In episode 155, Erik and Kerel talk with Karen Vega, Vice President, Audience Impact & Intelligence at Paramount Advertising, a branch of Paramount, a company that develops strategic and collaborative solutions that connect their partners to their diverse, passionate fan base. Karen was born in Colombia, migrated to the states at 13 years old and always had the dream of working in entertainment. Her mother, who was a writer, was in love with the industry and was really formative to Karen eventually working in it. She eventually went to LaSalle University and Seton Hall University to major in communications and minor in Hispanic studies. She has worked at major companies including iHeart, Billboard, FTI Consulting, Viacom, and Viacom CBS.
Karen shares about her experience as an immigrant, how she got started in communications and advertising, why she loves working with Paramount and has just passed her eight year work anniversary. She also talks about what is important to her as a working professional – networking, continuing education, mentoring, sharing the narrative of LatinX, work-life balance, and more.
“With a big company, you see so much change happen. It can be daunting for people. But I would say it has really fit me and benefited me and my personality because I like change. I see opportunity in change. And so when change happens I actually lean in. I observe, but I lean in. And I think that’s been really helpful to my career and my development as a professional within Paramount.”
Timestamps
:44: Karen Vega, Vice President of Audience Impact & Intelligence at Paramount Advertising, shares where she’s working from, where she grew up, when she immigrated to the United States and her meaningful trips home
3:11: Karen talks about her experience coming to America and memories that mean a lot to her around that time
6:24: How Karen got started in her career of communications and advertising, how her mom played a major role, going to college in Philly and eventually making it back to New York City
8:54: Why Karen loves working at Paramount and how it fits her personality
11:02: Karen’s take on career growth and development and how important networking and continuing education is for a working professional
13:17: Advice Karen would give her younger self in her career
15:26: Karen shares how she advocates for LatinX representation and opportunity in the advertising space and why it’s important to shift the narrative
20:27: Karen talks about a negative personal experience she’s had with people who lost empathy for others
23:53: How Karen likes mentoring and why it’s so important for her to mentor others
26:50: Karen shares about her experience with life-balance, the boundaries she sets, and how she works with a hybrid model
30:42: What is on Karen’s music playlist right now
32:24: Where to find and connect with Karen
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