You have a unique academic background. Can you tell us more about your experience studying and working outside of the U.S.?
I’ve always been a bit indecisive and possibly a little overambitious, so when it came time to pick my course of study at college, I decided to double major in English literature and German language and minor in sustainable development and creative writing. As part of my German degree, I spent a semester in Bonn, Germany in a language intensive program. The semester after, I studied Arabic in Amman, Jordan.
Once I started travelling, I realized how much there is to see and learn through travelling, and I quickly applied for several other international opportunities through my university. During my bachelor’s, I won two grants to do international self-led research and received an international internship placement. In spring 2015, I travelled to Senegal to research malaria interventions, and in the summer of 2015, I lived in Uganda for three months, working with a local microfinance institution. My last trip as part of my bachelor’s program was in 2016, when I travelled to Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic to research holocaust memorials for my honors thesis.
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After graduating in 2016 from Lehigh University, I moved to Vienna, Austria on a Fulbright Student research grant. In Vienna, I attended Universität Wien and researched how school children understand Austrian national identity. I also taught English at two different secondary schools, and during my second year there, I helped to manage an English teacher exchange program.
I fell in love with Central Europe while living in Vienna, and when applying for master’s programs, I decided I wanted to stay in the region. That is what led me to the Central European University, where I received my master’s in international relations with a specialization in development studies and an advanced certificate in religious studies—turns out I might still be just a bit indecisive and a little overambitious. After graduating in 2020, I moved back to the United States to be closer to my family during the beginning of the pandemic, which led to my current position at the Lowe Group.
Living, studying and working abroad taught me so much. Teaching English as a second language helped my non-teaching career by bolstering my presentation skills and solidifying my editing and writing skills. Getting the chance to travel and live abroad taught me a lot about intercultural communication and about how wonderful it is to be human.
You don’t have a traditional communications background. How does your experience come in handy when working in financial PR?
One of the most important things that I learned as an English major was that strong writing and comprehension skills can take you far! From teaching English in Vienna to writing research reports in the mountains of Uganda, my ability to communicate and write effectively across industries and cultures was critical. Now working in PR, these writing and communication skills help me when pitching clients to reporters, when learning about new and exciting aspects of the financial services industry and when working to build up others’ writing.
Moving and living abroad also helped me to become the self-confident and flexible person that I am. I’m not afraid to jump straight into a new project or to speak up in unfamiliar situations, and I love trying and learning new things. Although I didn’t know much about the financial services industry before joining Lowe Group, it’s been a great opportunity to learn about this sector.
Talia in front of the Monastery at Petra in Jordan.
What does a typical day at Lowe Group look like for you as Client Services Director?
When I practice Hungarian, I always describe my workday “sok emailt írok, találkozóim Zoomon vannak, LinkedIn postokat írok, az interjút a riporterrel tervezem stb.” (or in English, “I write lots of emails, attend video calls, write LinkedIn posts, organize interviews with reporters, etc.”) Of course, each day varies a lot. That’s what keeps working at Lowe Group so interesting.
Some days, I spend the majority of the day doing media outreach, others I can be found copywriting or editing content for clients, while others I might spend time working on social media strategy. Most days, I have a mix of client calls, media, social media and web tasks.
When it comes to the work you’ve done at Lowe Group, what is something you’re most proud of?
There are so many projects that I’ve been lucky to work with on the Lowe Group, and media wins never cease to make me happy. There is something extremely satisfying about seeing a client’s name appear in a publication and knowing that our hard work at the Lowe Group led to them being featured.
One specific, non-media project that I am proud of was the ESG Truths microsite that we built in the summer of 2022. Although my first experience building a webpage was back in elementary school when I learned how to use HTML to customize my Neopets homepage, working at the Lowe Group has given me the chance to learn how to build sites in WordPress using builders like Avada and Oxygen. The landing pages that I’ve assisted building while at the Lowe Group have been a unique challenge that have allowed me to flex my creativity in a new way.
Outside of work, what do you like to do in your free time?
I love to play board games with friends and belong to board game groups on both sides of the Atlantic. My favorite games are probably Scythe and Unearth. In the warmer months, I enjoy light hiking, exploring new neighborhoods and swimming down the shore (when I’m based in New Jersey) or in the Danube (when I’m based in Vienna.)
Learn more about our team and send us a note for more information.
Talia’s Top Travel Tips
- Climb the 800-stairs to Petra’s Monastery in Jordan.
- Visit Hungary’s thermal baths.
- Hike the Grand Canyon’s South Kaibab Trail.
- Whitewater raft in the Sava River in Bled, Slovenia.
- See the wildlife in Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park.
- Dance the night away at one of Vienna’s balls.
