GRC PR 360

Karen Gamba is a PR, networking, and business strategist as well as the CEO and co-founder of the ExV Agency. With locations in Atlanta, New York, and Hong Kong, ExV Agency creates out-of-the-box digital events, elevated branded narratives, and distinctive visibility campaigns for clients looking to expand their reach, reputation, and revenue. Here, she discusses the importance of authenticity, the challenges of producing unscripted content, and her relationship with business partner Frank Carlisi.

Key Takeaways:

- The power of authenticity

- The problem with producing unscripted content

- How to be vulnerable in a professional setting

- ExV’s new Grow Your Brand Masterclass

Episode Timeline:

1:30 How did ExV get its unique name?

4:25 How Karen started the company with Frank Carlisi

8:45 What makes an event innovative?

9:30 The importance of bringing together professionals of different age groups

10:45 Pushing the envelope of vulnerability

12:00 How to be authentic in a professional setting

13:00 Making authentic connections

16:10 How Tod gets authentic interviews on PR 360

17:30 The perils of creating unscripted television

21:30 Handling creative criticism

23:20 The lightning-in-a-bottle paradox

25:00 ExV’s new webinar Grow Your Brand Masterclass to help emerging business owners navigate the PR world

This episode’s guest:

• Karen Gamba

• ExV’s website

• Follow Karen on LinkedIn

• Learn more about the Grow Your Brand Masterclass

Join the conversation by leaving a comment!

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Nancy Luong is a successful Fortune 500 senior marketer, financial content creator, keynote speaker, university educator, and DEI advocate. Currently, she is a Digital Program Manager at Salesforce and the Leader in Residence at Cal State Long Beach, where she advises students on how to start their careers. A proud first-generation daughter of Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants, Nancy recently became a bestselling author after publishing the “How We Got Here Journal.”

Key Takeaways:

- How Nancy’s book helps immigrant parents tell their stories

- Breaking generational cycles

- Why women are rethinking their purpose

- Nancy’s advice for college students entering the professional world

Episode Timeline:

1:30 Nancy won Miss Southern California.

2:30 Nancy's book, "How We Got Here"

3:45 Are immigrant households reluctant to talk about the past?

5:30 Why Nancy’s book is an excuse to have important conversations

8:30 How the book helped Nancy understand her parents’ behaviors

11:15 Immigrant parents often have different attachment styles than their children.

17:00 Nancy's recent presentation at the New York Public Library

20:15 Common topics in Nancy's women's group

22:00 Nancy's career advice for graduating students

This episode’s guest:

• Nancy Luong

• Follow Nancy on LinkedIn and Instagram

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Joe Zappa is a content marketer, journalist, and academic who has spearheaded content programs for dozens of businesses. As the founder of marketing agency Sharp Pen Media, Joe approaches content and PR through a three-step process of narrative building, editorial planning, and content creation. From 2018 to 2023, he was the editor of Street Fight, a prominent martech trade publication. Prior to that, he earned his BA from Brown and his Ph.D. in comparative literature from Cornell. Here, he discusses his three-stage approach to marketing and PR and how to avoid producing commodity content.

Key Takeaways:

- The perils of commodity content

- The importance of hiring experienced writers

- Branding through crusades

- Generative AI

Episode Timeline:

1:20 How Joe transitioned from a journalist into the martech space

2:45 Sharp Pen Media’s bespoke three-stage approach to marketing and PR

4:450 The problem with commodity content

7:30 Sharp Pen Media’s content

8:50 The freelance vs. agency debate

11:20 The importance of hiring experienced writers

13:50 How algorithms affect content distribution

15:30 "Broetry" on LinkedIn

17:30 Building a brand's "crusade”

22:00 Why are marketers wrong to be obsessing over generative AI?

This episode’s guest:

• Follow Joe Zappa on LinkedIn or send him your thoughts here

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Mickie Kennedy is an expert at helping small businesses, authors, and startups increase their visibility and credibility. He founded eReleases over 22 years ago after realizing that small businesses desperately needed a press release service they could actually afford, with access to the media and to a national newswire—all with a personal touch. His press releases have resulted in articles being published in the Wall Street Journal, CNN, Bloomberg, and many more prestigious news outlets. Here, he discusses how to build credibility through third parties and what smaller companies need to know about PR.

