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Introducing the IPREX Academy Class of 2025: Shaping the Future of PR Leadership with Public Relations Courses in a Rapidly Changing World

The IPREX Academy has officially welcomed its Class of 2025! As one of the most prestigious global leadership programs for rising public relations professionals, this year’s cohort brings together emerging leaders from independent agencies worldwide, ready to elevate their careers, expand their networks, and gain unparalleled industry insights in media relations, crisis management, and communication strategies.

Why Leadership Development Matters Now More Than Ever

In an era of unprecedented media fragmentation, shifting trust in institutions, and rising demands for corporate responsibility, the role of public relations professionals is evolving faster than ever. Global agencies must not only navigate these complexities but also lead the charge in shaping public perception, crisis communication, and digital transformation.

The IPREX Academy Class of 2025 is filled with communications professionals stepping up to meet these challenges, equipping future PR leaders with the skills, insights, and networks needed to thrive in a rapidly changing industry.

A Transformative Learning Journey

IPREX Academy is more than just a leadership program—it’s a career accelerator. Designed specifically for next-generation PR leaders, the nine-month program immerses participants in key areas of business management, leadership development, and strategic communications beyond traditional public relations principles.

Led by Frank Buscemi, CEO and Chief Creative Officer at MBE Group, the IPREX Academy brings together expert speakers, industry mentors, and a carefully crafted curriculum to provide a holistic business education tailored for corporate communications professionals. Participants will explore topics such as public relations law, media planning, and the intricacies of crafting compelling press releases.

IPREX Academy is more than just a leadership program, it’s a career accelerator. Designed specifically for next-generation PR leaders, the nine-month program immerses participants in key areas of business management, leadership development, and strategic communications beyond traditional public relations principles.

Led by Frank Buscemi, CEO and Chief Creative Officer at MBE Group, the IPREX Academy brings together expert speakers, industry mentors, and a carefully crafted curriculum to provide a holistic business education tailored for corporate communications professionals.

Meet the Class of 2025

 

This year’s Academy cohort is made up of professionals from leading independent agencies across the globe, including:

These participants represent the best and brightest in the IPREX global network, each bringing a unique perspective and drive to shape the future of public relations campaign planning.

 

A Global Curriculum for Future Agency Leaders

The IPREX Academy goes beyond traditional PR training, offering a comprehensive curriculum that prepares rising professionals to lead and grow agencies in an increasingly interconnected world.

Designed to develop both communications expertise and business leadership, the program provides real-world insights into financial management, client strategy, and operational leadership, ensuring participants understand the fundamentals of budgeting, forecasting, and agency growth. It also helps them navigate the complexities of leading teams across diverse markets, cultures, and regulatory environments—a crucial skill in today’s global PR landscape.

With expert-led sessions on strategic leadership, AI-driven communications, and building inclusive, high-performing teams, participants gain practical skills that can be applied across international markets. They leave the program with the confidence to manage challenges, drive innovation, and lead successful agencies and campaigns on a global scale.

Meet the IPREX Academy’s 2025 Instructors:

Beyond the Classroom: Hands-On Experience

The IPREX Academy is not just about theory—participants will apply their learnings through:

1. Real-World Global Projects

One of the most impactful and unique aspects of the program is the global project experience, where participants collaborate across borders to tackle real-world challenges that directly shape the future of IPREX and its member agencies.

Participants are placed in international project teams, working with peers from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds—often the first time they’ve had to navigate a global, cross-agency collaboration. The projects require them to conduct international research, analyze industry trends, and develop strategic recommendations that are then presented to an IPREX Committee and senior leadership.

This process builds critical leadership and professional skills:

  • Global Collaboration – Learning how to work with colleagues from different cultures, time zones, and professional perspectives.
  • Strategic Thinking & Adaptability – Responding to real business challenges with solutions that can be implemented across markets.
  • High-Level Reporting & Presentation Skills – Presenting findings and recommendations to senior agency leaders, gaining experience in high-stakes client-style reporting.
  • Receiving & Incorporating Feedback – Taking input from senior leaders and refining their work to meet real-world business expectations.

These projects aren’t just an exercise—they have a tangible impact. Many of IPREX’s most significant initiatives—including the recently launched IPREX Student Cohort—have been born from the recommendations of Academy project groups. It’s why, for many participants, this hands-on experience is the most rewarding and career-shaping part of the program.

Group Project Leads for the Class of 2025 are;

2. An Impactful Mentorship Experience That Lasts 

One of the most valuable aspects of the IPREX Academy is its mentorship program—a rare opportunity for participants to be personally guided by some of the most senior and experienced leaders in the global communications industry.

Unlike typical mentorship pairings, we don’t leave it to chance. When participants apply, they are asked about their career goals, leadership aspirations, and areas where they seek guidance. From there, we carefully match themwith a mentor from our global network—someone who can provide relevant insights, strategic advice, and meaningful professional connections.

For many participants, this is the first time they have direct access to a senior leader outside of their own agency—an opportunity to gain fresh perspectives, career-shaping advice, and industry knowledge that they wouldn’t typically receive in their day-to-day roles. The relationships formed often extend beyond the nine-month program, with mentors continuing to offer support as their mentees advance in their careers.

Past participants have leveraged this experience to secure leadership positions, refine their career direction, and build confidence as future agency leaders. The opportunity to learn from busy, high-level agency leaders who generously invest their time is one of the most unique and impactful aspects of the IPREX Academy—a testament to the strength and commitment of our global network.

We thank our 2025 Academy Mentors:

3. Social Meet-Ups & Networking

Beyond structured learning, the IPREX Academy emphasizes relationship-building, recognizing that who you know and how well you collaborate across cultures is just as important as what you know.

