Public Relations · Published September 23, 2014

Executive Vice President, Digital & Social

How to Succeed in PR and Marketing

pr marketing strategy for business growth

For anyone who wants to excel as a marketing professional, there are several areas you can work on that will increase overall success and will help advance in your career.

Business Acumen

Business acumen encompasses a range of skills, but, ultimately, it has to do with understanding a client's business and knowing how to help the company achieve its goals. That said, you need to have knowledge beyond the area that you touch in an organization and therefore have a grasp on the financial, accounting, marketing and operational functions of that business. This awareness enables you to strategize and lead meaningful conversations with key stake holders in a business from the C-suite and other top decision makers. You become integral in corporate planning strategies and can better explain how the results you have achieved impacted the client's goals.

Integrity

With so many business scandals making the front page, more companies are looking for employees with high moral standards for honesty and ethics. Integrity is a character trait that you can't teach in business school.

Intellectual Curiosity

For anyone to grow in a public relations or marketing company, they need to be intellectually curious about how the world works. The desire to learn more by reading books or taking workshops helps to increase your knowledge of new technologies and new methodologies used in business.

Creativity

Being creative is a good way to distinguish yourself when looking for a PR job. A creative person thinks in new ways, offers new ideas, and sees things in unusual ways. These traits are very useful in public relations.

Team Player Attitude

The nature of PR is that you can’t work in isolation. This means that you have to learn to get along with a variety of people including colleagues and clients. You also have to be willing to collaborate with others to achieve business goals.

Listening Skills

Listening well is an undervalued skill. You can't expect to always have the right answers, so getting input from others is essential if you want a job done well. By truly listening to what people say, you can hear what is not being said such as concerns or issues that are not overtly expressed.

Confidence

Exuding confidence in your abilities is another hallmark of success. People are drawn to those who believe in themselves. Confidence also leads to the respect of others in the business world. For success in PR today, you need more than just a relevant degree or a few years' experience at an agency. You need a new set of skills that makes it possible for you to perform at a high level in an ever-evolving field.

Written by

Lauren McGuire

Lauren McGuire is a seasoned digital marketing and operations leader with over a decade of experience driving growth, innovation, and integration across diverse industries. She's had great success leading national digital operations spanning Paid Media, Influencer, and Social channels to deliver scalable, high-impact solutions. Known for her ability to design and implement systems that streamline workflows, foster cross-functional collaboration, and enhance performance, Lauren has played a pivotal role in shaping digital strategy for major brands in corporate, consumer, travel, healthcare, and lifestyle sectors. She is a trusted partner to senior leadership, guiding new business development, integrating emerging technologies like AI, and ensuring readiness for rapid market shifts. Lauren's career includes leadership roles in the agency world where she consistently delivered measurable results in media performance, team development, and revenue growth. With expertise in digital strategy, operational excellence, and advanced marketing techniques, she thrives on turning complex challenges into clear, actionable plans that drive sustainable success. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a specialization in Public Relations/Advertising from Loyola University Maryland, along with a Business Administration minor from the AACSB-accredited Sellinger School of Business.

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