I am currently in my second semester with Inigo Communications, Chicago’s first and largest student run communications agency, which is operated through Loyola University Chicago. Inigo invites students of any major to gain real-life experience in the communication fields and apply their skills for clients in creating deliverables and content based on semester long contracts. I work as a Media & PR Executive, and I was previously a PR Coordinator within the old agency structure. Inigo’s client contracts are almost up, and I want to take a moment to reflect on my work with the amazing people within the agency thus far.
Unlike previous years, there was less shuffling of students between client teams, and I stuck with Qazi Law, an immigration law firm located in the Chicago suburbs. With my double major of PR and Political Science, there could not have been a more ideal client for me to work with this semester. Our team worked on optimizing Qazi Law’s online experience, including social media presence and a website audit. I got to utilize new skills I developed over my college career, including SEO suggestions, social media strategy, and competitor research. The deliverable process includes receiving comments from leadership which is another amazing opportunity to deepen my learning and understanding of working for a client and within an agency.
Every semester, the teams I worked with are new, and working with my partners on these deliverables proved to be a very educational experience, not only regarding professional work that is submitted, but also working with people that I may not normally work with. It is a given that you may not like everyone you ever work with, but learning how to continue is important. They come with conversations that lead to growth on both sides of the relationship and can strengthen general written and oral communication skills.
Part of what makes Inigo an amazing opportunity for any Loyola student is the ingrained networking and professional development opportunities the agency offers. This includes guest speakers and agency visits in Chicago. I attended visits to APCO and Edelman, where professionals got to teach us what they do in their day-to-day operations, and the many opportunities within the communication industry; crisis response communication, corporate communication, creative advertising production, whatever I can think of there is a place for me in an agency. With their career experience, we also got advice. The piece that was repeated, and is now seared into my mind, is to stay up to date and read. Read what thought leaders are saying, read what other brands are doing, read to see what is happening in the world. There is nothing wrong with being overeducated.
I have applied to be a part of Inigo for a third semester in the upcoming Spring 2027 semester, and I cannot wait to see how I continue to grow my professional skills.
