By Hannah Onyebuchi

International Women’s Day (IWD) was first celebrated in 1911 and has since remained an annual benchmark of women’s achievements – and a call to action for gender equality. This year on 8 March, the official theme for IWD is ‘Accelerate Action’. According to the World Economic Forum, it will take 134 years, until 2158 – about five generations from now – to reach full gender parity . As we strive to create diverse, inclusive and equal environments, this year’s theme is calling on all of us to speed up gender equality across the globe.

To help us mark IWD, the women at Building Relations PR have shared some advice they wish they’d known before starting out in the PR industry, as well as insights and traits you need to thrive in our fast-paced world.

Kathryn Reucroft, Managing Director

“PR definitely isn’t all champagne and glamorous dinners, like lots of people think it is when you say that you work in PR! Working in property PR especially, you can often find us out on construction sites donning our hard hats, high vis and a pair of steel toe cap boots, but I wouldn’t change it for the world! No day is the same and we can be out on site one day looking at a new development for a client, the next at a podcast recording or video shoot and then the next in the office researching and pitching feature ideas. This is what I have always loved about the job, it so varied and you never know what each week will bring.”

Nicola Laggett, Associate Director

“PR is a fast-paced industry, and you need to be able to work quickly and adapt to changing circumstances. Resilience is key in PR – there are going to be highs and lows but its learning how to balance this! A good network is one of the most important things you can have. The more people you know the better so attend as many industry events in your sector as possible and reach out to people on LinkedIn.”

Charlotte Radcliffe, Account Director

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions and embrace being out of your comfort zone. Personal and professional growth happens when you embrace new challenges and make mistakes – no one starts their career knowing everything!”

Laura Hellon-Hughes, Senior Account Manager

“PR is one of those jobs where you will never have a chance to get bored. Every day will give you the chance to be creative, to learn, to test out new skills. Each day at work you will get to try something new. As a PR you will be a writer, an events manager, an interviewer, a social media expert, a community liaison, usually all in one! Enjoy it, roll with the punches, and you will thrive.”

Beth Blyth, Account Executive

“Being up to date on current affairs will never let you down. It’s such a fast-paced environment, especially agency life, and having ideas in your back pocket is always helpful. I would also say that almost anything can be turned into a good hook, so make sure to stay curious.”

Natalie Daniels, Associate Director

“Work hard, be passionate about what you do, and don’t be your own barrier to success. Just because a subject isn’t in your remit doesn’t mean it isn’t interesting or that you can’t learn it – be open to exploring new things. Stay driven, always striving for the best not only in yourself but the team around you.”

Claire Gardner, Head of Content

“If I could impart a few pieces of wisdom to my younger self, it would be this…
Don’t let self-doubt hold you back. Chances are that even the most confident sounding person in the room is riddled with self-doubt – they’re just good at disguising it.
Some advice for life, and not just the office, comes from the ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates. And it’s this: ‘Before you speak, ask yourself: Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it true?’
On a lighter note (and totally without foundation) I have always loved the phrase ‘fortune favours the brave!’ Often in the world of PR, you need to take a deep breath and jump in with both feet!”

Clare Graham, PR Consultant

“Enjoy the journey, not just the thought of where you are going! “Failing” in something can teach many lessons. Being too driven sucks the joy out of life, and can leave you burnt out, so try to achieve a good work life balance.”

Hannah Smith, Senior Account Manager

“You never stop learning, try to get comfortable with reaching out of your comfort zone and soak knowledge up from those around and above you.”

If you are interested in finding out more about our dynamic team please, message us at pr@building-relations.co.uk.