-->
What is your name and where do you live?
Ari Washington-
Miami, Florida
What college did you attend?
Michigan State University
What is the name of your company or the company you work for?
Double Coverage PR Group
What inspired you to pick your career?
I went to school for
PR and Marketing. I played sports
growing up and came from a sports family.
I also had a lot of friends that played professional sports and spending
time around the industry I saw a specific need for genuine, honest people on
the players’ side of things, thus choosing Sports PR over other fields.
As a woman in your field what has been your biggest
obstacle?
The biggest obstacle is
getting respect. A lot of time guys
don’t want to take your opinion seriously on things because they don’t think
you actually know the game. Once you get
them to see you know your craft it makes things a little easier.
What has been the proudest moment in your career?
Besides
starting my own firm, I’d say my proudest moment was signing my first soccer
client, who ended up being the MLS Rookie of the Year the same year I signed
him.
Where do you hope to see your career in 5 years?
In 5 years
I see myself transitioning. Hopefully
the firm is still succeeding but eventually I want to become a GM of a soccer
team or head scout for a baseball team.
What does being a woman mean to you?
Being a woman means everything to me. Especially in a male dominated field, being a
woman is pretty awesome! For me its all about being a respectful, God fearing
human being first off. As a woman,
you’re held to different standards. I
think being a real woman means you take care of home and your career first and
then have the duty to inspire younger woman to reach their dreams as well.
What advice would you give a woman wanting to be in your
industry?
I’d say know the business and
sport you want to work in to the best of your ability. Stay determined because there will always be
a man who gets an opportunity before you do just because you’re a woman, and
stay true to yourself. Nothing else
matters as long as you’re doing what you love and doing it for the right
reasons. Also network as much as possible! You must be social in the PR world.
When you aren’t working, what is your favorite thing to do?
I love to travel! Europe and Mexico are my
favorite places to go so traveling and exploring new places is always fun to
me.
Just for fun, if you had to be one Disney Princess which one
would you be and why?
I’d be Cinderella probably.
When I was little I used to always think I’d have this Cinderella love
story happen to me. I’m still waiting on
it lol.