Erika Hale Smith, 32

Vice President, Events and Sponsorships, Boston Globe Media Education: Northeastern University, bachelor of arts in communication and media studies What advice do you have for other young professionals in the news industry?

Always be willing to adapt. The industry is constantly changing, so it is important to network, build, and maintain relationships with others who will help you evolve and stay as current as possible. No matter how much experience you have, always commit to learning from others regardless of where they are in their career.

Finally, and most importantly, remember to have fun and set limits. News and events are both demanding industries with long days. Burnout is very real, so make sure to prioritize balance to stay happy and perform at your best. Aside from the work-at-home culture, how has the current pandemic climate informed or altered your approach to engaging your audience?

The events industry was forced to pivot rapidly two years ago, from primarily in-person programs to a nearly completely virtual line-up. Since the pandemic started, Globe Events has hosted more than 400 virtual events, ranging from job fairs and discussions with healthcare leaders to a Cocktail Club series featuring local bartenders and restaurants.

I’m fortunate to work at a media company with talented journalists across both The Boston Globe and Boston.com newsrooms. We see our events as an extension of that journalism — a platform for them and our sponsors to share their insight and expertise. Our audience follows that, and they’ve shown they want more ways of receiving trusted information. So while we’ll continue to host events on breaking news and high-profile issues, we also realize the importance of hosting a variety of events to give our audience the chance to unwind and enjoy different types of content each day.