Elaine Roddy, Director, Buzz PR
Company: I work for BuzzPR a public relations, marketing, event management and copywriting consultancy. Our modus operandum for our clients is to help create a ‘buzz’ about our clients’ business, service or product amongst the people they want talking about it.
Job description: I just started the company two months ago with my business partner Ronnie Carroll. As a Director, I help drive all sectors of the PR/marketing remit from developing the brief, strategy planning and implementation to client service, media relations management and evaluation. We also control the top end business management from corporate planning to business development and financial control.
Likes: I love the diversity. One morning I can be meeting a client to find out their needs then a couple of hours later I can be immersed in creative strategy planning. Another day I can be devoted to copywriting of proposals, scripts or press releases then find myself managing a photocall or TV appearance of a client. I also thoroughly enjoy the satisfaction of taking a campaign from the creative planning through to logistical and strategic implementation and finally seeing the results. This can be anything from media coverage, visual display (of a logo, corporate identity or presentation or simply the production of a quality publication for a client).
Career ladder: I have worked in PR for almost 10 years now in every aspect of the business. I have worked for PR agencies (McMahonSheedy Communications and Life Communications) and also in-house as the PR/marketing professional for companies. I also ran a consultancy partnership (Ro-Ro Consulting) some time ago before a lucrative opportunity to work for an agency again wooed me away! Before we started BuzzPR I also acted as the Director of the National Recruitment Federation for almost nine years. My experience in PR has transported me into a lot of industries from consumer and corporate to entertainment and charitable.
Qualifications: BA in Economics & German. Diploma in Public Relations
Working hours: There are no typical hours in PR and most definitely not when you run a company! I’m always working be it physically during the day or mentally going through things in my mind at night – I love it!
Breaktime: Sometimes I have a business lunch and regularly eat at the desk but I do try to get one or two actual breaks from the desk to have a casual lunch. I learned the hard way that it is important to take a mental break during the day. The rest is so much more productive when you do.
Social media credentials: I confess to being a Facebook and LinkedIn fan. It used to be purely personal but I have recognised the benefits in profiling either BuzzPR or our clients’ activities. I must admit to having to discipline myself in terms of time spent on them. They are a necessary evil for today’s savvy businesses!
News: Independent.ie and Prosperity!
Onsite or offsite: My job is a mixture of both.
Why do you love Mondays: I love Mondays because they are a fresh start to the week and there is so much time and opportunity ahead. Most people are focused on a Monday so you can get their attention. I try not to have meetings on Mondays so I can get stuck into the planning part of the week or copywriting. Mondays when in the office and at full steam I love…now Sunday evenings…that’s another story! 
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