Originally scheduled to graduate with the Class of 1980, Michael Kempner took a year off to work for the Carter re-election campaign and ended up in the Class of 1981 with a BS in Political Science. He went on to serve as a Legislative Director on Capitol Hill for 8 years. Next, his career path took a twist as he moved to the private sector to work for a candy company for two years focusing on marketing and lobbying. Today, he is the founder and CEO of MWW Group.
(Listen to the 12 minute interview here.)
Using the lessons he learned at the candy company, Kempner intended to "just support [himself] enough" until he got another job. At the outset, he had no idea that his foray into consulting would transform into building one of the ten largest public relations agencies in the world. "I never imagined in those days the firm growing to this size," he told me.
As he built up the infrastructure, hiring employees and putting processes into place, he started to see the promise. After about five years, he realized it could be a really big agency and changed the goals appropriately.
Based in East Rutherford, NJ, MWW Group has offices around the country and the world. Kempner now has about 300 employees, a far cry from the solo consulting days when he first started. MWW offers a full range of services, including corporate reputation management, consumer marketing, lobbying, and a variety of other services.
In addition, MWW Group is recognized as a leader in the social media space, having launched a number of innovative campaigns. "We have one of the leading digital media practices in the country," Kempner proudly explains. "The business in many ways has never been more interesting because of the rapidly changing way in which we communicate." He described the pace of change as "breathless" and talked about how it makes it exciting, but also challenging to keep up with.
"With the decline of broadcast television, with the decline of thirty second advertising," Kempner sees the ascension of public relations. "It has changed how we operate and how function dramatically," he says.
Reflecting on his earlier years, he says that "what college gives you, in my mind, is a foundation for learning," but you must stay curious. He stressed the importance of "lifetime learners" when it comes to having successful careers.
He says he hires a lot of AU students and says whatever the University is doing these days it is working because "they are my best employees." He talked about AU's real campus being all of Washington, DC and stressed the opportunities that AU provides in terms of non-classroom learning provide students with a real edge.
Make your own life easier take the loans and all you want.
Posted by: Flores30Lila | May 15, 2010 at 10:27 PM