From “Accidental PR Man” to PRSA-NY President: Ken Kerrigan on Purpose, Storytelling & the Future of PR

In this episode of Minutes with Mike, Mike sits down with Ken Kerrigan, current president of PRSA-NY, to unpack an unlikely path into public relations. What started as a pre-law student’s rejection letter and a late-night job counting bonds turned into a lifelong career in communications — a journey Ken now calls “accidental.”Ken reflects on internships that began with scissors and glue in a corporate clip room, the timeless power of story over statistics, and why AP Style still matters in an age of AI and instant analytics. He explains how Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle still guides persuasion today, why micro-influencers mirror Bernays’ “Torches of Freedom” campaign, and how understanding the language of business is essential for PR’s next generation.Ken also shares what he’s building at PRSA-NY — from sold-out media nights to tackling burnout in the industry — and offers candid advice for students, professionals, and anyone navigating the ever-evolving communications world. This conversation is both a look back at PR’s roots and a forward-facing playbook for where it’s headed next.Minutes With Mike is a PIMS produced podcast.