Monthly Archives: October 2025

Get to Know PR Manager Sara Ryan

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Public relations is all about relationships—the people behind the stories. That’s why periodically offer blog content about our team members who work with and represent our clients. This isn’t about our professional accomplishments but who we are as people. We hope you have as much fun reading along as we do interviewing each other.

What got you interested in public relations?

Growing up I dreamed of becoming an architect. As a young adult and in college, I spent my days sketching, drafting plans and studying the history of architectural design. I loved the strategy, creativity and storytelling architecture demanded. However, I struggled with one key requirement—math. Shortly after, I shifted my focus to communication studies with an emphasis on public relations and never looked back. Ultimately, public relations helped me come out of my shell after being a soft-spoken communicator. While pursuing my degree, I worked in customer service roles across retail and hospitality and quickly fell in love with the power of storytelling. Over the last decade, I have built a career transforming brands, using public relations to drive visibility while also inspiring engagement and long-term loyalty.

Tell us about your favorite movie and what appeals most to you about it?

I personally love both the thriller and horror genres. There is just something about these movies architypes that keep you on your toes and provide delightfully shocking plot twists. The blend of creative storylines, as well as anticipation, excitement and imagination, keeps me coming back for more. If I had to choose just one movie, I’d say that The Shining continues to be one of my all-time favorites. It offers haunting cinematography and an unforgettable performance, as well as a unique use of color and sound that continues to excite time and again.

What was the last, best book you read and what about it spoke to you?

Similar to my favorite types of movies, I love a good mystery. I also enjoy the occasional romance novel. However, the last and best book I read on a professional note that spoke to me was Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. The book spotlighted creativity, curiosity and overcoming fear. It’s important to consider how these traits can contribute to everyday habits. With everything we do, whether personally or professionally, we must embrace creativity with courage. Ideas are where we live—especially as PR professionals—therefore, we must give ourselves permission to create and let go of perfectionism. Don’t wait for inspiration to strike, but rather, understand that it’s okay to live outside of your comfort zone.

Tell us about a meaningful hobby or “outside of work” commitment that is important to you?

Outside of work, I enjoy any opportunity to be outdoors. This includes spending time by the lake, hiking in and around Austin, Texas, and taking in all the beauty of the outdoors through photography. Both fitness and photography have been significant components of my life. These activities allow me to spend quality time with my husband and our Pug-French Bulldog while also reconnecting with nature and most importantly, relax a little.

Share a fun fact about you.

In addition to photography, I love cooking and baking. I rarely dine out and can be found cooking dinner most nights. Having worked at a fine dining restaurant and subsequently serving as the publicist to some of the world’s renowned celebrity chefs early on in my PR career, I’ve had the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes and learn how to make some of my most beloved dishes. While I am not a culinary professional, I enjoy recreating some of my favorite recipes at home, such as meatballs with marinara, wood-fired pizza with fig jam, prosciutto and a balsamic glaze and lemon ricotta cookies, to name a few.

Takeaways from the College Admissions Process: It’s All about Building Your Brand 

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It’s finally fall, and for over 8.5 million prospective college students across the country, application deadlines are looming.  

Long gone are the days when you simply needed decent grades to get into a good college. With the number of applicants to four-year colleges steadily on the rise, the process has only become more competitive and upped the pressure to stand out.  

Grades–while still important–can only take a candidate so far today as most undergraduate programs are placing a greater emphasis on finding well-rounded individuals, who can best market themselves through a series of essays and possibly an interview. For most high school students, this submission process is the culmination of a multiyear effort of building their resumes with extracurricular activities like clubs, sports and volunteering over the course of their high school, and sometimes even middle school, careers.  

While most readers here are likely past the days of completing their own undergraduate applications, one aspect of the process should resonate. Successfully applying to college relies heavily on how a student markets themselves—the same holds true for the future success of our own professional careers.  

Just as prospective college students can market themselves in a well-crafted application chocked full of thoughtful essays, a stellar GPA, strong SAT score and robust list of extra-curriculars activities, so too can industry leaders through thought leadership, LinkedIn engagement and speaking opportunities.  

