Path to Prosek: From PA to Account Supervisor – Evangeline Barata

We’re taking a different spin on our usual from PA to AAE series, and asking Evangeline Barata, an Account Supervisor in our London office, to talk about her journey from Apprentice to today (four years later) as an Account Supervisor!

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

What have I not been up to! Agency life is a fast-paced and dynamic environment and over the last four years I have tried my hand at a wide variety of industries and projects, ranging from the run of the mill to full blown crisis situations. Through all of this I have learnt a great deal about communications, financial services and my own capabilities.

It has also been a fun experience. Prosek is full of incredible people who are a joy to be around. They are fundamentally smart and insightful, and I love learning from, and collaborating with, them everyday.

What was the PA program like for you?

Prosek was my first graduate job, and I joined in the middle of the COVID lockdowns, which at the time, didn’t feel like a recipe for success, especially in a job that’s all about engaging with people. Thankfully, I was lucky to have the support of an exceptionally thoughtful team in our London office, as well as colleagues in the US, who really went out of their way to ensure I received the learning and mentorship opportunities I needed to succeed in the program. They encouraged me to get stuck in and share my ideas—a process that really helped me learn in those early days.

The PA programme was also an exciting time, as I was exposed to industries that I knew little about, but quickly realised I found very interesting and wanted to continue to explore. I still work with many of the same clients I had when I was a PA, though now I’ve transitioned to helping lead and manage their accounts. Each has played a key role in my growth, and I hope I’ve played a part in theirs as well!

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

Often internships can be very abstract compared to the actual work companies do, and this was very much my experience prior to joining Prosek. Here we pride ourselves on the fact that our apprentices are able to get genuine experience and get stuck in from day one. The speed at which this allows you to upskill and start meaningfully contributing to your teams is remarkable.

Ultimately, this means that you’ll complete the program with a solid toolkit of skills and industry knowledge, setting you on the path to becoming a strategic advisor to your clients and launching your career in financial communications.

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

Embrace challenges and feedback. This is the most impactful way to learn and grow, allowing you to become the best version of yourself—for your clients, teams and you. It can be tough receiving feedback, especially when you’re starting out, but the more you get involved, put your hand up for new opportunities, and ask how you can improve, the better you will become.

Be curious and ask questions. Financial services is a technical industry, so if you’re starting as a PA, it can often feel like a steep learning curve. Prosek is full of people who are excellent resources to learn from, and there are other helpful materials (books, podcasts, articles) that can aid you on your journey — but only if you engage with them. The more you do this, the better you’ll be able to connect the dots of what your clients and teams are doing, and contribute more meaningfully as an adviser.

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

Successfully securing my first major double-page spread client interview in a leading financial title. It is nice to be able to look back at it and say, I did that.

There have been other very exciting moments too, but NDAs and all!