Through virtual coffee chats and informal networking sessions, participants have the chance to form genuine connections with peers from around the world in a relaxed setting. For many, this becomes one of the most enjoyable and valuable aspects of the Academy. These sessions aren’t just a social break—they are where trust and camaraderie develop, making collaboration easier and more natural throughout the program and beyond.

These interactions also help participants refine their intercultural communication skills, an essential ability for professionals working across global markets. At the same time, they begin building their own international network of peers—a group of talented professionals they can exchange ideas with, learn from, and rely on as they progress in their careers. Many of these connections last long after the program ends, reinforcing the Academy’s role in fostering lifelong professional relationships.

A Lifelong Network: The IPREX Academy Alumni Community

Graduating from the IPREX Academy is just the beginning. Upon completion, participants become part of an exclusive alumni network, connecting them to past graduates across different regions, industries, and specializations.

This network offers ongoing professional support, knowledge-sharing, and career-building opportunities. Alumni stay engaged through peer connections, continued learning opportunities, and access to industry insights from fellow graduates who have gone on to leadership roles in agencies worldwide.

The strength of this network lies in its global reach and shared experience. Alumni often turn to one another for advice, job opportunities, international collaboration, and cross-market insights. For many, this built-in network of like-minded professionals becomes a key resource as they progress in their careers, reinforcing the IPREX Academy’s impact long after the program ends.

IPREX Beyond the Academy: A Path to Continued Growth

Graduating from the IPREX Academy is just the start of a deeper engagement with the global IPREX network. Many participants continue to expand their leadership skills, industry expertise, and international connections through a variety of opportunities within IPREX.

Most graduates go on to attend the IPREX Leadership Development Conference (ILDC)—one of the most highly valued events in the network. These conferences bring together top communications professionals from around the world, providing Academy alumni with ongoing learning, networking, and collaboration opportunities on a global stage.

Beyond conferences, many take on leadership roles within IPREX committees, working alongside senior professionals to shape network initiatives. This hands-on involvement strengthens their strategic thinking, global collaboration, and leadership experience while keeping them deeply connected to the industry’s evolving landscape.

Additionally, Academy graduates often lead internal and external professional webinars, sharing their expertise with peers across the network. These opportunities help reinforce their thought leadership, enhance public speaking skills, and solidify their role as industry influencers.

The IPREX Academy isn’t just a standalone program—it’s a launchpad for long-term professional growth within a global community committed to learning, leadership, and innovation.

The Value for PR Agencies: Investing in Future Leaders

For IPREX partner agencies, the Academy is more than just a training program—it’s an investment in the future leadership, talent development, and long-term success of their business. As the industry evolves, agencies must retain top talent, upskill their teams, and stay ahead of the competition. The IPREX Academy plays a key role in making that happen.

Retaining and Developing Top Talent

Talent retention is one of the biggest challenges in the PR industry, and investing in professional growth is a key factor in keeping top performers engaged. The IPREX Academy provides rising PR professionals with a structured, high-value leadership development experience—ensuring they see a clear path for growth within their agency. By offering employees the opportunity to participate in a prestigious global program, agencies demonstrate their commitment to career advancement, increasing job satisfaction and loyalty.

Upskilling Teams with Global Business Acumen

Beyond PR and communications expertise, the Academy focuses on critical business skills that help agencies run smarter and more efficiently. Participants gain financial literacy, operational leadership, business development expertise, and global collaboration experience—equipping them with the knowledge to drive agency growth, manage teams effectively, and contribute to strategic decision-making. This means agencies benefit not only from stronger communicators but also from future-ready business leaders who can elevate the agency’s overall performance.

Building a Competitive Edge in an Evolving Industry

The PR landscape is rapidly changing, with AI, digital transformation, and cross-border collaboration becoming more critical than ever. Academy graduates return with insights from across global markets, an expanded network, and a strategic mindset that enhances their agency’s approach to new challenges. The Academy also fosters cross-agency collaboration, strengthening the overall IPREX network and creating new opportunities for business development and shared expertise.

By sending employees to the IPREX Academy, agencies aren’t just investing in individual careers—they’re enhancing their entire organization. They gain stronger leaders, more skilled teams, and a workforce that is ready to take on the future of PR with confidence.

Join Us in Celebrating the Class of 2025!

Stay tuned as we follow their journey, share insights from their experiences, and witness the transformational impact of the IPREX Academy.

Join a Global Network That Invests in Your Success

The IPREX Academy is just one of the many ways our global network of independent agencies is committed to developing the next generation of PR leaders. Our members gain access to world-class professional development, cross-agency collaboration, and a global support system of like-minded professionals. If your agency values investing in its people, expanding its international reach, and staying at the forefront of industry change, then IPREX is the network for you. Get in touch to learn how your agency can become part of this powerful global community.

For Staff of Non-Member Agencies

If you’ve read this and thought, “I need this for my career,” you’re not alone. Many professionals at independent agencies wish they had access to the mentorship, leadership training, and global connections that IPREX provides. The good news? You can be the catalyst for change. Talk to your agency leadership about the benefits of joining IPREX—not just for you, but for the entire organization. By becoming part of the network, your agency gains access to exclusive development opportunities, international insights, and business growth potential that extends far beyond the Academy. Encourage your agency leaders to explore what IPREX membership can offer, and let’s start the conversation.

For IPREX Partners

For more information about the Academy or to nominate a rising leader for the next cohort, please note that only IPREX members can submit nominations. IPREX members can visit IPREX Academy to learn more.

 

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