Real Woman In Entertainment: Tracy St.Pierre Farrell

Get an insider's look from USA Network's Tracy St. Pierre Farrell!

By Jenna Loomer Aug 25, 2014 7:37 PMTags
Tracy St. Pierre, Trendsetters at WorkMelissa Hebeler

From a student at Emerson, to an intern at The Tonight show, to the current Vice-President of USA Network's Communication department. Tracy St. Pierre Farrell's road in the entertainment industry has been a wild ride that has brought her to be a part of NBCUniversal for the past 11 years!

Check out her personal journey to getting to the top, and the advice that she gives to women who are looking to break into the business. Spoiler alert: the career pointers she gives comes straight from the Tonight Show's Jay Leno, so you may want to listen closely to this one!

How long have you been with your company? 

11 years in total with NBCUniversal.  After ten years at NBC, I moved over to the USA Network a year ago.

What was your "big break" in the entertainment industry? 

I moved to Los Angeles for the Emerson LA program during the final semester of my senior year and the opportunity to immerse myself into the industry before graduation has proven to be invaluable.  In fact, my internship from that semester turned into my first job in entertainment, but I would say my "big break" was when I became the publicist for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in 2005.  It was a role that taught me everything I know about PR, gave me the tools to handle almost any situation and the opportunity to work with professionals from across entertainment, music, politics and sports.

What is the hardest question you've been asked during a job interview?   

It's tough when an interviewer asks, "What would you change about the way we are currently operating?"  It's a good question, but challenging because you are coming in to the situation cold, you don't know the environment or challenges that led them to put certain practices into place.  It's like commenting on a news story when you've only read the headline.  When I am asked that question, I try to focus on industry or emerging trends that may be beneficial to the organization instead of critiquing the way that they are currently conducting their business. 

How can a potential hire impress you during a job interview? 

I'm always impressed with a candidate's ability to convey passion and creativity.  PR requires both and if I can get that out of someone in fifteen minutes then I'm sure that they will be able to bring it every day.

Melissa Hebeler

Who are some of the women in the entertainment industry you look up to? 

I've been very lucky to work with and for some extremely inspiring women.  All of the ones I look up to have extraordinary careers and very regular, grounded lives.  Debbie Vickers, Executive Producer of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," always made sure to keep everyone's feet on the ground during some pretty unusual situations.  No matter her hectic schedule, last minute changes and the always unexpected challenges of production on a daily show she would take the time to stop and ask, "How are you doing?"  All of the women at NBC PR and now at USA PR continue to teach, motivate and challenge me every day.  They've helped me to define who I want to be while on this career path.  When you can align yourself with women that share the same values as you do, incredible things can happen.

What's a typical workday like for you?

The best part about this job is that there is no such thing as a typical day.  You think that you have your schedule organized and then one breaking news piece or reporter inquiry will have you throwing out that calendar page and shifting gears.  You have to be adaptable and able to pivot at a moment's notice.  The one thing I do try to do is keep up with the industry news in the morning.  I like to keep an eye on trends, what shows are popping in the trades, consumer publications and of course on social feeds. 

What's the most exciting project you've worked on this year? 

So far, the most interesting project that we're working on this year is our event series DIG from Tim Kring and Gideon Raff.  I loved the scripts and was familiar with several of the key players involved in the series, so I knew a little bit about what to expect creatively.  From a PR perspective, the mysterious nature of the story organically lends itself to a creative and out of the box promotional campaign, so we've been working to develop a unique strategy and roll out plan for our efforts.  The highlight was being able to travel to the set in Israel.  It is always a unique experience when working on a production that shoots internationally, but to have had the opportunity to visit Jerusalem was incredible. 

What's the best piece of career advice you've ever received?  

My boss at The Tonight Show gave me a couple of good ones that I hang on to.  The first is to always enter a room or situation expecting that you have something to learn, if you think you know it all you won't listen to other perspectives.  The other bit of advice is to know your audience.  Whether you are on a conference call, in an interview or giving a presentation, if you know your audience you will be able to relay your ideas in a way that speaks to them.

Melissa Hebeler

Describe your office décor. What was your inspiration? Did you decorate it yourself? 

I would say my office décor is personal and homey with a touch of inspiration for the workplace.  I wanted an environment that felt grounded and calm, it can be a fast paced industry and you have to remember to keep it all in perspective.  I've included mementos from throughout my career, but also personal photos and little reminders of my life outside the office.  I did decorate myself, but I had a lot of input from everyone here, working with this team and tapping into their creativity is like accessing a real-life Pinterest board!

What do you typically wear to work? 

Once I find something I like I will wear it for decades so I need essential pieces that defy fashion trends.  Overall I prefer casual and classic.

How do you unplug and relax during your time off? 

I love to cook!  It's the perfect combination of logic and creativity.  I also believe that you are what you eat, so I like to experiment with making my favorite comfort foods healthier.

What's your everyday beauty routine? 

I keep it simple, my routine takes about 20-minutes from bed to breakfast.  I'll glam it up a bit if I have an evening event, but on a regular day I like to go for a good moisturizer with SPF, a low ponytail, tinted chapstick and mascara. 

What is the beauty product you swear by?  

Sunscreen!