In 2015 Annual Conference, 2015 Conference - Monday, 2015 Conference - Updates

By Brandi Welk (Pensacola Chapter)

FPRA15_0254Through Elise Mitchell’s experience in building her own company, Mitchell Communications Group, she has faced many challenges and learned many lessons along the way.

As PR professionals, we must:

  • Be explorers.
  • Master the maneuvers.
  • Steer left. Turn right.
  • Enjoy the ride.

Be an Explorer: Lessons Learned

  • Chart the best course you can, but be willing to scrap the map.
  • Embrace firsts – they’re often not as bad as you think they are.
  • Stay on the journey no matter where it leads.

Master the Maneuvers: Lessons Learned

  • It’s OK to say you don’t know, but you must say you will will find out who does.
  • Get comfortable with complexity and change.
  • Be resilient in the face of adversity.

Steer Left. Turn Right: Lessons Learned

  • Read the road signs.
  • Don’t say “yes” to everything.
  • Understand your value proposition.
  • Set an ROI and innovative budget.
  • Create a culture of “try.”

Enjoy the Ride: Lessons Learned

  • There is only one you.
  • The best leaders are wiling to evolve.
  • Know when you need to redefine your role.

Mitchell closed the session by touching on a program at Mitchell Communications Group called “Ignite.” Ignite is an annual program where employees are encouraged to perform random acts of kindness for one day. Employees are broken into groups that they normally don’t work with and given money to create a project that will make a difference in their local community. Employees feel empowered to “think outside of themselves” and make an impact.

As leaders, we have an opportunity to do good for others. By delegating to others, we can allow them to grow and learn as well. Keep striving to be the best leader you can be and always ENJOY THE RIDE!

Tweetable Tidbits

Focus on what only you can do and give the rest away.

Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try.

Keep redefining your role as a leader so others can grow too.

Follow Elise on Twitter: @elisemitch

 

Elise Mitchell and motorcycle (2)

Elise Mitchell, APR, Fellow PRSA
CEO, Mitchell Communications Group and COE, Dentsu Aegis Public Relations Network

Elise S. Mitchell, APR, Fellow PRSA, President and CEO, Mitchell Communications Group Mitchell is an accomplished strategic communications professional and business leader whose entrepreneurial spirit helped build Mitchell Communications Group into one of the top 10 fastest-growing firms globally and a two-time Agency of the Year winner – honored by both PRWeek and The Holmes Report. The company’s client portfolio includes well-known brands such as Walmart, Procter & Gamble, Hilton Worldwide, Kraft, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant and Southwestern Energy. Under her leadership, the company grew more than 500 percent in five years to become a top 35 PR firm in the U.S. At the end of 2012, Mitchell sold Mitchell Communications, and today it is the leading PR agency brand in one of the world’s largest marketing communications companies, Dentsu Aegis Network. In addition to her role at Mitchell, Mitchell is working to build a global PR brand for the network. In recognition of her accomplishments, Mitchell has received numerous awards including being named PRWeek Agency Public Relations Professional of the Year and a Top 50 Power Player in PR. Prior to founding Mitchell Communications, Mitchell worked on both the agency and corporate sides of the business serving as the top public relations executive for Promus Hotel Corporation; a vice president at Sossaman, Bateman, McCuddy; and assistant director of public relations at Walker & Associates.

Contact Us

We're not around right now. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

Start typing and press Enter to search