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February 5, 2008
This Week’s Boston’s
Future Leader
Brooke Botello
Title:
Senior Account Executive
Company:
McDermott Ventures
Education: B.A. in
Political Science & Communications – University
of Oregon
Brooke has worked at
McDermott Ventures, a Boutique Strategic
Communication, Public Affairs and Public
Relations firm since her arrival in Boston over
4 years ago. She is also a contributing writer
for Colors Magazine.
PG: What is the most
rewarding part of your job?
BB: Developing
effective and thoughtful strategies that bring
success to my clients.
PG: What is the
corporate culture like at your company?
BB: McDermott Ventures
is a boutique firm, made up of a few
professionals, so there is a lot of face time
with the boss, which is very beneficial to my
professional growth. We all work together
extremely well and have truly developed a
streamlined, well oiled machine.
PG: What is the
highlight of your career so far?
BB: Working in the
United States Senate. While the experience was
not uniquely mine, being a part of the community
on Capitol Hill was an experience I’ll never
forget.
PG: What is your
favorite thing about working in Boston?
BB: Boston is a
world-class city with a small-town feel. I
noticed immediately after moving here, everyone
knows each other, there’s no 6 degrees of
separation here. Most people want to really
invest in making Boston great. Its inspiring.
PG: Favorite place to
take a client for lunch?
BB: I like hotels. You
get a diverse group of people (business people,
tourists and residents), nice views (waterfront,
cityscape) and good food.
PG: If you could have
a dinner with anyone, who would it be & why?
BB: Al Franken. I’ve
read everything he’s written. He’s intelligent,
unafraid to take on the opposition and laugh out
loud funny.
PG: What piece of
advice would you give a young college graduate
starting out on his/her career?
BB: Meet with as many
people in as many industries as possible. Even
if you think you have no interest in the field.
When you have all the information, then you can
make informed decisions about your career.
PG: What do you
attribute your success to?
BB: My mother is the
biggest influence in my life. She instilled the
value of hard work, leadership and the drive to
keep asking myself the tough questions: “What do
I want out of my life? How will I get there?”
and “Never let anyone keep you from doing
something by telling you, you can’t. Imagine the
feeling when you show up having done it.”
PG: If you could have
any job in Boston, other than your own, what
would it be and why?
BB: A food critic. I
have a Zagat’s guide for every city I’ve lived
in always on hand. I make notes on my favorite
restaurants or dishes in the margin. I even
write stuff on napkins and in my blackberry.
Food is just really important to me.
PG: Where do you see
yourself in 10 years?
BB: I hate this
question. I’ve learned that there is truth to
the saying, “Life doesn’t care much for your
plans.” So I try not to be too rigid.
PG: Favorite place to
relax after a long day?
BB: Running along the
Charles. There is no place better than hitting
the pavement on a mild, sunny day. Besides at
any time of day, you get the greatest views.
PG: What’s the best
piece of career advice you have ever received?
BB: My Boston mentor,
Matt Fisher told me on my second day in Boston,
"the most valuable thing a person can give you
Monday through Friday is time. When you schedule
a meeting, know what you want to accomplish and
don’t be wishy-washy."
PG: Best place for an
after work drink?
BB: That’s tough, see
alternative job question. It depends on weather,
mood, company, the works. Generally though, The
Liberty Hotel.
PG: Who do you admire
in the business world?
BB: My boss, Pamela
McDermott. She has numerous qualities I admire.
She always makes sense of crisis or
multi-faceted issues, calmly and thoughtfully.
She’s a business leader who asks for input,
takes charge but knows when to hand over the
reins and is extremely busy, while managing to
keep it all balanced.
PG: How can young
professionals expand their networks and increase
their impact in Boston?
BB: Get involved
wherever you can, professionally, socially or in
the community.
PG: What reading
material is on your nightstand?
BB: I’m in between
books, so right now just magazines: Runner’s
World and Food and Wine. I dog-ear pages and
highlight for hours. ____________________________________________________
For more information on the
Boston’s Future Leaders Program, please contact
Jody Kieval,
director of member services.
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