We were lucky to catch up with AJ Pulvirenti recently and have shared our conversation below.
AJ, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)?
Embarking on a series of diverse internships, I navigated through the realms of fashion PR, e-commerce, influencer management, and digital strategy during my college years. Each internship, though varied, contributed significantly to sculpting my career path. The journey wasn’t a straight line, but with each step, I gained technical expertise and valuable insights into human dynamics.
A standout lesson from this journey was the art of self-advocacy. As an intern, I realized my worth within the team was on par with my full-time colleagues. Understanding that my role extended beyond menial tasks, I embraced the responsibility of representing the younger demographic that our clients sought to connect with. One vivid example of this was during my time at an agency working with a renowned Fortune 500 QSR client.
Instead of fading into the background, I seized the opportunity to highlight my digital proficiency. I pitched social content ideas that not only mirrored my Gen Z perspective but also encapsulated the essence of my Gen Z colleagues. It was a bold move, but the impact was profound. Some ideas made it to the brand’s Instagram, and the ones that did emerged as top performers. This experience underscored the importance of overcoming the initial fear of speaking up as an intern, emphasizing that your unique perspective can be a catalyst for team success.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Sure thing! I’m AJ, a digitally native, queer Senior Strategist at Movers+Shakers who has had the fortune of skyrocketing my client’s cultural relevance across social. From Amazon to Netflix to Hasbro, my strategies have garnered over 16 billion total views and have been featured in the likes of AdAge and Forbes.
Beyond the numbers, I dedicate my professional career to not only studying the consumers of tomorrow, but immersing myself deep within Gen Z and Gen Alpha culture to decode what they love, what they hate, what makes them tick, and what makes them feel inspired to engage with their favorite brands and creators. Because when you know your audience like the back of your hand, that’s when you’re able to connect with them on an emotional and impactful level. I bring this ethos into each project I work on at Movers+Shakers, and have recently been named one of AdAge’s 23 Gen Zers to know in advertising and marketing..
My journey began at the University of Southern California, where I was initially averse to the traditional marketing industry. I didn’t find it inspiring. However, despite my preconceived notions, I joined the university’s first and only student-run marketing agency, Trojan Marketing Group. Starting as a creative strategist, I found the joy in pushing brand messaging outside its boundaries and making brands “cool.” A subjective yet heavy term, I held this mission of driving cultural relevance for brands very closely, granting myself the opportunity to become the Director of Creative Strategy just a few short years later. That mission of mine has yet to leave my side.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Every time I need a new dose of inspiration, I revisit “Handbook for Hacks” by Andrew Fatato and Dave Haller.
The book starts with a simple proclamation: “Don’t let anyone tell you how to think.” And it carries that message throughout the next 158 pages. A relatively short read (yes, there are pictures), “Handbook for Hacks” totally shifted my perspective on the purpose of advertising and positioned it as one that fuels your creativity not only during your 9-5, but during your 5-9. It shares the questions we need to ask ourselves to connect best with our audience, reminds us that our unique POVs are why we are in the jobs we are in, and is fraught with hacks on how you can continue to shift your perspective to make each day at work more invigorating than the last.
I constantly use these hacks in my day-to-day work, and the outcomes are tangible and impactful. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to sharpen their strategic and creative skillset.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
It’s easy to get in your head as a creative, asking yourself “what’s the point of all of this?” This is especially true in advertising and marketing.
However, when you put the business jargon and timesheets away and start to focus on the emotional benefit you’re granting your audience, that’s when it all feels worth it. The comments of people genuinely resonating with what you created. The Reddit threads full of people mentioning your work in a positive light. The smiles that wouldn’t have existed if your creative wasn’t out in the world.
Vanity metrics are great, but the real magic happens when you hear first-hand anecdotes from your audience joyfully receiving your creations.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpulvirenti
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajpulvirenti/
Image Credits
Brandon Barnhart (@branbarnhart)