Nest Conversations with Ryan Shelton!

1. How long have you been working with Bird Hill PR and how did you first hear about Bird Hill?’

I started with Bird Hill PR as an intern in February 2025. I first heard about Bird Hill through my high school, Ricki, Mariana, Camille, and I all went to The Baldwin School! During my senior year of high school, I was asked to be on a panel with other alums for an assembly. That year, Ricki won the Young Alumni Award, and I had the opportunity to chat with her a little before the assembly. Ricki gave me her contact information and said I could reach out to her if I ever needed anything. After one of my school assignments for a Mass Comm class, I began to look into jobs in the PR field and learn more about what PR professionals do. After reading more about it, I decided to reach out to Ricki and see if there were any opportunities at Bird Hill. Right when I read about Bird Hill, its mission, and the clients that we work with, I knew that it would be a great opportunity and one that would allow me to learn something every day. And the rest is history!

2. What has been the biggest lesson that you have learned in the public relations space since you joined BH?

I have learned so many big lessons through public relations, which is that understanding and adapting are two very important things. Every client has a different story, different measures of success, and different audiences. Adaptability is also important in PR because no two days are the same, and priorities can shift very quickly.

3. What has been your favorite moment so far working with BH?

My favorite moment so far working with Bird Hill has been being able to help work an event in Los Angeles. As a team, we went to LA for about five days, worked together, and helped coordinate an event for one of our clients, International Medical Corps, that was having their annual awards gala. We were tasked with working with their spokespeople, award winners, and celebrity guests. This experience taught me more about how everything works behind the scenes at these events. I now have a deeper understanding of the planning, teamwork, and attention to detail that go into these events. It was incredibly rewarding to see all of our preparation go into it and have it all come together. 

4. What advice would you give yourself at the start of your first PR internship?

I would go back and tell myself to ask as many questions as needed. The most important thing about an internship is that you are there to learn, and the people on the team are there to support you. It is okay to ask as many questions as you need, even if you feel like it is a “stupid” question. Ricki always says, “There are no stupid questions”. Everyone started somewhere and probably had the same questions that you are asking. I would also remind myself to stay curious and not to be afraid to share my ideas. The only way that you are going to learn and gain experience is by doing. Even if your idea gets turned down, every time you offer an idea and get feedback, you learn what makes a good idea.

5. Since you majored in Psychology, have you noticed any connections between psychology and public relations that have helped you better understand one through the other?

Definitely! I think that having a deep understanding of psychology has helped me be able to understand audiences and how to communicate with them. Both psychology and PR focus on understanding other people, building relationships, and communicating in ways that interest and connect with people.