Paula Ngon, a 2013 Mingus Union High School alumna, has been named to Forbes Magazine’s “30 Under 30” list for 2024 in the media category.
Ngon was born in California but moved to Sedona at age 11 before her family relocated to Cottonwood shortly thereafter. She attended MUHS from 2009 to 2013 and helped organize her class’ 10-year reunion on Nov. 22.
During her time at MUHS, Ngon was a member of student government and the school’s cheer squad and planned pep assemblies as the spirit leader in her senior year.
She initially planned to become a psychiatrist and enrolled at Arizona State University. During her sophomore year of college, Ngon got a job as a patient sitter at a hospital to monitor patients who were thought to be capable of harming themselves. On her second day on the job, she called her high school cheer coach and said that she wasn’t enjoying the hospital work environment and didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life.
Her coach suggested Ngon watch the television show “Scandal” and look at the role of the character Olivia Pope, the show’s fictional White House’s Communications Director. Doing so inspired Ngon, who had not previously known about careers in public relations, to switch her major.
She graduated from ASU with a double major in journalism and political science. After interning in Washington, D.C, and volunteering for the 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign, Ngon decided that that politics was also not her calling. She then studied abroad in Paris, applied for an internship at Time, Inc. and was placed as an intern at People magazine, later becoming People’s publicist.
Ngon is currently a senior manager for brand communications at Conde Nast, handling Vanity Fair, GQ and Pitchfork.
“A lot of my work involves promoting our content, our editors, the work that we do and our brand extensions,” Ngon said. “It really changes day to day, which is what I love so much about working as a publicist in the media. I love that I get a mix of everything.” Her day might include booking press for the red carpet at the Vanity Fair Oscar party, bouncing between Vanity Fair’s political coverage and award season or GQ talking about sports and men’s fashion.
“Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ was definitely a goal I’ve had since I was 22, fresh to New York,” Ngon said. “Anyone who’s ever known me knows I put sticky notes with my goals on the wall and I’ll highlight them whenever they happen. I’m big on manifesting and Forbes ‘30 under 30’ was something that I really wanted to achieve.”
Ngon attributed her recognition in part to an organization she created within People’s parent company, Meredith Corporation, called Blackprint, a media imprint that celebrates black voices in media and Hollywood.
“It was the cherry on top of a short, but what feels like a long, career so far and acknowledgement that I chose the right path and I’m on my own journey,” she said.
“For anyone who wants to pursue a career in media, definitely get the experience,” Ngon urged. She said that after graduating from college, she was expected to get a job right away. “I really went against that grain and took an internship because I knew what I wanted to do required that sacrifice at the time,” she said.
Ngon said that she also believes she has found success with a career in media because she is a constant consumer of news and media.
“I stay on top of what’s going on in life, what people are talking about, what the trends are, and that’s always interested me and it allows me to perform in my job,” Ngon commented.
She recommended that those interested in pursuing a career in media hone their communication and writing skills, pay attention to the cultural zeitgeist and find stories and other ways to relate to people.
Outside of work, Ngon enjoys traveling, watching movies and playing tennis.
“It’s nice to feel grounded being from a place like that [Cottonwood], because New York can be so overwhelming sometimes,” Ngon said. “I’m really grateful to the friends that I’ve had for decades who came from that area and who I still get to connect with in that area. I appreciate being from a small town that was able to provide all of the activities and friendships that have really helped support me along the way.”
