Andrew Healy is a partner and co-founder of Water & Wall Group, a marketing and communications firm focused on financial and professional services. In his role, he supports clients across the entire financial spectrum (retail/institutional asset management, alternative investments, fintech, wealth management, etc.) and helps guide the agency’s vision and direction. He also is a member of the PRSA Financial Communications’ Executive Committee and serves on its Social Media TaskForce. We chatted with Healy to learn more about his background, how he got into the public relations industry, why he loves agency life so much, and tips for young professionals.
Why did you decide to pursue a career in public relations?
I graduated college with an English degree and a love for creative writing…and not a clue as to how to use them. As fate would have it, my friend’s neighbor in Salem, New York, owned a boutique communications firm focused on financial services, and they were hiring for an entry-level role. A few weeks later I started on my first day and immediately fell in love with the industry. I was fortunate to work for an agency that put a strong emphasis on mentoring and learning, and before I knew it I was meeting with portfolio managers every other day, speaking with CIOs about their market outlook, hearing what analysts thought about the future and getting a courtside view into how some of the world’s largest financial institutions shaped their story and told it to the world. I was hooked.
What does an average day look like for you at Water & Wall?
Part of the reason I love agency life so much is because every day is different and I get to work with a variety of brands at any given moment. One day I’ll be supporting a product launch for a large fund company, the next I’ll be on the road with a new fintech client or meeting with our internal creative team to brainstorm ideas for a campaign we’re pitching. And having been brought up in an agency that truly emphasized education and gave young staffers a chance to practice their craft and actually get out of the office (vs. being locked in a closet creating media lists all day), I love the mentoring aspect of my job. The next generation can teach us as much as we can teach them; and that’s one of my favorite parts of the job.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learned in your role that applies to public relations?
Two heads are better than one. Financial PR pros often work under stressful situations with tight deadlines, so it’s not uncommon for folks to fall into individual silos and feel the need to handle things by themselves. While it’s important to empower people and give them room to work without being micromanaged every two seconds, it’s also important for everyone to realize the power of outside counsel and to chat with colleagues. Talking out loud and hearing a different POV can often lead to more informed decisions and better outcomes.
When you’re not busy working, what do you like doing in your spare time?
I have two amazing daughters — aged 4 and 7 — so I try to spend every non-work moment with them and my wife. They’re insane (the kids, not my wife. Don’t get me in trouble, PRSA …) and being around them is all I ever want to do. And if there’s a pool/ocean nearby, or a lacrosse/hockey/soccer match we can attend, that’s even better.
What advice do you have for young professionals entering the field of public relations?
Ask questions. Being tasked with helping to influence and shape the way people perceive a brand is a massive responsibility, and the best way to put yourself in a position for success is to study as much as you can: the company, its history, its competitors, its business model … There is no end to this educational cycle. And in addition to reading and absorbing as much info as you can, asking questions is one of the best things PR pros — at all levels, but especially those early in their careers — can do.