What a treat for students and faculty in AdPR to hear the wise words of Stacey Tank from Home Depot during her recent visit to Grady College.  As VP of Corporate Communications and External Affairs, Stacey lent a great perspective during her talk entitled: The New COO & The Age of Corporate Journalism.

While discussing the various forms of communication she shared some thought provoking ideas.  “Just because we can communicate digitally, does not always mean we should,” according to Tank.   She also explained that often times a company’s biggest challenge is making sure multiple departments are working together.  “At Home Depot, the line between Marketing and Communications is not defined.  Often times its difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins.”

Stacey also spent time giving a lecture in a PR Administration class, sharing her diverse background in current and previous professional roles.  Prior to joining The Home Depot, Stacey was senior vice president and chief corporate relations officer for HEINEKEN USA. Stacey joined HEINEKEN from General Electric, where she held a variety of global communications, finance, audit and marketing communications roles.

Perhaps the most fun, was an informal lunch where a small group of students, Stacey, and her son Jackson, had an informal chat about Stacey’s career and all the twists and turns along the way to her current role today.  Stacey shared invaluable job searching advice as well as some elements she looks for when hiring young people: are they humble, enthusiastic, flexible and curious?  Perhaps most importantly, do they ask good questions?

Thank you Stacey, for joining us at Grady College, and to all the alumni in communications at Home Depot who put together this cute video to show their #AdPRide and UGA spirit!