 Key Takeaways:

- What smaller companies need to know about PR

- Mickie’s realization he was a micro-manager

- The importance of third-party credibility

- AI’s role in PR

Episode Timeline:

1:20 Tod can't get into poetry.

2:50 How do you build credibility through PR?

4:45 Does published content have to be 100% positive?

6:40 How to craft a pitch that cuts through the noise

10:15 What doesn't the "little guy" know about PR?

14:15 When a client's pitch isn't newsworthy

15:30 Mickie was a "hands-on" manager.

18:30 Letting the numbers speak for themselves

21:00 What will AI's role be in PR?

23:00 Mickie’s free masterclass

This episode’s guest:

• Mickie Kennedy

• Get Mickie’s free masterclass

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Steve Rohr is a Hollywood publicist, media expert, and author. He served as the Show Publicist for the Academy Awards from 2015 – 2019 and is the founder of Lexicon Public Relations, a boutique entertainment firm representing award-winning actors and recording artists. As a communication expert, Rohr co-authored “Scared Speechless: 9 Ways to Overcome Your Fears and Captivate Your Audience.” Here, he talks about running PR for the Oscars and how to make a great speech—plus, he shares some helpful interpersonal communications tips.

 Key Takeaways:

- What it's like running PR at the Oscars

- Steve's thoughts on great public speakers

- Gen Z communication styles

- Nonverbal communication tips

Episode Timeline:

2:00 What's the ground game like running PR at the Oscars?

5:15 Why is the work culture at the Oscars so great?

6:45 What makes a good Oscar speech?

8:45 Why Viola Davis is a great speaker

11:00 What are some of Steve's favorite speeches?

12:00 Anne Richards’ DNC speech

14:45 What are some ways that Gen Zers can improve their communication styles?

15:50 The problem with upspeak

18:30 Don't start a sentence with "I mean."

22:20 The 80% rule

23:45 The importance of presenting a clear message

24:45 Nonverbal communication myths and gender styles

30:30 How strikes are affecting Hollywood PR

This Episode’s Guest:

• Steve Rohr

• Follow Steve on Instagram

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Maria Jordan is the founder of Fireflies Management, a global communications agency that specializes in propelling both established organizations and startups to new heights by evolving and promoting their brands. Over her decade of experience in PR, Maria has successfully collaborated with renowned businesses such as Lamborghini, Wimbledon, and MyHeritage, delivering compelling and tangible results. Here, she talks about the benefits of hiring freelancers, her work to reunite stolen babies with their families, and inserting clients into breaking news.

Key Takeaways:

- Benefits of hiring freelancers

- The power of PR to change lives

- Using the news cycle to your advantage

- Building a personal brand as a freelancer

Episode Timeline:

1:30 What inspired Maria to go freelance?

4:30 How the pandemic provided Maria with a great opportunity

5:45 Why Tod went freelance

6:30 The importance of building a personal brand as a freelancer

7:50 Building a personal brand on LinkedIn

9:30 Maria's experience working with MyHeritage

11:30 How Maria worked with MyHeritage to reunite stolen babies with their birth parents

16:45 How Maria secured TV coverage for MyHeritage after the Queen's death

21:15 The benefits of hiring PR freelancers

This episode’s guest:

• Maria Jordan

• Follow Maria and Fireflies Management on LinkedIn

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Funmi Lijadu is a creative communications specialist who loves pop culture. She has both agency and in-house PR experience across a range of sectors, including art, publishing, finance, tech, real estate, and retail. Currently, she's an account executive at MSL in the UK. Recently, she finished her dissertation on a rather compelling topic that compares reality TV with classic literature. Here, she discusses her dissertation and shares the current challenges faced by her PR clients in the UK.

Key Takeaways:

- The similarities between reality TV and classic literature

- Current challenges in the UK PR world

- The perils of trying to be everything to everyone

- The importance of diversity in the PR world

Episode Timeline:

1:30 What do you want people to learn from your dissertation?

4:00 The differences in the US and UK versions of "Love Island"

5:00 The novels Funmi included in her dissertation

8:30 Romantic themes haven't changed that much over time.

9:00 The disgruntled lover trope

11:00 How Funmi's research applies to PR

13:20 The importance of diversity in the PR world

15:00 The Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad

16:00 The 15-year-old test

17:30 Why do female influencers wear big, floppy hats?

