Every once in a while I’m asked about a highlight from my career. After so many years in PR, there are several! But one always stands out – my day with Bobby Berk.

At the time, Bobby was best known as the design guru on Netflix’s Queer Eye (he recently announced he is exiting the show). We worked with client Sleep Number to bring Bobby to NYC for a day of broadcast media interviews and then in-person lifestyle/tech editorial meetings. Bobby shared bedroom design tips for better sleep and how a Sleep Number smart bed could help.

Let’s face it, all organizations – no matter how big or small – will face a major issue at some point. Especially in today’s connected world where information (or misinformation) spreads like wildfire, a crisis can be lurking just around the corner, causing unprepared organizations to potentially suffer major financial, operational and reputational losses.

Crisis communication is a vital function of public relations and below are 5 best practices to consider that can help you anticipate, mitigate and respond to PR disasters and critical events.

Today, we celebrate the remarkable strength, resilience and achievements of women in our lives, our communities and across the globe.

Reflecting on the past 15 years, I am deeply grateful for the guidance and inspiration I’ve received from female leaders. From influential department heads in college to the dedicated managers and agency owners I’ve worked with, it has been their support and mentorship that has gotten me where I am today.

It’s February 25th – Today marks the 10-month countdown to Christmas. I know, the holiday season just ended not that long ago. Most people won’t think about the holidays for another 8 months or so, but for those of us in Public Relations (PR), now is the time to start thinking about planning for the holiday season. 🌲 ⛄ 

For example, on the media relations front, long lead holiday editorial opportunities start in early Summer and PR pros need to be ready then to start pitching details to media. Now is the time for PR teams to start having initial conversations with internal PR/Marketing teams and Product Managers to learn about general holiday plans and direction, focus products, campaigns, and events. With this insight, PR shapes a program to complement and augment Marketing and Communications initiatives, campaigns and goals.

Super Bowl LVIII scored a massive touchdown on Sunday when it became the most-watched NFL championship in history. According to Nielsen and Adobe Analytics, Sunday night’s game had an average of 123.4 million viewers across TV and streaming platforms, topping last year’s numbers by 7%.

With so many viewers tuning in, Super Bowl Sunday is known as the biggest day in advertising for brands hoping to make a lasting impression. But beyond those iconic commercials, there is a strategic underpinning that often goes unnoticed – public relations (PR). Following are ways that PR, with its ability to shape narratives, build relationships and generate buzz, plays a pivotal role in a brand’s “Big Game” day marketing success.

This past weekend, I attended the #GRAMMYs for the first time. While the awards ceremony is televised nationally, what many of us don't see are the many industry events leading up to it.

The Saturday before the awards ceremony, I was invited to the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Industry Gathering, attended by recording music artists, producers, creatives, and professionals from the entertainment and music industry. While intimidated to be attending a mixer event and be in a room with such amazing talent, what I soon realized was that it wasn't very different from previous events I’ve attended with clients and media as a PR professional.

Sharing a Wednesday wrap-up with friends and peers. It feels like January came and went in the blink of an eye, including Walt & Company’s time spent at CES this year. While it’s the beginning of February and our team and many of our communication peers are focused on Big Game initiatives (Let’s Go Niners) and other important campaigns for the coming months, I wanted to pause for a minute to look back at a few CES 2024 highlights and takeaways:

-We logged an average of 15,000 steps for several days in a row walking in-between meetings, staffing, exploring, and hosting

-We met countless technology peers in elevators, Ubers, limos, restaurants, and show floor booths

-We reconnected with industry and media friends, partners and past clients and thoroughly enjoyed the time spent 

I just listened to today’s NYTimes Daily podcast about the hybrid worker malaise. As someone at a company who has fully committed to the hybrid work environment, it was an interesting discussion about the struggles of this new work environment and the benefits that come with it.

It made me reflect on Walt & Company's own hybrid journey and be grateful for the decisions made to make it as seamless as possible, focusing on relationships, training and growth. Just yesterday in a (Zoom) management meeting, we discussed the unique traits that make us who we are. Words like nimble, dedicated and resourceful were used. Those are the same characteristics that have allowed us to successfully navigate this new working environment, and best support our work staff who are not always living in the same place.

Walt & Company, an award-winning Silicon Valley tech public relations and social media agency, today announced it has been named PR agency of record by Galorath, the premier provider of cost, scheduling, and should-cost estimation solutions and consulting services. Leveraging four decades of experience and success, Galorath empowers organizations with the tools and talent needed to optimize project results and drive cost-effectiveness.

"We are excited to be working with Galorath in its mission to help organizations manage change in today's evolving market landscape – from trade policy shifts and workforce scarcity to energy transition and changing supplier ecosystems," said Robert Walt, president of Walt & Company. Read more.

Need to catch up on past announcements from the Walt & Company team?