At PAN Communications we’re lucky enough to have office locations nationwide in some of the most exciting cities – Boston, San Francisco, New York and Orlando. We have the luxury to go visit each of these office locations, whether it’s for an entire Summer like Kate Campbell traveling from Boston to San Francisco or a short 1-week trip to visit clients and co-workers like Ashley Waters. PAN employees know how to make the most of their cross-office experience.

Back in May of last year, two of our PAN employees decided to move to New York – Nicole Das from Boston and Kathryn Snyder from San Francisco. We also had San Francisco-based Lexi Driscoll make the big move to PAN’s headquarters in Boston. Now that they’ve settled into their new homes and new PAN offices, we thought it was time to check in with them to see how they were settling in and enjoying their new environments.

If you need a refresh of our original Q&A check it out here, ‘From One Bridge to Another: A Cross Office Journey’.

What is your favorite thing about New York City / Boston so far?

Snyder (NYC): One of my favorite things so far is the ability to access so much, so quickly. Are you interested in catching a bluegrass jazz show on a moment’s notice? There is likely a bar or small venue somewhere near you hosting that exact genre of music you like. Interested in hearing a community lecture on reality TV’s impact on a voyeuristic society? Just walk over to a free lecture series in the West Village. I love the diverse experiences New York City has to offer and the “always learning” environments it creates.

Das (NYC): Being from Upstate, I’ve always known that I wanted to live in New York City at some point, so I am just happy to be here in general! The two best things about the city are how fast-paced life is and the constant celebration of diversity –  the people, the food, all the different neighborhoods – I feel like there is a place for everyone in the Big Apple, it just may take some time to find it.

Driscoll (Boston): My favorite part about Boston so far has been the coziness of the city and the history. What I was missing in my previous city was the need for a fireplace and some hot cocoa! I don’t think I had hot coffee or hot chocolate in over a year before moving back.

What was the most difficult challenge about moving to a new city? What helped you overcome that challenge?

Snyder (NYC): The most difficult challenge I find isn’t something that comes as a fault of the cities, because there is so much to see and do, it is easy to be consumed by it. However, I have had the opposite challenge and have found that I am still accustomed to my San Francisco pace of life. In 2019, I am looking to change this and start branching out more with music concerts, art galleries, guest lectures and all that my new home has to offer.

Das (NYC): I think the hardest part about adjusting to New York City so far has been trying to navigate the lifestyle. There are SO many different bars, restaurants and events to go to – sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. Adjusting to a new city takes time and energy, which means it can sometimes be easy to just stick to your comfort zone. I always remind myself to not take this great city for granted and to always embrace new experiences.

Driscoll (Boston): The hardest part about moving to Boston was not knowing what my niche was. In San Francisco, I had very clearly realized I loved wine country and hiking and knew exactly what I would be doing on weekends and nights. In Boston, I had to find a whole new niche. I did this by trying out all of the things my friends and family did. Trying out new experiences and joining a book club made me figure out new things I enjoyed and I got to meet a lot of new people along the way.

What have you noticed so far about the PR community and industry trends in New York City/ Boston?

Snyder (NYC): First off, everyone I work with is fantastic. The team of PR professionals I have met in this city are so in tune with media and strategy that it has been a real learning experience for me. Additionally, because the PR space is so large in New York, I have found that many of my colleagues and peers come from various industry backgrounds. This has been really beneficial, providing me with a unique experience professionally and offering our clients an advantage. It is difficult for another city to have such a diverse range of PR professionals, all pulling from several vertical experiences. In an industry like B2B tech, this can be a massive asset for thinking outside of the box.

Das (NYC): Since moving to New York, I have noticed that for a big city, the PR industry here is definitely a small world. As we have continued hiring more and more PR professionals over the past few months, it seems like everyone has mutual colleagues from previous internships and agencies – so there is more of a community than I had originally expected.

Driscoll (Boston): Being a member of the Forbes Under 30 Summit team I was thrust into the Boston PR and journalism community almost immediately following the move. It is very relationship centric so being in tune with what everyone’s beat and interests are was imperative to success in a tight community.

What do you enjoy the most about the new office culture you’re experiencing?

Snyder (NYC): The New York office has a very vibrant and cohesive team. Our Managing Director encourages a family feeling and appreciates the effort it takes to cultivate and engage team members. Due to this, I find that I am much more involved with the office culture and in finding ways to support or mentor my peers. I have always enjoyed being part of a team, and the PANhattan office is a team that laughs with one another through all the highs and lows of the work week. It also doesn’t hurt that we have a sweet view from our new office in the Empire State Building.

Das (NYC): Making the switch from the largest office to one of the smaller ones was an adjustment at first, but now I couldn’t imagine having it any other way. The smaller setting allows us to get to know each other on a more personal level – from interns, up to the VP level. It has also been great to feel the positive shift in office morale, as we moved from our spot in a WeWork to our very own branded space in one of the most iconic buildings in the world!

Driscoll (Boston): I love the people the most in my new office! Coming from a small office experience, which had its own positive culture, I have been able to spread my wings and discover industries I am really passionate about.

Answer this:

Snyder (NYC): My favorite part of PANhattan is the people.

Das (NYC): My favorite part of PANhattan is the tight-knit community we have built within our growing office – each new addition has fit right in! The number of Syracuse grads and the skyline views from the Empire State Building are close seconds though.

Driscoll (Boston): My favorite part of PAN Boston is water views and the people!

Interested in more from our ‘From One Bridge to Another’ series? Check out the below.

• From One Bridge to Another: Introducing the Latest PAN benefit
• From One Bridge to Another: A Home Away from Home
• From One Bridge to Another: San Francisco Myth Busters
• From One Bridge to Another: Adjusting to a San Francisco Lifestyle
• From One Bridge to Another: New City Networking 101