1.What does a typical Thursday look like for you, starting from when you wake up – to heading to bed?

Typical Thursday: Let me preface this by saying no day is typical in this exciting world of PR.
*7:15 a.m. wake up to Bill Caroll in the Morning on CFRB, my daily dose of news and favourite radio station (since entering the world of PR).
*7:30 – 8:20 – down a Greens shake, shower, dress, throw my breakfast into my purse before running out the door to catch the subway to work.
– Arrive at work, eat breakfast and savour my daily Diet Dr. Pepper while checking emails and messages
*9 a.m. and onwards – Draft news releases. Build out media lists. Revise media pitches. Attend brainstorm meetings. Manage mass media mailers. Client relations. Media relations. Secure the next great spokesperson (ranging from Hollywood celebs to the mom next door). Create invitations. Attend meetings, client calls and more meetings. Liaise with media, local and national to pitch an idea, send images/product/info/samples…really whatever they want/need/demand to get the client in the news!
*The day disappears and suddenly I realize all I had for lunch was some odds and ends from the communal snack cupboard and what I set out to do this morning is still unfinished and now bumped to tomorrow’s “to do” list.
*5:30 p.m. – client calls to inform us they want to throw a massive launch party in under four weeks. Our team immediately regroups to divide and conquer next steps and responsibilities
*6 p.m. and beyond – get as much done as possible so I can leave at a relatively decent hour in order to make it out to King St. W. for some down time with friends and a drink or maybe two . . .

2. What was your first job out of school?

First job out of school: I took a job just outside of Tokyo to teach English as a second language for about two years. I lived in a cozy shoebox, taught incredible students ranging from 18 months to 70 plus years, became addicted to snacking on slivered almonds and dried minnows, laughed, loved, lived and learned in this fascinating and bizarro world of Japan.

3. What are the 3 skills you require most to do your job well?

Attention to detail
Writing
Confidence to place cold calls and pitch the next great thing (or the exact opposite) to media who generally do not want to hear from you.

4. What do you love most about your career?

Variety – This is definitely my number one reason for loving PR. Working in a PR agency really allows you to become an expert in so many

different fields be it the corporate business, fashion industry or the advanced world of technology.

Seeing results – Picking up the paper or turning on the news and finding that amazing media hit you were working to secure all week.

Choices – Stems from variety. Being able to dabble in different areas opens so many more doors than you ever thought possible.

5. If a woman wanted to get into this business, what are your recommendations of how they should start?

Definitely take the one-year post-grad program at either Humber, Seneca, Centennial or go straight to college out of high school to complete the three-year program offered at the schools listed above including Ryerson and Durham. All programs include an internship as part of the curriculum, which helps you easily get your foot in the door and more. Not only do these programs teach you the required skills for this industry, but you will also gain a network of future PR colleagues.

6. Do you have any warnings?

Warnings:
Be prepared to work long hours. Nine to five does not exist in this client-based world.
Samantha Jones, PR guru from Sex and the City was a fictitious character. If you expect to make millions partying, you’re looking at the wrong profession. Which leads me to my next point – you never know who will end up as your client, colleague or boss so always respect and represent yourself well in public.

7. If you could try a different career on for a year, what would it be?

Hmmm… can I give my top three?

a. A Broadway star– I always wished my mother pushed me harder when it came to song and dance.
b. A shopkeeper living in Wallnut Grove just up the stream from Laura Ingles with a herd of horses to take me from a to b.
c. A secret agent.