Lessons and Gratitude: Claire Del Prete’s Parting Reflections from JCI

By Claire Del Prete

After two years and eleven months with JCI Worldwide, this was my final week. 

While it’s impossible to sufficiently capture the breadth of my learnings, experiences, and observations over those two years and eleven months, I will try my best to summarize. 

In late 2022, I started at JCI as an Account Executive. The Public Relations and Public Affairs worlds were new to me, as my policy experience came from the public sector at a government nonprofit tasked with closing the “Digital Divide” in California. I was laden with anxiety over what I perceived to be my own incompetence.

In my first month at JCI, I faced seemingly impossible tasks – writing an email pitch that warranted a response from swamped reporters, building the confidence to share my opinion on client calls without my cheeks blossoming red with embarrassment, or even memorizing the many acronyms within our network of third-party organizations. The differences between CHCC (California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce), CRP (Community Resource Project), and CCB (California Council of the Blind) were lost on me. 

By the time the new year rolled around, I was determined to deeply familiarize myself with my accounts and their industries. I stopped second-guessing myself by doing research, asking questions, getting on the phone, and making mistakes followed by revisions. Moments of constructive critique and feedback became opportunities to sharpen and improve my skills and ways of thinking. My account autonomy grew in tandem with my confidence. 

I also honed in on my people skills–how to develop, nurture, and leverage my client, media, and third-party relationships–which proved to be rewarding. I am so thankful for the network of wonderful humans I met while with JCI. 

In spite of my strides, my professional development came with some growing pains. As a young woman in a corporate role, I realized it was necessary to take up space. Our colleagues, specifically men, also have a responsibility to step up, hold others accountable, and create room for our success. It would be a disservice to my recollections if I did not reflect on the moments in client calls when I felt small and forced to make a change – either on my own volition or by asking my male colleagues to assist with establishing space.  

As I grew at the company, I also collected observations on the current state of the Public Relations and Public Affairs landscapes along the way. 

Perhaps the most sobering observation was the widespread sensationalization of news. Headlines are exaggerated and sometimes inaccurate if it means people will click on them. Inaccuracies become misinformation, and when misinformation proliferates, public health and trust are threatened. In part, I believe the monetization of clicks and ads, and  the popularity of social media as primary news sources are to blame.  

As the line between News Outlets and Social Media blur, so do our sources of honest, accurate news. Social media is riddled with an explosive amount of content, coupled with a lack of genuine, new ideas. Our screens bombard us with instant gratification, leaving us starved and scraping for constant stimulation. Often, what garners significant attention these days is intentionally exaggerated, shocking, or even depraved. For example, the recent Coldplaygate, which saw the entire Internet point and laugh, bears testimony to the vacuity of the media environment in 2025.  

I imagine anyone working in the Public Affairs sphere has noticed the shift in corporate and client mindsets, largely due to the conservative rhetoric and forceful hand of the current presidential administration, but I would argue that the work itself has marginally changed. Even when the federal beliefs shift drastically, the state government systems that command our California-focused Public Affairs work at JCI are still old-fashioned and familiar. I took comfort in this. I anticipate a homesickness for the public affairs systems – I might even miss navigating archaic state government websites.

There is no doubt that this company left an indelible mark on me. In my next chapter, I’ll still wear the JCI red – in how I hold myself, and with a JCI tote bag on my arm. 

My sincerest thanks to the many colleagues-turned-friends over the last three years who uplifted me professionally and grounded me personally. 

To Steve Crosby and Ken Chawkins for their valuable insights and guidance, and of course to Seth Jacobson, who took a chance by hiring me in 2022. I am deeply grateful for his mentorship and respect.