Building Client Connections: How Inigo’s Account Team Plays a Role in the Deliverable Process

At Inigo, our clients are at the core of everything we do. As the Public Relations and Creative Design teams work on deliverables for clients, there is one other key component that many outside of the PR industry might not recognize: the Account team. Inigo’s “learning laboratory” structure ensures that its Account team reflects that of a real-world agency. Each task given to the account coordinator not only helps them understand what the account position is, but it also immerses them in situations that occur within PR agency settings.?

Inigo’s Account team acts as the liaison between the client and the agency.?Their responsibilities include understanding the client’s creative goals, writing creative briefs and ensuring deliverable content exceeds client expectations. These coordinators consult with their clients about their goals as a brand as well as the content.

As a former Account Director herself, Inigo’s current Firm Director, Lillian Niziolek , understands the vital role the Account team holds throughout each deliverable.??

“I think a lot of people outside the PR world may fail to recognize how imperative an account team is in order to keep a communications firm or ad agency running smoothly,” states Niziolek. “We need these liaisons to cultivate conversations and push a client's vision forward.” ?

Being on the Account team at Inigo requires a lot of responsibility, time management and communication skills. ?However, the team is supported by their fellow coordinators, as well as their Account Director, Kaia Kohnen , who provides resources and guidance throughout each deliverable. ?

“In my role,?I assist our coordinators with drafting emails, scheduling meetings, making creative briefs and communicating client needs” stated Kohen. “I’m here to support them by answering questions and offering guidance based on my experience within the agency.?As a director, I want to be my coordinator's biggest cheerleader as this is not an easy role and requires them to step out of their comfort zone.” ??

Inigo’s Account team is also supported through our mentorship with a team of Account Executives at Phaedon , an independent agency in Chicago that works with a variety of high-profile accounts within the beverage, food and entertainment industries. This semester, Inigo’s Account team has the opportunity to learn from Inigo alumni: Senior Account Executive, Daniel Collazo, M.S. and Associate Account Executive, Maddie Ganoe as well as Account Executive, Sabrina Tartaglia .?

The Phaedon mentors will be working one-on-one with each of our account coordinators to provide their insights and expertise throughout the deliverable process. With their guidance, our Account team will continue to develop the proper skills for communicating client needs to the PR and Creative Design teams and maintaining client relationships. ?

Maddie, Daniel and Sabrina’s positions in the PR industry have given them the experience to share with our account coordinators which will help them navigate their role on the Account team. Each of these account executives has different tips for our account coordinators based on their own experience, especially when it comes to communicating with the client as well as internal teams.??

Collazo emphasizes especially the importance of an Account Coordinator’s role to not only relay client information to other teams, but also develop a relationship with them.?

“Working on Account requires account management and client relationship management since we are the ones delivering the content to the clients,” said Collazo. “We have communication with clients, but it's also important to cultivate those relationships as well.”??

On top of creating and maintaining relationships with clients, it is also important for those working on account to stay organized, practice time management and cultivate relationships with team members. Maddie capitalized on the importance of teamwork and organization when managing tasks as an account coordinator.?

“It requires a lot of collaboration with your team as well, not just with the clients,” said Ganoe. “You have to work together to determine what the clients want and how to deliver those results to them”. ?

Although our Account team faces a significant amount of responsibility this semester, they are ready to take on this challenge with the support of their directors, fellow coordinators and their mentors from Phaedon.??

“I think the Phaedon team has an extensive range of knowledge that Inigo's coordinators can benefit from, and it is rooted in their real-world experience” states Niziolek.? “Having a go to person to troubleshoot with, bounce ideas off or gain advice from is extremely invaluable. We cannot thank them enough.”??

Phaedon’s mentorship will not only help develop our account coordinator’s skills they have learned in the classroom, but it will also assist them in cultivating teamwork and strong client relationships.???

The deliverables Inigo produces for our clients would not be made possible without the endless efforts of our Account team. Along with the guidance from our account director and mentors at Phaedon, the Account team can take on their tasks with determination and confidence.?With their ability to form client relationships, bridge communication between the client and deliverable teams and take on significant leadership roles, the Account team drives the quality of our content as an agency.??