Building a Career in PR: Katelyn Pohlman’s CCI Internship Diaries Story

Photo courtesy of Katelyn Pohlman. This is her during her graduation photos at Chapman University as she prepares to celebrate this exciting milestone.

We’re so excited to share that the 10th installment of the CCI Internship Diaries is here!! Honestly, we can’t believe we’ve made it this far, and it’s all thanks to our students who are always so open to sharing their stories, what they’ve learned, and where they hope to go next. With that being said, we’re so happy to introduce one of our amazing seniors, Katelyn Pohlman.

Katelyn is the kind of person who puts her whole heart into everything she does, and it shows. As her time at Chapman comes to a close, her journey feels like a full-circle moment (and trust us, we’ll get into that). A Sociology major double minoring in CCI and Community Educational Studies, her academic path reflects just how wide-ranging her interests are. Originally from the Bay Area, Katelyn has long been drawn to psychology and politics, especially in the context of creating meaningful, lasting change. That curiosity naturally led her to sociology, a field that doesn’t just ask what is happening in the world, but why. For Katelyn, understanding the deeper motivations, systems, and social structures behind people’s actions is what makes her work feel purposeful.

But that’s not all, Katelyn also has a creative, expressive side that comes through in her strong interest in fashion. And honestly, it fits. Even in spaces like politics or public affairs, creativity shows up in ways people don’t always notice, something Katelyn has seen firsthand through her current internship. That ability to connect creativity with impact is exactly what she explored through her CCI minor. She shared that joining CCI felt like the perfect intersection of her interests, giving her the space to understand how creative industries drive social change and shape the world around us, which is exactly what she was looking for.

Now, getting into her internship, Katelyn is interning at Venture Strategic, a full-service communications agency in Irvine that works across public relations, public affairs, community outreach, and strategic marketing. From shaping opinions to influencing decisions, their work aligns perfectly with the kind of impact Katelyn is passionate about. Her experience is also a really good reminder of how important it is to actually put yourself out there and use Chapman’s network, we’ll talk more about that in a bit. But for now, let’s get into the interview.

Photo courtesy of Katelyn Pohlman. This is her during her study abroad experience in Florence, where she spent the fall semester of her junior year!

First things first, where are you interning and what do you do?

KP: I intern at Venture Strategic, a full-service agency in Irvine, where I work as a Communications, Marketing, and Strategy Intern. I usually describe my role as a blend of public relations and strategic communications, since the agency’s work spans multiple areas within the communications industry. I discovered the opportunity through informational interviews that stemmed from my first internship, which eventually led me to connect with CEO Jeffrey D. Corless, who’s a Chapman alum. It honestly felt like a full-circle moment and really speaks to how strong the Chapman alumni network is. I started informally in October and officially joined in January. Since it’s a small team, about five or six people, it’s a very close-knit, supportive environment that feels almost like a family.

Wow! That’s incredible, what’s a project you’re really proud of?

KP: Honestly, I’ve always been interested in both creativity and marketing, but also public affairs and politics, and this internship showed me that there’s actually a space where I can bring all of that together. In my role, I work on things like preparing meeting briefings, tracking political developments, attending local events, and supporting communications strategy. It’s very hands-on and changes day to day, which I really like. One project I’m especially proud of was creating a pitch deck from scratch for a startup red light therapy product. It’s since been presented to investors and organizations, which was really exciting to see. It was my first major project with a lot of autonomy, so at first it felt a bit intimidating, but it ended up being one of the most rewarding learning experiences I’ve had.

In what ways have you seen what you’ve learned in your CCI classes show up in your internship?

KP: In many ways! My content creation class, CCI 203 Contemporary Issues in Creative and Cultural Industries, was extremely helpful, especially when it comes to understanding analytics and how audiences actually engage with content. That’s something I use way more in my internship than I expected. But beyond just one class, CCI as a whole really taught me how connected different industries are, which is basically what PR is all about. You’re constantly moving between different spaces and learning how to adapt depending on the client. And every client really is different, especially in how you shape and manage their public image, so a lot of the work is about staying flexible while still being strategic. One of the biggest things I’ve taken away is just how intentional communication is. There’s so much thought behind what people see on social media or in the news, and CCI has made me way more aware of how information is shaped, framed, and ultimately consumed.

What advice would you give students considering the CCI minor?

KP: Honestly, just go for it. Even if you’re not totally sure yet, that’s kind of the point. The classes range from broad to really niche, so you get the chance to explore different interests and figure out what actually sticks. And I’d also say: talk to people. Networking isn’t just about making connections, it’s really about having genuine conversations. That’s what opens doors. CCI makes it really easy to start building those relationships, and that’s where a lot of opportunities come from.

Photo courtesy of Katelyn Pohlman. This is her in the desert, showing off her signature sense of style!

You might be wondering, so what’s next, and what does an internship like this actually turn into? Well, here’s your answer: Katelyn will be continuing her journey with Venture Strategic as an Associate in Public Relations and Assistant to the CEO, starting June 1. Yes… straight from intern to a full-time professional, how awesome is that? For Katelyn, this is an exciting next step, but definitely not the end of the story. While she’s stepping into the world of PR and strategic communications, her love for fashion and creativity is still very much part of her journey. We can’t wait to see where she ends up next, but for now, she’s got an incredible starting point and a very well-earned win to celebrate. A huge thank you to Katelyn for sharing her time, insights, and wisdom with us. If you have a story to share, don’t hesitate to reach out through instagram or contact social media coordinator erosas@chapman.edu