The next instalment of our ’10 questions with’ series gets to know our Account Manager, Sydney Davidson. During this series, we’re hoping to give you a real insight into the people on our team, the type of personalities within the Digital Marketing & PR industry and what the various roles involve.
1. What does ‘public relations’ mean to you?
It’s hard to define as it can mean many different things. For me in its most basic form, it’s providing brands with media coverage without paying advertising costs, but there is so much more to it than that. At the end of the day, you are responsible for the brand’s reputation and there are so many creative and engaging ways to manage that.
2. What do you love about PR? / What excites you the most about work?
It used to be securing coverage, it’s such a great feeling when your hard work pays off. Now, it’s watching the junior team members grow and succeed as a result of sharing my experience and encouragement. Doesn’t get better than that!
3. How and why did you get into PR?
My mum has been an interiors journalist since I was little, working on titles such as House Beautiful, Livingetc and Woman & Home. I regularly attended photoshoots to help when I wasn’t in school or university. After I graduated, I had no idea what I wanted to do. She organised me an internship at a PR agency, I was working 7 days a week juggling interning and working at Tesco. I realised I was quite good at it and continuing interning until I was offered my first job. The rest is history!
4. Typically, what does your role at Houston involve? / What is your role, and can you give a brief run-down of what you do?
What doesn’t it involve! Being an Account Manager at Houston means wearing many different hats. Some days you are hosting an intimate dinner for editors, the next compiling budgets, writing expert comments about water pressure and valves, and then at the end of the day packing boxes.
5. If you weren’t doing PR what do you think you would be doing?
Something with people or dogs, I love feeling like I’ve made a difference. It would be fun to run a animal day care.
6. What is a common misconception of working in PR?
That our jobs are like Emily in Paris! It’s ridiculous, does she actually do any work?
7. What do you like about working at Houston?
The people. It’s such a great group of very talented and bright young people.
8. If you had any advice for someone starting out in PR, what would it be? / Do you have any career advice to give to someone interested in PR?
Get all the experience you can and be open to volunteering opportunities. It’s a small world and people will always remember you. Be remembered as a friendly and hard-working, not lazy and rude!
9. What did you want to be when you were little/growing up?
An artist, still life, portraits. I was due to study fine art at university but changed last minute and did advertising design.
10. If you could have a dinner party with any 5 people (dead or alive), who would they be and why?
This was such a hard question, and they always say don’t meet your idols. However, I have picked the below guests – could you imagine them all together? It would be hilarious and crazy!
Freddie Mercury, does this need explaining?
Patrick Stewart, always been a huge fan, he just seems like a genuine sweet soul. He’d have some great stories.
Tim McGraw, cheesy but I love country music, also I’ve just finished 1883. If you know, you know.
Queen Charlotte, I’d love to hear about her life and what it was really like back then. She had 15 children, she introduced the Christmas tree and helped expand Kew Gardens, she was pen pals with Marie Antoinette. I would grill her all night.
Dolly Parton, I love everything about her, plus she’d be ace at karaoke.