19:00 Current challenges in the UK PR world

21:30 The danger of being everything to everyone

23:20 PR request hashtags

25:40 Gen X vs. Millennial high-brow, low-brow battle

This episode’s guest:

• Funmi Lijadu

• Follow her on LinkedIn and Twitter

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Shawn Smith has served in senior communications roles with Warner Bros. and The Walt Disney Company, developing multimillion-dollar campaigns for global brands and franchises. She has also served as the global head of communications with Osmo, one of the world’s leading ed-tech companies. Here, she discusses the current state of DEI in PR, the joy of working with iconic IPs, and why she's stepping out on her own.

Key Takeaways:

- The current state of DEI in the PR world

- What it’s like working with powerful IPs

- What it was like working with PR legend Pat Tobin

- How Shawn helped Minnie Mouse get her star on the Walk of Fame

Episode Timeline:

1:45 What has been happening in the world of DEI, especially in media, over the past few months?

4:10 What's the reason for recent changes in DEI programs?

5:40 What do you see as the biggest DEI challenges in the world of PR and communications?

7:40 Where should we focus to make the biggest improvements in DEI?

9:30 What was it like being a steward for such iconic characters and brands?

11:10 Can it be hard dealing with fans?

12:15 The character "Bible"

15:10 The Minnie Mouse moment

16:30 Minnie's star on the Walk of Fame

17:30 Disney's Lucasfilm purchase

19:10 Shawn's mentor Pat Tobin

22:30 Jill Biden’s vaccination campaign

24:00 What inspired Shawn to start her own company?

This Episode’s Guest:

• Shawn Smith from Shawn Smith Communications

• Follow Shawn on LinkedIn

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In this special episode of PR 360, we look back at how to build a strong personal brand using tips from experts we've spoken to over the last few months. Sana A. Ahmed discusses how to build a "monster brand with monster plans." Rob Aurelius tells us how his love for pro wrestling taught him key branding insights, and Shawn P. Walchef explains why people should "lean into their crazy." Plus, former news anchor Dan Kloeffler and L.A. Times columnist Gustavo Arellano each share some helpful advice on authenticity.

Key Takeaways:

- How to build a personal brand

- How to build a brand that's authentic

- How to avoid being "everything to everyone"

- What pro wrestling can teach us about branding

Episode Timeline:

2:25 What is a “monster brand”?

5:25 If everyone is zigging, zag.

9:30 The importance of self-awareness

12:00 What we can learn from Hulkamania

16:47 How Rob Auerlius helped rapper Cooli Booli build a brand based on positivity

19:13 Shawn Walchef on the importance of "leaning into your crazy"

21:22 How Dan Kloeffler establishes trust with his clients

22:47 The value of authenticity

23:36 Gustavo Arellano's tips for being authentic on social media

This episode’s guests:

• Sana A. Ahmed, Rob Aurelius, Gustavo Arellano, Dan Kloeffler, and Shawn P. Walchef

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This week on PR 360, we welcome Harvey Hudes, the founder and CEO of Caliber Corporate Advisers, one of the preeminent marketing communications firms in fintech and financial services. Since its founding in 2010, Caliber has assisted more than 270 portfolio companies, including asset management firms, growth-stage startups, and investors. Harvey shares how Caliber has succeeded at the difficult task of telling fintech stories and how it keeps up in a rapidly changing ecosystem.

Key Takeaways:

- Why traditional PR firms have a hard time with fintech

- How Caliber grew from a small business in a tiny New York apartment

- How Caliber chooses its clients

- Why fintech PR is about education

Episode Timeline:

1:30 Why don't most PR agencies understand fintech?

3:20 Fintech storytelling is complex.

4:00 It's ok to say “no” if a client isn't a fit.

5:00 Caliber's client “sweet spot”

6:30 How Caliber grew from a small business in a tiny New York apartment

8:30 Fintech is rapidly changing everything.

9:30 How does Harvey stay on top of such a rapidly changing ecosystem?

11:30 How do PR companies cut through in a world with so many communications platforms?

12:30 Caliber's Event Analyzer technology

13:45 When did Harvey know that Caliber was going to work?

15:35 What are the hardest fintech stories to tell?

17:00 A lot of fintech PR is about education.

18:00 How fast is the world of tech speeding up?

19:15 Generative AI

This episode’s guest:

• Harvey Hudes

• Caliber Corporate Advisers' Website

Subscribe and leave a 5-star review:

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