Career Profile: Jessica Pollack, Crunch Gym

Jessica Pollack is the senior director of public relations at Crunch Gym. She previously worked at Sunshine, Sachs and Associates, Hearst Magazines, Alison Broad Public Relations, and Laura Davidson. We met through Elana Lyn, and she has introduced me to multiple people that I’ve featured in Career Profiles. I thought she would be a great person to feature this month because of my 30 Day Challenge. I hope you enjoy learning about her career path and advice.

How did you end up at Crunch. What was your career path?

I was not sure what career path I wanted to take after college. I decided that I would apply for an internship at CBS my junior year because I always loved TV. I got a job working in the news press office that summer and absolutely loved every minute of it. I got to work on their entertainment news programs such as The Early Show as well as hard news programs such as 60 Minutes. It was an exciting internship and I got to work with some of the smartest and inspiring people I have ever met. I adored my boss and from then on always wanted to be a publicist just like her.

How did you land your role? What was the hiring process like? 

A friend of mine taught classes at Crunch so I asked her to hand over my resume. She did and the rest is history!

What is a day as Jessica like? Please walk me through a day!

I always start my day with a workout! It gets me motivated and then I know my workout is done. After that, it depends on the day. Every week changes so I like to make sure my workouts are taken care of before I tackle anything else. Sometimes I have tapings at the gym or a TV segment in studio. Some days I am just working away in my office! I like to see friends at night or just relax and make dinner at home. Some nights I am at the gym with editors or taking a new class.

What are your responsibilities as senior director of public relations at Crunch?

I handle all of the publicity for Crunch Gyms, which also includes the Crunch franchise division. There are over 150 gyms worldwide, including 120 franchises, so my job is to get the word out about all of the wonderful amenities the gyms have and what sets us apart from the competition out there.

What is your favorite thing about working at Crunch?

The culture and the people. It is such an exciting brand to work for and my colleagues make it such a fun place to work! I also love Crunch’s philosophy – it is a gym that believes in making serious exercise fun by fusing fitness and entertainment and pioneering a philosophy of No Judgments.

You previously worked at Hearst, Sunshine, Sachs and Associates, Alison Brod Public Relations, and Laura Davidson. What were your roles at those organizations?

I was a publicist at all of these companies, at all different levels of my career. I was very fortunate to have worked at great companies with inspiring colleagues and was able to take what I learned at each place and continue to move ahead in my career.

What is your favorite thing about working in public relations?

My favorite thing is that it never gets boring! The world of PR is always evolving and changing! And here at Crunch we are always coming up with new and innovative classes and workouts so I am never pitching the same thing. I also love seeing a story I placed in print or on TV.

What’s your number one primary tip for working with journalists?

Always call them or email back in a timely manner!

What are the most important characteristic someone needs to have to be successful in your role?

You must be a great communicator and a good writer. Also, networking is key!

What has been your proudest moment from your career so far?

I was working on promoting the launch of the Broadway show “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and I had a great idea to pitch it to Ross the Intern on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. My idea was to have him come audition to be the Grinch and go through the proper audition – singing, dancing and acting! They loved it and the piece aired on Thanksgiving Eve, which was one of their biggest shows.

I also had some really great experiences working in the PR department at Hearst magazines, such as working on Cosmopolitan’s Hottest Bachelors’ event every year.

What is your advice for someone who hopes to work at Crunch or a similar company?

Network, network, network! The public relations world is all about who you know. Of course, you need to be intelligent, well-spoken, and a good writer but knowing people in the business will get you where you want to go faster! Also, focus your efforts on writing, social media, and digital media.

What is on your desk right now?

Lots of magazines!

What is your morning routine?

I wake up and hit the gym or go for a run outside. A few days a week I meet with a personal trainer at Crunch.

What is your career advice for other young professional women?

My advice would be to always follow your dream and passions. The best job is one that combines your personal interests with your professional interests. Once you find a profession and job you love, stick to it!