You have a unique academic background. Can you tell us more about your experience studying and working outside of the U.S.?
I’ve always been a bit indecisive and possibly a little overambitious, so when it came time to pick my course of study at college, I decided to double major in English literature and German language and minor in sustainable development and creative writing. As part of my German degree, I spent a semester in Bonn, Germany in a language intensive program. The semester after, I studied Arabic in Amman, Jordan.
Once I started travelling, I realized how much there is to see and learn through travelling, and I quickly applied for several other international opportunities through my university. During my bachelor’s, I won two grants to do international self-led research and received an international internship placement. In spring 2015, I travelled to Senegal to research malaria interventions, and in the summer of 2015, I lived in Uganda for three months, working with a local microfinance institution. My last trip as part of my bachelor’s program was in 2016, when I travelled to Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic to research holocaust memorials for my honors thesis.
After graduating in 2016 from Lehigh University, I moved to Vienna, Austria on a Fulbright Student research grant. In Vienna, I attended Universität Wien and researched how school children understand Austrian national identity. I also taught English at two different secondary schools, and during my second year there, I helped to manage an English teacher exchange program.
I fell in love with Central Europe while living in Vienna, and when applying for master’s programs, I decided I wanted to stay in the region. That is what led me to the Central European University, where I received my master’s in international relations with a specialization in development studies and an advanced certificate in religious studies—turns out I might still be just a bit indecisive and a little overambitious. After graduating in 2020, I moved back to the United States to be closer to my family during the beginning of the pandemic, which led to my current position at the Lowe Group.
Living, studying and working abroad taught me so much. Teaching English as a second language helped my non-teaching career by bolstering my presentation skills and solidifying my editing and writing skills. Getting the chance to travel and live abroad taught me a lot about intercultural communication and about how wonderful it is to be human.
You don’t have a traditional communications background. How does your experience come in handy when working in financial PR?
One of the most important things that I learned as an English major was that strong writing and comprehension skills can take you far! From teaching English in Vienna to writing research reports in the mountains of Uganda, my ability to communicate and write effectively across industries and cultures was critical. Now working in PR, these writing and communication skills help me when pitching clients to reporters, when learning about new and exciting aspects of the financial services industry and when working to build up others’ writing.
Moving and living abroad also helped me to become the self-confident and flexible person that I am. I’m not afraid to jump straight into a new project or to speak up in unfamiliar situations, and I love trying and learning new things. Although I didn’t know much about the financial services industry before joining Lowe Group, it’s been a great opportunity to learn about this sector.
Talia in front of Petra’s Monestary in Jordan.
What does a typical day at Lowe Group look like for you as Client Services Director?
When I practice Hungarian, I always describe my workday “sok emailt írok, találkozóim Zoomon vannak, LinkedIn postokat írok, az interjút a riporterrel tervezem stb.” (or in English, “I write lots of emails, attend video calls, write LinkedIn posts, organize interviews with reporters, etc.”) Of course, each day varies a lot. That’s what keeps working at Lowe Group so interesting.
Some days, I spend the majority of the day doing media outreach, others I can be found copywriting or editing content for clients, while others I might spend time working on social media strategy. Most days, I have a mix of client calls, media, social media and web tasks.
When it comes to the work you’ve done at Lowe Group, what is something you’re most proud of?
There are so many projects that I’ve been lucky to work with on the Lowe Group, and media wins never cease to make me happy. There is something extremely satisfying about seeing a client’s name appear in a publication and knowing that our hard work at the Lowe Group led to them being featured.
One specific, non-media project that I am proud of was the ESG Truths microsite that we built in the summer of 2022. Although my first experience building a webpage was back in elementary school when I learned how to use HTML to customize my Neopets homepage, working at the Lowe Group has given me the chance to learn how to build sites in WordPress using builders like Avada and Oxygen. The landing pages that I’ve assisted building while at the Lowe Group have been a unique challenge that have allowed me to flex my creativity in a new way.
Outside of work, what do you like to do in your free time?
I love to play board games with friends and belong to board game groups on both sides of the Atlantic. My favorite games are probably Scythe and Unearth. In the warmer months, I enjoy light hiking, exploring new neighborhoods and swimming down the shore (when I’m based in New Jersey) or in the Danube (when I’m based in Vienna.)
Learn more about our team and send us a note for more information.
Talia’s Top Travel Tips
- Climb the 800-stairs to Petra’s Monastery in Jordan.
- Visit Hungary’s thermal baths.
- Hike the Grand Canyon’s South Kaibab Trail.
- Whitewater raft in the Sava River in Bled, Slovenia.
- See the wildlife in Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park.
- Dance the night away at one of Vienna’s balls.
Talia, I really enjoyed learning more details about your overseas adventures.