Janelle Yates

Owner/Operator - The Little PR Company

Graduated in:

2007

Course completed:

Bachelor of Arts majoring in public relations

Currently working for:

My own business, The Little PR Company.

How long have you been working for this organisation?

I started The Little PR Company in 2009. Prior to this I worked for General Motors Holden in Melbourne before moving to the UK. Here I worked for many different organisations/people as a freelancer, including:

• Hill and Knowlton
• Westminster Council of London
• Gordon Ramsay
• Gunther von Hagens

As owner of The Little PR Company I have the pleasure of working with a diverse client base including:

• Her Majesty’s Theatre Ballarat
• City of Ballarat
• Neighbourhood Houses
• Aussie Girls Love Shoes
• Committee for Ballarat

Position title and short job description:

Owner/Operator of The Little PR Company.

The Little PR Company is a unique, communications service located in Ballarat, with a reputation for creativity, innovation and energy.

Following the philosophy that no two clients are ever the same, it is important to recognise the need for specialist communications services, with a particular focus on social media communications, meeting the diverse communications needs of many different sectors.

Working highlight so far:

It would have to be working in London on a campaign called "Apprenticeships Week". It was launched by the Westminster Council of London to encourage young school leavers to take up apprenticeships. The highlight of this was securing rapper Dizzee Rascal as a spokesperson, as he was truly inspirational and spoke to young people in their language.

What are the things you enjoy most about your job?

Meeting so many unique, inspired and interesting people, who all have such diverse backgrounds. My favourite part about specialising in social media communications is that I get to sit on Twitter pretty much all day and it is part of my job! I love that following pop culture is my research and I believe pop culture can save the world.

An area in which you have needed assistance:

Dealing with angry UK media and other stakeholders in 2008, when British Telecommunications pulled funding on most of their CSR projects in order to pay their CEO her "golden handshake!".

What do you intend to do in the future?

Grow my business to a level by which I have a handful of happy staff and some diverse and interesting clients, then travel again and enjoy a balanced life of work and fun.

#1 tip for current students studying your course:

Get as much workplace experience as possible during your uni years. Book smarts are required, but are not enough in the PR world; potential employers/clients want to know that you have pushed yourself further and that you have attempted to gain experience. This will help you stand out amongst the other thousands of communications graduates across the world when you graduate.