From Cleveland State University graduate to the stage, Alexis Figlar has built a career, and a brand in music marketing, realizing her dream and enriching the city.
Figlar returned to her alma mater on Thursday to speak at a Public Relations Student Society of America event called "Power of the Portfolio," organized by the CSU chapter of the PRSSA. 

The sign outside MU 206 read, “Tips for creating a powerful portfolio that catches attention.” Speaking to a packed room, Figlar shared her experience with students in the music and entertainment industry, offering insights into building a portfolio that stands out.

When Figlar said she wanted to work at the Rock Hall, she hadn’t spent years planning it. She hadn’t even fully considered it.

She was volunteering at a professional event, making small talk, when someone asked what she wanted to do.

“I want to work at the Rock Hall,” she replied, surprising even herself.

That offhand answer would eventually lead her to work induction ceremonies at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, one of the most prestigious live music events in the country.

For Figlar, a 2023 graduate of Cleveland State University, the journey into the music and entertainment industry wasn’t built on luck alone. It was built on persistence, strategic networking and a portfolio that evolved alongside her.

Now working as a promotions coordinator for Audacy Inc. and continuing live event work with AEG Presents and a new Cleveland venue, Globe Iron, Figlar credits much of her growth to lessons she learned as a student: keep your portfolio personal, build real relationships and put yourself out there — even when you feel disconnected.

Speaking to students in MU 206, Figlar highlighted one of the most practical tools she has developed in her career: a portfolio that reflects her personal brand. From her first rough attempts in college to the polished Canva and Wix site she uses today, Figlar shared the lessons she learned in making her portfolio not just a collection of work, but a story of who she is professionally and creatively.
 

Image

Figlar is the first to admit her early portfolio attempts were not polished.

“My first portfolio was rough,” she said. After submitting it to a design contest at a professor’s suggestion, she received blunt criticism. “They were grilling me.”

Instead of abandoning it, she rebuilt it — three times.

“I’m not a graphic designer,” she said. “I just have Canva, a dream and an idea of how I want to portray myself.”

She designed her portfolio using Canva and Wix, starting with brand colors tied to her own creative identity. Over time, she commissioned an illustrated avatar and a custom logo to strengthen her visual consistency.
 

Image

“I would pick something that feels true to you,” Figlar said. “That’s how people are seeing you for the first time.”

Earlier versions of her website had nearly 20 pages. Now, she keeps it concise.

“You’ve got maybe five minutes max for someone to look at it,” she said. “Sometimes less is more.”

Her current portfolio leads by making known her values that she honors and her specialty in brand marketing and storytelling — the work she hopes to continue pursuing. 

She intentionally includes only her strongest projects, including content creation and multimedia work from her time at the Rock Hall, magazine prints for when she worked with Chapstick Magazine and past resumes she had made for the people in her life.

“Only include your best work,” she said. “There’s too much to put everything in there.”

She also dedicates testimonials from former managers and professors, turning employer reviews into a feature on her LinkedIn.

“Nobody really hears about themselves that much,” she said. “It’s important to remind yourself who you are.”

Her practical advice extends to professionalism online: never post your phone number publicly, include a contact form instead and tailor your resume to the job you want — not every job you’ve had.

“When I’m aligning with marketing, they don’t care that I was a receptionist,” she said. “They care about the relevant experience.”

Figlar’s internship at the Rock Hall did not begin with a formal application alone. It began with an informational interview after she met a connection at a PRSA volunteer event. She stayed in touch, followed up on LinkedIn and continued building relationships.

That internship cycle received more than 300 applications for a single position.

“I was the first intern they chose,” Figlar said.

She later worked in marketing roles connected to induction ceremonies, live events and social media storytelling. While some roles included behind-the-scenes digital coverage rather than front-of-stage experiences, Figlar said those responsibilities shaped her understanding of brand voice and audience engagement.

She also reached out cold to venues, offering to create organic social content.

“People don’t have time,” she said. “Venues want help — especially from people who understand younger audiences.”

Her work now spans professional marketing roles and live venue positions throughout

Cleveland’s music scene. Though she once imagined a different postgrad path, she says she feels fulfilled.

“Progress is steady,” Figlar said. “It doesn’t always look like what you thought it would.”

Outside of her industry roles, Figlar founded Glue & Girls, a mixed-media art brand that transforms vintage magazines into sapphic-centered collage artwork celebrating lesbian visibility and representation.
 

Image

Running her own business sharpened her branding instincts and creative confidence. She has traveled across the country to sell her work at markets and magazine events, sometimes carrying nothing but inventory in a suitcase.

“A lot of growth came from that,” she said. “It extends into my professional knowledge.”

Film photography, which she has exclusively used since college, is another defining feature of her portfolio. She includes it prominently to showcase a creative perspective she believes sets her apart.

“If I’m managing a brand,” she said, “this is how I show myself.”

Figlar encourages students interested in music or entertainment marketing to initiate conversations early.

“When you’re in college, you can do anything,” she said.

Her advice is simple: Ask for informational interviews, request LinkedIn recommendations, follow up, keep your portfolio clean and personal and say yes to opportunities — even if they start small.

“I felt disconnected at first,” Figlar said. “But you never know who you’re talking to and where it could lead.”
 

Image