knocks repeatedly, you just have to be willing to take it." -Robert Gibbs