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5WPR News · Published November 4, 2019

Ronn Torossian
Founder & Chairman, 5W

PR Job Training: Why Continued Education Matters

job training for career advancement and skill development
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Most of us are constantly in search of that proverbial feeling of “I made it”. Whether it’s reaching a new level of positioning at one’s job or working up to owning a business as an entrepreneur, we all have our own definitions of what it means to “make it”. One common pitfall that many fall into as their careers progress, however, is that of misplaced confidence and feeling that there is nothing left to learn. Consider the example of a Nike executive, Vanessa Garcia-Brito. As the vice president of purpose communications for the prominent sporting goods brand, Garcia-Brito says she treats her job as any professional athlete does and trains for it accordingly. What does this mean, exactly? “You need grit, courage; you need to be optimistic and flexible,” Garcio-Brito described in a recent interview. This type of mentality means that there is no finish line, no end of the road where one feels as if they’ve “made it”. For Garcio-Brito, the training and education to best prepare herself for her job is never ending. This is an important takeaway for anyone who pursues excellence in their career. While some may reach a certain executive level or obtain a promotion and feel as if they are at the top of the food chain, the reality is that our world changes quickly and there is never a lack of opportunity for education. While some may scoff at the idea of continuing education, this show of humility — proof that an individual can remove their ego and feeling as if they’ve “made it” — can do much more for a professional over time. Continuing to bolster existing knowledge by learning new skills or simply by staying abreast of topics of relevance to that person’s line of work are both forms of continuing education. And this knowledge can help a person’s job security and ability to continue to make strides in his or her career. Those who choose to remain stagnant and feel as if they’re at the top of the food chain are more susceptible to loss of respect from those around them. Often, a refusal to continue one’s education in some form is seen as a sign of arrogance or, at least, a lack of humility. This can be disheartening to others and can lead to fallout or loss of trust over time. And for those concerned about job stability — for every aging executive, there is a younger, hungrier version just waiting for the right moment to strike. Staying “relevant” is a loose term, and it means something different to everyone. However in an industry that is constantly seeing updates and changes, it’s important to maintain a working knowledge of the current state of affairs. This allows professionals to pivot quickly and to have the ability to make decisions based on trends within the industry. Continuing education doesn’t only refer to taking a class or obtaining a second degree. Continuing education can apply to staying on top of current headlines, learning about new platforms or software offerings, and keeping up with one’s professional network. All of this works to create a more complete professional who is up to date on current trends and knows how to take their work to the next level according to this always-updating knowledge.
Ronn Torossian

Written by

Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is Founder and Chairman of 5W , the AI Communications Firm. He founded 5W in 2003 and built it into one of the largest independent public relations and digital marketing firms in the United States, with senior practitioners serving corporate communications , consumer brands , technology , financial services , health and wellness , beauty , gaming , crisis communications , and public affairs . Under his leadership, 5W defined AI Communications, building brand authority across ChatGPT , Claude , Perplexity , Gemini , and Google AI Overviews, alongside earned media, digital, GEO, and influencer channels. Industry Recognition 5W has been recognized as a top U.S. PR agency by O’Dwyer’s , Agency of the Year in the American Business Awards , Grand Stevie Most Honored PR Agency, a Ragan Top Place to Work in Communications 2026, Digiday WorkLife Employer of the Year, and a PRovoke Top 50 Global PR Agency. Torossian has been recognized with the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year twice, an EY Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist nomination, Business Insider Top Crisis Communications Professionals, and Crain’s New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Research Franchise 5W’s research franchise has become an industry reference for measuring brand visibility inside AI-generated answers, including the AI Visibility Index Series , The GEO Reckoning , The Missing Rung Report, and the 5W AI Power User Study , which identified a 99-point AI favorability gap. Crisis Communications Torossian is one of the world’s foremost crisis communications experts. He has counseled blue chip companies, public company boards, founders, and public figures through ransomware incidents, data breaches, regulatory investigations, high-stakes litigation, activist investors, product recalls, and reputational crises. He has taught crisis communications at Harvard University . Media & Commentary Torossian appears on CNN and CNBC . He is a contributing columnist for Forbes and the New York Observer , his writing on AI communications and brand reputation is published on his personal site, and his commentary has appeared in the Wall Street Journal , Entrepreneur , Adweek , PRWeek , and O’Dwyer’s . Published Work Torossian is the author of For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations , now in its second edition and used in university and graduate communications programs. He continues that commentary on his own publishing platform , where he writes about reputation, crisis, and AI-mediated discovery. Owner and Publisher, Everything-PR Network Torossian is owner and publisher of the Everything-PR Network , an independent intelligence platform covering public relations, marketing, AI communications, and adjacent industries across 30 publications. Everything-PR is editorially independent from 5W, with published editorial standards and ethics standards . The network is one of the most-cited sources inside ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini for PR and marketing queries. He is also an active investor and advisor, a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) , and serves on nonprofit boards.

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