At The Fearey Group we believe everyone has a story to tell. As a firm that has been around for more than 36 years, we understand where we came from has strong bearing on where we are. So, what stories currently make The Fearey Group a leading independent public relations and public affairs firms in the Pacific Northwest?
Each Friday we will shine the spotlight on one person at The Fearey Group. We will ask them the questions to help them share their stories and give insight into what makes our firm fearless.
For this week’s installment of Fearless Friday, we shine the spotlight on Madeleine Wilson—assistant account executive with our Consumer and Lifestyle team.
If you were given $100,000 to spend in one week, what would you do with it?
Madeleine Wilson: I would help buy my parents their dream house—hands down. I know it would hardly make a dent, but it’s way more than I can give now. They’ve given so much to me, so I hope to someday give back to them.
If you could have dinner with any celebrity, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?
MW: That’s so tough to narrow down, but I would probably choose to have dinner with Oprah. She epitomizes the “rags to riches” story, which is so inspiring. She has done so much with her life despite incredible adversity – I want to hear about her journey. She worked her butt off to get to where she is today, and she has also humbly utilized her success and wealth for the good of others. That’s something I admire and strive to emulate.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want to have with you?
MW:
- My dog.
- A picture of my family.
- A kindle loaded up with all my favorite books.
If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would it be?
MW: “Work hard and be kind.”
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
MW: In ten years, I see myself owning my own company. I am not sure what shape or form it would take, but I love the idea of being an entrepreneur and building something from scratch. I really love the thought of building a team around me of people that I trust, people I value, people I believe in and giving them the platform to rise up. I think there is a lot of opportunity in influencer marketing right now – it’s a huge emerging trend in the industry. Not only is it one of my strengths, but I also really enjoy it. I would LOVE to maybe build out a practice that focuses on that. I’m trying to make it on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
What’s a favorite family memory that has stuck with you into your adult life? Why?
MW: I don’t think I would say there is one memory. I think my favorite memories in general come from just our family dinners. Every single night, no matter what, we would try to sit down for dinner. There would be no phones, no television – we would just sit down and have good conversations. It really taught me the value of family and sharing thoughts and feelings with the ones you love. It really made me realize that I want that in the future.
Which one person would you say has had the most influence on you personally or professionally?
MW: There have been so many people that have helped me get to where I am today, but I would say the person that has had the most impact on me professionally would be my mentor, Katie Barker. She’s a vice president of entertainment communications for CBS, which is amazing. I got connected with her through the mentorship program at my sorority Kappa Alpha Theta at Washington State University. Since we first met, she has been the sounding board for pretty much anything in my life. Whether it be professional or personal, she has been my person, 100 percent. She has challenged me in ways that I’ve never been challenged before. I strive to be like Katie all the time and admire her so much.
What is one thing most people do not know about you?
MW: One thing most people do not know about me was that I originally went to college to study athletic training. That changed pretty quickly!