On Tuesday, March 19th at 8:30 p.m. eastern, a panel of public industry professionals will share why they started their own business and offer advice to those considering taking their PR career in an entrepreneurial direction. The discussion will take place on Twitter, using the hashtag #PRStudChat and all PR students, professionals and educators are welcome to join the session. Questions to be discussed include:
· What is most appealing about taking your PR career in an entrepreneurial direction?
· What are the biggest challenges to succeeding as an entrepreneur?
· Who are successful PR entrepreneurs we can learn from?
· Who are the key business partners every PR entrepreneur needs?
· What percentage of time/budget should be spent on pro bono or philanthropic work?
· What non-PR skills are critical for owners of a PR consultancy or agency?
· What are the best ways to network and grow your business?
· Is it helpful for PR consultants/agency owners to be specialists?
· What brand would be your "dream" client and why?
· What are the best ways to promote your own PR business?
Panelists for the #PRStudChat Session include:
Shonali Burke (@shonali)
Shonali Burke is the *IABC-accredited, award-winning president & CEO of Shonali Burke Consulting, Inc., where she helps you take your business communications from corporate codswallop to community cool™.
In 2007, PRWeek recognized Shonali as one of the "top 40 under 40" PR professionals in the US. Since then, she’s been named one of 100 PR pros worth following on Twitter, and one of 25 women that rock social media. In addition to running her successful consulting practice, Shonali is a sought-after trainer and speaker, and was featured at TEDxAdamsMorganWomen in December 2012. Shonali is also Adjunct Faculty at Johns Hopkins University, teaching a course on “not-for-profits in the digital age” for its M.A. in Communication program. She blogs at Waxing UnLyrical, under the watchful eyes of Chuck, Suzy Q. and Lola, her three rescue dogs. Her long-suffering husband has accepted that Shonali can most often be found on Twitter.
Kellye Crane (@KellyeCrane)
Kellye Crane is the Founder of Solo PR Pro, the premier resource for independent PR consultants - and those who'd like to be. The Solo PR community includes the flagship blog, a premium membership site, the weekly #solopr Twitter chat, the Solo PR Pros LinkedIn group, a Facebook page, and more.
An accomplished, award-winning communicator with more than 20 years of experience in strategic marketing communications, Kellye Crane has offered strategic planning, social media, press/influencer relations, website design/management and technical writing services to some of the world’s largest companies, including ADP, BellSouth, The Coca-Cola Company, IBM, Intel, McKesson, and Microsoft.
Arik Hanson (@ArikHanson)
Arik Hanson is the principal of ACH Communications, a digital communications firm focused on fostering meaningful online interactions, driving digital relevance and building measurable growth through social channels. Arik’s client list includes Fortune 500 and well-known brands like Select Comfort, General Mills, Walgreens and the Mall of America and local, homegrown brands like Starkey, Allina Health, Feed My Starving Children and UCare. Arik's blog, Communications Conversations (www.arikhanson.com), has received numerous industry accolades including being named “Required Reading” by PRWeek and one of “The Top 25 Blogs to Follow” by PRWeb.
With more than 17 years of experience in marketing, communications and PR, Arik has played a lead role in many digital projects and online initiatives–both locally and nationally–over the last few years, including: Founding Help a PR Pro Out (HAPPO) and the first-ever Minnesota Blogger Conferenceand organizing the Social Media Business Summit at BlogWorld in Las Vegas each year. Arik's also a regular contributor to the Ragan.com, Social Media Examiner, PR Daily and MinnPost and has been interviewed on the topics of social media and PR by media outlets like FOX-9 TV, Minnesota Business, Twin Cities Business and Minnesota Public Radio.
Heather Whaling (@prTini)
As president of Geben Communication, Heather leads new business development, client relations and strategic planning for the firm. Plus, she is heavily involved in implementation, helping clients integrate traditional and digital PR strategies to excel in today’s social world.
An avid Twitter user, Heather can trace 75% of Geben’s business back to relationships that began online. This ability to turn social networking into business outcomes has helped Geben evolve into a highly respected, sought-after, award-winning PR firm. Most recently, Geben was named one of Agency Post's "Top 10 Agencies for Startups." In addition to helping clients secure coverage in a range of high-profile media outlets – from the New York Times and Wall Street Journal … to Huffington Post and TechCrunch – Heather has been quoted in Inc.com, Entrepreneur and BusinessWeek about technology’s impact on communication and business. She was selected as one of Columbus Business First’s “Forty Under 40” and named one of Columbus’s top 10 entrepreneurs by The Metropreneur. Connect with Heather on her blog, prTini.com, or on Twitter, @prTini.
PRStudChat
It began with a simple question asked by Angela Hernandez, then President of PRSSA at Central Michigan University (CMU). “Is PR Right for me?” A follow up blog post by PR 2.0 expert Deirdre Breakenridge inspired a series of direct messages on Twitter between Breakenridge and fellow PR industry pro, Valerie Simon. This was an important question and one that should be explored beyond one student or one blog post. Why not build a community to help students across the country, and even the globe, learn from the experience and perspective of industry professionals… A community where everyone can learn and grow together. Read more
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