5 Questions with Prosekians in Honor of Pride Month

In honor of Pride Month, our colleagues answered five questions about their backgrounds, what brought them to Prosek and how readers can engage with Pride Month year round. Here’s what they shared…

Russell Nuce, Chief Operating Officer, New York 

1. Tell us about your background (where did you grow up, your culture, heritage, etc.).

I grew up in the South.  I spent my formative years in rural West Virginia and went to college at Wake Forest in North Carolina and law and business school at Emory University in Atlanta. After settling in NYC, I never turned back.

2. What brought you to Prosek?

Extreme good fortune. A friend introduced me to Jen who was looking for a consultant to assist setting up one of our conflict shops.  I felt an instant connection with Jen and quickly grew to love Prosek’s people and culture.  As fate would have it, what started out as a two-month consulting gig turned into the highlight of my professional career. Eight years later, I can’t image working anywhere else.

3. What are you best known for amongst friends and family, and what do you want to be known for at Prosek?

I think my friends and family would consider me loyal (often to a fault).  I would like to be known at Prosek for integrity, responsiveness and a refusal to accept “no” for an answer.

4. What’s a “fun fact” about you?

I successfully orchestrated a hostile takeover of a public television shopping network, became the network’s Chief Strategy Officer, and launched multiple product lines with “celebrities” including several unhinged Real Housewives. I also produced a documentary about Bill Cunningham (the iconic NYT fashion reporter) that was narrated by Sarah Jessica Parker and premiered at the New York Film Festival.

5. What’s one thing you wish people would know, and/or one thing you recommend Prosekians engage with (i.e. one movie, one newsletter, one podcast, etc.), in observance of Pride Month?

Love who you love. Watch The Bird Cage. Listen to MUNA. MUNA’s song “What I Want” is my anthem and I’ve seen the group live more times than I would care to share.

BONUS QUESTION: What does visibility mean to you?

Live your truth and don’t apologize for it.

Jamie Epstein, Account Supervisor, Digital & Integrated Marketing, New York

1. Tell us about your background (where did you grow up, your culture, heritage, etc.).

I grew up in Rye Brook, New York, about an hour outside of NYC. I went to Emory University in Atlanta, GA and majored in psychology.

2. What brought you to Prosek?

I started my career at a large global PR agency and gravitated toward clients in the B2B space, specifically banking and fintech. After nearly 4 years I decided it was time for a switch, and Prosek was hiring for folks with expertise in executive and corporate social media programs. The Digital team and everyone on my integrated accounts welcomed me with open arms upon joining 6 months ago – it was a perfect fit!

3. What are you best known for amongst friends and family, and what do you want to be known for at Prosek

I’d say I’m well known amongst friends and family for encouraging my loved ones to feel and talk about their feelings (“your feelings are valid” has become almost a cliché at this point), and touting the benefits of mental health tools like talk therapy. At Prosek, I want to be known for creating space for collaboration and making my colleagues feel both supported and challenged to grow.

4. What’s a “fun fact” about you?

I was in the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2019!

5. What’s one thing you wish people would know or one thing you recommend Prosekians engage with (i.e. one movie, one newsletter, one podcast, etc.) in observance of Pride Month?

During Pride month, I encourage everyone to seek out content that portrays a diversity of Queer experiences. Media like television and film is often the first (or only) place Queer people see themselves represented, so the evolution and proliferation of content centering diverse Queer identities is incredibly validating and exciting to see. It also reinforces the notion that the LGBTQIA+ community is not a monolith – there are unique experiences to be had within each of the identities encapsulated under the Queer umbrella – and learning more about them is (I think) a valuable way to spend time during Pride month and all year round!

As a start, I strongly recommend the Netflix series Heartstopper, which is an incredibly sweet and joyful Queer coming-of-age story. It authentically captures a diverse representation of Queer experiences and emphasizes intersectionality throughout. The first season is only eight 30-minute episodes – an easy four-hour marathon. I hope you enjoy, and I’m always available for Heartstopper discourse!!