Leading Communication

Jodi Duncan ’90

Majors: Communication and English Writing

What's your favorite part about what you do?

Throughout the past few years, my focus has shifted to employees. I want to make sure that people love working at Flint and that they have fulfilling career paths. That’s becoming my favorite part of the job. I also love the strategic side. Really, I love everything about business.

How do you stay current?

I read a lot and research online to stay on top of trends. As we are an agency, we have to keep on top of what’s trending in our clients’ fields as well. I like learning to fully understand new things. Clients often say we understand their company better than they do.

Teaching a class in the Offutt School of Business at Concordia has also forced me to be really on top of things since I am teaching the up-and-coming workforce.

I also go to a lot of seminars and conferences. Professional development is highly valued and encouraged at Flint. One of my favorite agency conferences is Mirren Live. I always come away with a wealth of knowledge and a new understanding of what’s happening in the agency world.

What was the best career advice you ever received or have to offer?

One of the things I’m fixated on now is how women feel like they have to check all the boxes before they apply for a position. How they need to have every piece requested of the position and feel they have to be 100 percent qualified to go for it. You don’t. If you know you’ve got 60 percent of the experience and skills in the listing, you just have to believe in yourself and go for it.  

What’s the worst that can happen? You learn from it and move on.

What do you like about the Fargo-Moorhead area? Why did you choose to stay here?

I’ve learned to appreciate it more as I get older. I love what’s going on now with the progressive things happening downtown. Businesses like Kilbourne Group and Emerging Prairie have changed the potential for this city. I’m particularly impressed with what Dayna Del Val and her Arts Partnership team are doing with the art scene in Fargo. It’s amazing.

Why do you think the liberal arts are important?

In a lot of ways, the liberal arts are becoming even more relevant. I’ve always thought it was a solid base: learning to read, write and think critically and think differently. As a communications person, it’s challenging to find workers with the skills to effectively communicate. Even in social media – if you can’t write, you’re in trouble. Very few people can write, so learning that skill really gives you a leg up in the job market. 

How do you stay engaged with Concordia as a grad?

Currently, I teach a digital marketing class in the Offutt School of Business. I’ve also had the opportunity to make many different connections with Concordia since I graduated. And I’m still best friends with my Concordia roommate. We stay in touch and talk a lot.

 ^{Published September 2018}