Alumni Spotlight: Rachel McInnis

Rachel McInnis.

Over the past 109 years, more than 200,000 individuals have graduated from Webster University around the world. Join us as we highlight their Webster stories.

Meet Rachel McInnis, who earned a bachelor's degree in Advertising and Marketing Communications in 2006 and currently works for Maritz.

What enticed you to choose Webster for your degree?

In my professional life, we often reference a truth in behavioral science: people are rational and emotional, but mostly emotional. Rationally, I appreciated that scholarships put a private school like Webster within reach for me. But emotionally, I felt drawn to the intimate, artistic vibe I experienced during my campus tour and I was excited about the possibility to study abroad.

What stood out about your studies at Webster?

So much stood out about my experience at Webster. In my freshman year, I was connected with Karen Burch, who was advising a group of students starting a new student publication, which led me to be on the founding staff – and eventually the editor in chief – of The Ampersand, a student magazine that went on to win national awards. My junior year, I studied abroad in Leiden, the Netherlands, and spent long weekends traveling through Europe, expanding my worldview and developing a confidence in the way I moved about the world. My senior year I served as a residential advisor in the Webster Village Apartments for a group of freshmen, gaining invaluable experience in relationship building and engaging with people from a leadership position. And as a capstone for my advertising & marketing communications degree, I served as a leader as the creative director for the team of AdMarCom seniors who competed in the National Student Advertising Competition. We spent a memorable spring break prepping, which led us to win our local competition. We went on to compete at the national level in San Francisco, ultimately placing second in the nation. It still remains one of the awards I'm proudest of.

All of these experiences were instrumental in shaping who I am, the way I work and how I lead today.

Rachel McInnis holding a National Student Advertising Competition award earned her college years at Webster.

How did your Webster degree help advance you in your career, professional goals, etc.?

Quite simply, the relationship I built with an adjunct professor (the great Walt Jaschek!) led me to an internship during my senior year, which developed into a job as a copywriter upon graduation. I stayed at that role for 12 years (which is 3-4 lifetimes in the advertising agency world), working my way up through the ranks to creative director. Relationships I built at that agency led me to my current company. In other words, you can draw a direct line from a copywriting class I took as a sophomore all the way through to my current role. So much of our life's journeys spur from the relationships we build, and the Webster community allows them to develop genuinely and naturally.

What is your favorite spot on your Webster campus? Favorite spot around the University?

So many of my best memories were built in Maria Hall and in the Webster Village Apartments, but one of my favorite places was the turret in Webster Hall where the very first office for The Ampersand was. We spent many Thursday nights developing that first issue, ordering Webster Wok and cracking open fortune cookies.

What advice would you give to others who are considering Webster University for their degree?

The classwork is valuable but the real difference makers are beyond it – in the relationships with faculty and other students, with campus life and the environment that allows you to make things happen if you are passionate and dedicated.

Rachel McInnis smiles with her newly-earned diploma on Commencement day on The Webster Groves Campus.

What's your favorite part about your job?

I love that every day I get to focus on problem solving. I enjoy facing a challenge, dissecting it with both logic and creativity to develop the path forward that will benefit my clients.

What's something valuable you've learned during your career?

Learning doesn't – and shouldn't – stop when you earn your degree. If you continue to focus on learning and growing your skills, if you nurture your curiosity, career growth will come naturally with it.

Where did you go grow up? Where do you live now? What has your life journey looked like?

My dad was a civilian working for the Army, which meant we moved around. I was born in Atlanta, and for a time during my elementary years we lived in St. Louis. When I was in high school and doing my college search, we were living in northern Alabama. Webster brought me back to St. Louis, where exciting job opportunities and marriage and a kid meant I got caught in the sticky web of this big, small town and have happily stayed.

What was your very first job, and what do you remember most about it?

I was an office automation assistant for the Blackhawk PM in the Department of the Army on Redstone Arsenal when I was home in Alabama during summers in college. My supervisor was an administrative assistant to an army colonel, and she gave me a great piece of advice: never go anywhere without a notebook and a pen. You never know when someone will ask you for something in the hallway, and the only way to make sure you get all the details right the first time is by taking notes. Going back to that core idea (write it down!) has been key to juggling a lot throughout my personal and professional life.

How do you spend your free time?

I have a five-year-old daughter, so in my free time I am a chauffeur to her activities, a well-practiced storybook reader and a regular at our neighborhood library. On the weekends, we love taking advantage of our city's family-friendly attractions, like the zoo, Grant's Farm, the Missouri History Museum, the Magic House – I could go on and on!

Rachel McInnis pictured with her husband, dog, and five-year-old daughter.

Is there anything else you want to share with us?

It's incredible how consistently meaningful the Webster experience can be even as it can be so varied. I loved the tight-knit community of living on campus and the horizon-expanding time spent abroad on the Leiden campus. My husband worked full time while getting a second degree that helped him switch careers. My sister-in-law studied language and immersed herself in the cultural diversity and richness of Webster. And my dad completed his degree entirely on a satellite campus on an Army installation. It's unique and special that an institution can feel so personal while also flexing to meet the varied needs of each of us, as students.