University of Guelph-Humber

Pamela Mollica

From red carpets to pink ribbons, Pamela Mollica’s professional journey is a testament to the variety offered by a career in public relations.

Mollica, who teaches Introduction to Public Relations, Writing for Public Relations, and Media Practices at the University of Guelph-Humber, has spent more than 15 years in communications, working on the Toronto International Film Festival, the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and now with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

And her career arc shows the diversity of opportunities available to public-relations professionals.

“For me, it feels like there’s a certain skillset and that skillset can be applied in a number of different ways and in a number of different industries,” she said.

Mollica, who began teaching at the University of Guelph-Humber in January 2015, first became interested in the entertainment industry while working at the Caledon Institute of Social Policy in Ottawa, where she dabbled in amateur theatre at the Ottawa Little Theatre and discovered a passion for performance.

After securing her MA in communications from McGill University, she transitioned into a two-month internship at the media company Alliance Atlantis. From that opportunity, she managed to land a full-time job and stayed more than eight years. She began doing publicity for Showcase programs including “Trailer Park Boys” and “Queer as Folk,” and as she progressed, she eventually handled event management, talent management, PR and issues management.

The fact that Mollica landed a full-time job from her internship is something she emphasizes with her University of Guelph-Humber students, who participate in a 240-hour internship in fourth year. That placement, she says, is a huge opportunity.

“My internship turned into a full-time job, and that was one of the lessons that I talk to students about: you do have to volunteer or intern. It’s all about networking, to be honest,” she said. “I tell my students never to burn bridges. It’s a small industry. You never know where you’re going to run into somebody again.”

Only the promise of a home-country Olympics could lure Mollica away from Alliance. In August 2009 she joined Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium as senior communications manager, spending nine months helping CTV and Rogers’ communications teams prepare for and execute the Vancouver Games.

Upon returning, she immediately joined TIFF and stayed with the organization during one of its most rapid periods of growth, including the establishment of the TIFF Bell Lightbox and the year-round programming that came with it.

The position was sometimes glamorous, but always memorable. In her nearly six years as director of communications, Mollica’s favourite memory was managing the red carpet as George Clooney worked the line, making sure each press outlet got at least one good soundbite.

Mollica, meanwhile, was on the ground below, desperately trying to prop up a barrier protecting Clooney from the press and fans.

“There’s actually a picture of me where George Clooney is answering and if you look in front and down, you can see me kneeling, holding up the stanchions, because he was literally going to get crushed by people,” Mollica recalled.

Over the course of Mollica’s varied career in public relations, such flexibility has been essential, and so has curiosity. In March she joined the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation as director of strategic communications and brand. She wanted to make a difference, and the health industry held a lot of appeal. That’s something else she loves about her field: you never stop learning.

Learn more about Media Studies at the University of Guelph-Humber