In this episode, Teodora Takacs shares her unexpected journey into the field of communication, detailing how her career evolved from a university clerk to a marketing manager. She discusses the importance of continuous learning, the role of personal projects in enhancing creativity, and the balance between work and side endeavors. Teodora (Teo) emphasizes the significance of intentionality in side projects and reflects on her growth, offering insights on trusting the process and prioritizing self-care.

Takeaways

• Teo's career began unexpectedly in communications.

• She developed a passion for communication through product management.

• Continuous learning is crucial in mastering communication skills.

• Personal projects can enhance creativity and writing skills.

• Intentional side projects help connect professional and personal interests.

• Trusting the process is essential for personal growth.

• Self-care is important for long-term success and well-being.

• Balancing work and side projects requires planning and prioritization.

• Teo encourages embracing learning mindset.

• Reflecting on past experiences can guide future aspirations.

In this conversation, Katie shares her journey into public relations, discussing her experiences with gender inequality and the importance of diversity in the field. She highlights her research on the intersectionality of gender and race in PR, the challenges faced by women, and the need for organizations to support diverse voices. The discussion also touches on generational differences, the role of affinity groups, and the importance of ethical listening in navigating polarization in communication. Katie emphasizes the need for future PR practitioners to be aware of these issues and to advocate for change in the industry.

Takeaways:

• Katie's journey into PR began with a passion for communication.

• She experienced gender pay disparity early in her career.

• Research shows women in PR often face a 'velvet ghetto' experience.

• Intersectionality is crucial in understanding women's experiences in PR.

• Generational differences impact women's opportunities in the workplace.

• Organizations need to enact real support for women in PR.

• Affinity groups can empower but also risk marginalization.

• Listening with empathy is essential in communication.

• Teaching ethics and critical thinking is vital for future PR practitioners.

• Research on why individuals leave the industry is needed.

In this conversation, Heather shares her journey from Canada to Japan, detailing her career in public relations and communications, including her role with the Special Olympics. She discusses the importance of inclusion in sports, as well as her experiences of adapting to Japanese culture in her current role, and the dynamics of leading a diverse team at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology. Heather emphasizes the significance of curiosity, patience, and the universal principles of PR, despite cultural differences.

Takeaways

• Heather's journey into PR began with a master's in publishing.

• The Special Olympics focus on inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

• Cultural adaptation is crucial when working in a new country.

• Building communication norms helps facilitate teamwork in diverse environments.

• PR professionals in Japan often rotate through various roles, gaining broad experience.

• Networking and relationship-building are key in the Japanese PR landscape.

• Curiosity and patience are essential traits for success in a foreign environment.

• The core principles of PR remain consistent across cultures.

• Humor can bridge language barriers and foster connections.

• The future of PR education should include cultural literacy and communication skills.

After a long awaited release, Series 3 of the Women in PR with Ana Adi podcast is finally ready for release thanks to the generous support of professional-podcasts.com and the patience of the amazing guests.

The pandemic has brought communicators a variety of challenges, greater pressure and visibility and a renewed sense of value. It also required reorganization and rethinking of both delivery and process. Just think of all in person meetings that had to move online, from team events to press conferences and autoshows.

For this final episode, we’re coming home, to Germany, to chat with Katja Bott. She’s learning the Global Communications team of Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans since October 2018 having worked with the company for more than 17 years in Germany and the US.

Is there something that unites PR practice globally? And more importantly, is there something that the PR practice as a whole can identify as its ideal professional self?

Anne Gregory will help us find some answers to these questions. She is currently Chair of Corporate Communication at the University of Huddersfield and has formerly chaired the Global Alliance of Public Relations and Communication Management. It is during her tenure there that she directed the seven continent team in developing the Global Capability Framework for the profession, a framework that we want to talk about today. Among many things she’s written (more than 80 publications) is the CIPRs AI in PR Ethics Guide.

I met with Marian Salzman, Senior Vice President, Communications at Philip Morris International, for a fireside chat at the Global Communication Summit in 2020. At PMI, her work is focused on designing a smoke-free future as the company embarks on its journey of transformation. She’s also a trendspotter, a professional hobby as she calls it, and a much awarded public relations executive being listed in PRWeek’s Global Power Book and as a PR News Top Woman in PR. Her most recent trends report is called Zoomsday Predictions

There’s often talk about international public relations yet it doesn’t seem to be very clear what exactly do we mean by it: PR work done by the same organization in multiple countries, PR work done together with an international team. What’s more, international PR and cross-cultural communication are often conflated, implying that communication practitioners are by default cultural translators and intermediaries too. But are they? Can they be?

We’ll talk about all that and more with today’s guest, Jo Osborn who has both an international career and has worked with multinational organizations, both in house and as a consultant, in government and for blue-chip businesses. A graduate in Film, Media and Cultural Studies, she started her career in her hometown Hong Kong, before moving to Italy and then onto London. Jo is currently the Head of Communications and Corporate Brand for Reckitt.

How can teams perform better and how can team members work better together. In this week's episode we talk about alignment as a process, the science behind it and the applications in practice.

Today we’ll focus on public relations for social justice, on the times when activism is public relations. To do so, we’ll also consider whether public relations practitioners themselves should be change agents. And we’ll be introducing a new view on theorizing public relations: queer theorizing.

This is all part of Dr Erica Ciszek’s research and it is with them that we’ll be chatting today. They are an Assistant Professor with the Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations at the University of Texas with their work published in many of PR’s most valued academic journals including Public Relations Review, Journal of Communication and Public Relations Inquiry to name a few.