Consider some of the following to build your own brand: 

  • Become a thought leader: Thought leadership helps to build credibility and name recognition. In our digital world, which relies on quick moments to foster connection with audiences, thought leadership can establish professionals as voices worth listening to and lay the groundwork for long-term success for both leaders and their organizations. Great places to bring this thinking to the world include LinkedIn articles and posts, company blogs and contributed articles published in industry trades. If you don’t know where or how to begin, partner with a good content writer or PR agency staffed by former journalists to help you get started.  
  • Get active on LinkedIn: Just as College students are building their own brand for the eyes of admissions leaders through applications and essays, industry professionals can take steps to cultivate a professional brand on LinkedIn. In the business world, LinkedIn is a valuable tool for posting original thought leadership as well as for sharing comments and feedback on the content of others. Find a posting cadence that fits your schedule and make sure to engage on other posts through likes, comments and reposts. Consider developing a LinkedIn newsletter to publish thought leadership and build a trusted audience among your professional network.  
  • Get out there: Just as colleges want to see students engaged in the world, so to do employers. Getting involved should be part of building your professional brand as an industry leader. Consider attending more events to stay in-the-know on the latest industry news and for more effective networking. Seek out and, when possible, take advantage of speaking opportunities where you can draw attention to your expertise. Doing so will help you stand out in a crowded industry landscape, helping to shape both the perception and eventual reality of your role as a thought leader in your space. 

Getting into college is really all about building your own brand. For individuals struggling to establish a strong connection with prospects, clients, peers or employers, a strong brand identity can help cut through the noise and set them apart. Establishing and maintaining a strong professional brand with thought leadership, a consistent LinkedIn strategy and active speaking schedule can pave the way for long-term success.  

The Emmy’s Masterclass: Communication Wins, Missteps and Lessons Learned 

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The rise of streaming services has led some pop culture enthusiasts to believe the art of live television is dying. However, over the last several decades, live television has informed significant pop culture moments, offered everyday Americans a view into the lives of the rich and famous and of course, humanized them along the way. Each year, entertainment personalities weigh in on award show attendees going off teleprompter and act as fashion police, opining on who pulled off the latest fashion win and failure. While rating numbers and social media views have shifted the landscape, a good award show always gets the people talking. 

Just a few short weeks ago, the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards delivered another evening to be remembered. The Emmy’s provided a night filled with viral moments and cause-driven messaging, along with a few misfires along the way. As a result, the award show provided communication wins, missteps and lessons learned for both brands and individuals.  

Speaking with Clarity  

This year, comedian Nate Bargatze emceed television’s biggest night. The evening began with a charitable act of giving: a $100,000 pledge to the Boys and Girls Club of America. However, the thoughtful gesture came with a catch. Always an issue for programming length, winners were limited to 45 seconds for acceptance speeches. For each second they went over, $1,000 was deducted from the pledge. This drew criticism for a lack of clarity, and some complained it overshadowed the winners’ celebratory moments. Many winners extended far beyond the time limit, sharing their gratitude and praise with the audience. The final speech left Bargatze in the red, Fortunately, Bargatze and CBS teamed up to donate $250,000 and $100,000 respectively. 

While stunts like this can grab the attention of the audience, they only succeed when a message is delivered with clarity. Professionals must be clear and concise, speaking in a straightforward manner that is free of ambiguity. A strong narrative and positioning can build trust and credibility, as well as ensure each activation lands with the intended audience. In this case, perhaps Bargatze should have considered letting on that he and CBS would ensure the Boys and Girls Club would not be left empty handed at the end of the night. 

Fostering Connection  

Actress Britt Lower took center stage to accept her award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Lower, known for her role as a Lumon employee in the Apple TV+ series Severance, caught the audience’s attention with an Easter egg displayed on her notecard stating, “Let Me Out.” This viral moment was a nod to Severance fans and its cast members. As Lower accepted her first Emmy, she brought the audience back to the moment where her character begs to be released from Lumon’s severed floor, sparking a sense of audience connection.  

Finding ways to engage with an audience has become critical. Professionals should look to adapt messages for each respective audience. In this case, Lower’s message was subtle yet effective and fostered a strong connection with viewers. Incorporating storytelling elements, such as a hidden message, can drive memorable connections as well as increase brand loyalty. 

Being Relatable  

HBO Max’s The Pitt took home the award for Outstanding Drama Series and actor Noah Wylie dedicated the win to health care workers and first responders. With 13 nominations and five wins, the respective acceptance speeches put frontline healthcare workers in the spotlight. Through these efforts, The Pitt team demonstrated brand consistency tied to its realistic portrayal of an ER, ensuring that the message was meaningful and relatable.  

Articulating a strong brand message that is aligned with a brand’s values can further strengthen its identity. Speaking with relatability creates an emotional connection that can deepen relationships with a target audience. 

As with any public-facing event or opportunity, the spotlight brings both risk and rewards. Professionals who integrate clarity, connection and relatability in their ongoing communications strategy will be set up for success, making a lasting impact for brands and their audiences.