Title:GEMA Externship: Where Are They Now? Sean Mandell (C’08)

Sean Mandell (C’08) is a Senior Reporter for PEOPLE, across PEOPLE Magazine and PEOPLE.com, reporting on and covering news across all of PEOPLE’s verticals, with an emphasis on entertainment and celebrity.

What was your first “big break” into your industry? Or, what is the most significant experience you have had that has made your success possible?

I’ve been fortunate to have several moments where I’ve felt myself crossing a threshold of opportunity. In terms of entertainment news journalism, reporting on the 2018 royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan was a definite watershed moment for me.

What was your first job?

Location scout/production assistant on the movie Sound of My Voice, made by fellow Hoyas Zal Batmanglij (C’02) and Brit Marling (C’05).

What do you do in your job now? What is your favorite part of your current position?

I’m a Senior Reporter for PEOPLE. I report on and cover news across all of PEOPLE’s verticals, with an emphasis on entertainment and celebrity. My favorite part of my role is the freedom it provides — whether that be the creative freedom to enterprise original stories/beats I feel strongly about, or the freedom to move between reporting on red carpets to reporting in courtrooms. 

What was the externship experience like for you? Did it have an influence on your career/help kickstart your career?

The externship was a crash course in the entertainment industry for me. I went in not knowing where I saw myself in the industry, which proved valuable as it kept me curious. I came away struck by how much I didn’t know that I didn’t know. I was also moved by how serious the business of entertainment was to everyone I met, and how each person cared deeply about their contributions. As a result of the externship, I found an incredible acting studio in Los Angeles, where I studied at the beginning of my career and began making my way on the road to who I am today. 

What part(s) of the Externship did you find most valuable?

Meeting people from across the industry, especially those from fields I had not marked down as ones I wanted to pursue, and meeting my fellow externs.

What was your experience like attending Georgetown? Were there any particularly formative experiences that were special to you?

Attending Georgetown was electrifying. It was the first place I felt I could tap into all my seemingly disparate interests. Among my most formative experiences: writing an honors thesis on medieval queer literature with the guidance of Professor Kelley Wickham-Crowley, performing onstage in the then newly-opened Davis Performing Arts Center, and studying screenwriting with Professor John Glavin. 

What’s your advice for an undergraduate trying to break into your industry? Is there anything you would tell your younger self now?

Apply for the externship if possible. 

Be bold but polite in pursuing relationships and opportunities. 

Send a thank you note. I may be a bit of a Luddite, but I enjoy and appreciate a handwritten note. Physical addresses aren’t always available, of course, and an emailed note of thanks is just as lovely.  

Remember that there is not a singular prescribed way of doing things. Free yourself from any pressure you might feel to follow someone else’s path, because your own will inevitably vary from others who have gone before you, even if you end up at the same place. 

Holding on to preconceived notions about what you think you “should” do can mean missing out on opportunities available right in front of you. Ruthlessly question what you want and why you want it, then take action accordingly. 

Be patient but persistent and consistent (advice I still tell myself and do my best to take). 

Name someone in your career who has been a valuable mentor or role model to you and why?

I’ve had many mentors and role models in my career, including two I’ve mentioned here: Dr. John Glavin and Zal Batmanglij. Dr. Glavin not only introduced me to Zal, but he also introduced me to a world of filmmaking I would never have experienced without his insight and guidance. Zal showed me firsthand the alchemical brew that passion, dedication and craft can create when brought together.

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