In honor of March being National Woman’s History Month and the public 
relations industry being dominated by woman, we celebrate educational and professional freedom for woman by applying the words of some of the most powerful and influential woman in history to our own career paths.
“We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list.”
– Michelle Obama
Most millennials wear their workaholism with honor. We tend to lose sight of how stressful a career in public relations can be. We need to remember the importance of keeping a balanced life, free from havoc on our health, happiness and job performance. Whether you take up a certain hobby, read a book, take a bike ride or visit friends, truly think about what you do to relax and designate time for it.
“You won’t change things unless you are prepared to fight, even if you don’t win. But I do hate losing.”
-Wendy Davis
In today’s crowded media space, creative public relations planning is a huge part of any public undertaking. Never be afraid to introduce new ideas to your team. Having new ideas to introduce means staying abreast of industry trends and continuously developing your creative potential. To boost your creativity, step outside of your own comfort zone. Open up your mind to new perspectives and take time to learn skills that you would not normally be interested in.
“Take criticism seriously, but not personally. If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll right off you. “
-Hillary Clinton
Constructive criticism is a key part of any position. Be sure to pay attention to critical comments from supervisors and co-workers. Always being prepared to take notes during meetings and conversations will help avoid making the same mistakes twice.
“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.”
-Oprah Winfrey
Ethics plays a huge role in public relations as a profession. By always promoting the flow of accurate and truthful information, young professionals can continue to build a better reputation for public relations as an industry. Help educate your clients by letting them know what rules you are governed by and what values should be followed when communicating with the public.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
-Eleanor Roosevelt
Believing in your capabilities and planning for your success are ultimate keys to achieving your dreams. Pave your career path by setting long and short-term goals to reach throughout the year. Remember to always take advantage of mentoring and networking opportunities. Cultivating relationships with co-workers and supervisors is a likely way to gain valuable insight and advice on how to navigate through the early stages of your own career.
Magan Felitto is currently a freelance public relations professional, working with a major entertainment company in New York City. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology’s, Advertising & Marketing Communications program in Summer 2013 with four years of experience as Vice President of Chapter Development of her former PRSSA chapter and a plethora of internships under her belt. She is also a proud member of PRSA National, PRSA-New York, and PRSA New Professionals Section. Ms. Felitto can be reached at MaganFelitto@gmail.com.
Heather Sliwinski, Section chair
Nick Lucido, Section chair-elect and membership co-chair
JR Rochester, membership co-chair
Jessica Noonan, blog co-chair
Lauren Gray, blog co-chair
Robert Martin, newsletter co-editor
Candace Johnson, newsletter co-editor
Janelle Huelsman, programming co-chair
Hilary Jurinak, programming co-chair
Amy Bishop, social media co-chair
Lauren Rosenbaum, social media co-chair
Nicole Bersani, mentorship co-chair
Simon Oh, diversity liaison
Jessica Lawlor, PRSSA liaison
Scott Thornburg, PRSSA liaison