Path to Prosek: From Books to Buyouts

In our latest Path to Prosek, Liza Rance shares her journey from Apprentice to Junior Account Executive in our London office.

Tell us about your Prosek experience. What’s it been like, and what have you been up to?

Two years ago, I was finishing my English degree at the University of Oxford, where days were spent deep in 17^th century plays and refining my dissertation. Today, I’m supporting fast-paced communications for private equity firms, hedge funds, asset allocators, and professional services. It’s been one big leap from William Shakespeare to Wall Street…

Since joining Prosek, I’ve described the Prosek Apprenticeship programme to others as a “mini master’s in communications and finance”. The depth of the client roster alone provides an incredible learning ground and is a serious asset (pun intended). Equally valuable are the people, or rather ‘tutors’, you get to work with at Prosek – former journalists, crisis teams, data experts, and digital strategists, to name a few. From e-coffees with US teams, to weekly catch ups with my manager, my experience has been underpinned by a network of support willing to dedicate their time, give me crash courses on the ‘secondaries’ market and what a ‘byline’ is, bounce ideas off, and push and guide me in my professional journey. As an Apprentice you’re entrusted with real deliverables from day one. This can feel like a whirlwind, but you’re always surrounded by mentors who are passionate about your learning journey.

What was the PA programme like for you?

The PA programme taught me four essentials: simplicity, synthesis, speed and sensitivity. In four months, I unlearnt the ‘depth’ and fleecy ‘rhetoric’ required for university essays and relearnt decisiveness. Agency life requires being a ‘safe pair of hands’ when multitasking. The day-to-day spans proactive tasks such as drafting announcement materials for a portfolio company acquisition or landing interviews with reporters, to reactive work such as high-gear monitoring of alerts for a potential leak. Throughout the programme, my confidence has only grown as I worked with account leads and SAEs to develop these skills, and tailor my own “Liza Rance” style. By the time I transitioned to JAE, I was in good stead to be client-facing – giving those university years of intense 1:1 tutorials a chance to truly pay off.

Why would you recommend others join/apply to the PA programme?

As I’ve already touched on, you’re surrounded by people that are both challenging and championing for you. From our weekly company ‘All Hands’ to the ‘Orange U’ educational workshops and ‘Bootcamps’ for PAs specifically, there is unmatched collaboration and support. You’re encouraged to know the value of your own network, a key lesson in my professional career. I remember when Partner and Chief Human Resources Officer Karen Niovitch Davis visited the London office, she clearly highlighted the importance of building relationships that last, grow, and develop, whether with reporters, clients, university mates or even family friends. I’ve been on several reporter coffees which helped turn a name in an email into a familiar face – making it much easier to land media opportunities for my clients. Lastly, the PA programme offers a 360 view of corporate communications. From M&A and fundraising, to major conferences, and broadcast TV – it’s a crash course exposing you to the energetic intersection of finance and global news.

What are the top 1-2 things you’ve learned at Prosek, and how have those lessons helped you succeed here?

Say yes to the difficult projects and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The PA programme is your one time early on in your career to ask everything and anything. Embrace the challenges and remember that growth often comes from stepping outside your comfort zone – you’ll surprise yourself with how you can adapt.

Become the time management master – learning to keep tabs across all accounts demands serious coordination. From streamlining internal workflows to setting up dozens of calendar alerts to keep on top of editorial features and weekly deliverables, striving to be one step ahead has helped me carve out my role and deliver real value to my teams.

If you had to choose, what’s been your favorite moment at Prosek since joining?

I’ve been lucky enough to work on special situation projects early on in my professional career – specifically, two complex, time-sensitive deals where every minute mattered and every word had to be client ready. Working with the crisis team across the UK and US exposed me to the art of messaging in high-stakes scenarios – no lecture hall could match that pressure! What stood out during these moments is how swiftly the teams pull together – intensity is counterbalanced with genuine collaboration and a ’grinder’ energy from everyone.