Her PRo Playbook: 8 Power Plays from Women in PR/Comms You Need in Your Toolkit
For the month of March, in honor of Women’s History Month, we went beyond celebration and did the groundwork to amplify the thought leadership of women in our community. We connected with eight dynamic changemakers who are shifting the culture, building legacy, and leading with strategy in the PR & communications industries. Now, we’re proud to share the result of those conversations.
Her PRo Playbook is a step-by-step guide rooted in real strategy and lived experience, crafted to equip you through every season of your professional journey.
We honor the women rewriting the rules of PR and communications – professionals, powerhouses, visionaries, and teachers giving us the blueprint.
Each “play” in this edition of Her Playbook comes directly from a woman making a major impact. And now, it’s yours.
Play 1: Be Scrappy + Self-Assured
Bree Jones | @plzbreelieveme
Bree's PR game-changer? Moving with a scrappy mentality. She doesn’t wait for permission — she finds the contact, makes the pitch, and goes beyond the first “no.” From mining Google and LinkedIn to tapping into social media, Bree proves that PR is about persistence and resourcefulness.
Her biggest lesson as a woman in PR? Stop over-apologizing. Own your space. Your worth isn’t up for debate, and your relationships with media are everything — treat them with care, not just convenience.
💡 Apply this: Dig up five new media contacts this week outside of your database. Get scrappy. Get results.
No formal book rec — just years of wisdom from past bosses and lived experience.
Play 2: Build the Community You Needed
Leah Johnson | @LivingLeahJ
Leah’s approach to building community? Start with yourself. If it speaks to you, it'll likely resonate with others. Create from your lived experiences, and build something that feels like home.
As a Black woman in PR, Leah has learned: visibility must be created, not waited on. Sometimes you don’t get a seat at the table — you build your own. And don’t forget: the gold might already be in your network.
💡 Apply this: Audit your circle this week. Who already has the skills, connections, or resources you need? Collaborate inward.
Recommended read: Influence by Robert B. Cialdini
Play 3: Stay Multi-Dimensional
Aba Kwawu | @taa_pr
Aba reminds us that PR today requires versatility. Traditional media alone won’t cut it — you need a wide network, digital fluency, and creative adaptability. Her approach combines industry charm with a grounded, firm hand when it comes to managing clients.
Relationship-building is everything — take your time and let them bloom. The connections you build today could be your biggest wins tomorrow.
💡 Apply this: Read outside your niche. Go from Business of Fashion to TikTok futurists and expand how you think about storytelling.
Read everything. Curiosity is the strategy.
Play 4: Anticipate the Dominoes
Imani Ellis | @imaniimani
Imani’s strategy? Think several steps ahead. Whether pacing a press day or mapping out campaign timing, she visualizes best- and worst-case scenarios to lead with clarity and calm.
She also leads with kindness and intentional relationship-building. In her words: “It’s not who you know — it’s who knows you.” And don’t just learn from the loud — read the full email thread. Study how your leaders communicate.
💡 Apply this: Start reading internal comms from the bottom up. Every email is a masterclass in tone, urgency, and influence.
Recommended listen: The Myleik Teele Podcast
Pop Culture Pick: The Devil Wears Prada — for the hustle and the lesson that doing your job well is the floor, not the ceiling.
Play 5: Tell the Story That Moves People
Christina Kanu | @misskanu
Christina’s strategy? Storytelling that sticks. It’s not just about PR messaging — it’s about narratives that connect, inspire, and mobilize. Her challenge to clients and PRos alike: Be authentic. Be real. Be vulnerable.
Her biggest lesson? Your voice is the power. Lead by example, advocate for yourself, and own your story — the good, the bad, and the “still learning.” Support other women while you climb.
💡 Apply this: Rewrite your bio as a story, not a resume. What’s your “why”? What have you overcome?
Recommended read: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
Play 6: Be Boldly You
Khadijah Corrie | @about.khadijah
Khadijah is here to tell you: You don’t have to shrink to fit. Own your voice, take up space, and don’t be afraid to evolve. Whether managing crisis or crafting strategy, stay authentic and advocate for your worth.
PR is changing — and women like you are leading that change. The future of media is diverse, unapologetic, and rooted in real relationships.
💡 Apply this: Write down 3 non-negotiables in your values. Use those to guide how and who you pitch.
Go-to resources:
Keep It Positive, Sweetie podcast
Pastor Mike Jr.
Sarah Jakes Roberts
Play 7: Sound Like a Human
Rachael Payton | @raypay_
AI might be here, but PR is still a people game. Rachael reminds us that your audience — including journalists — are still human. Ditch the robotic press release tone and talk like a person with purpose.
She also drops a word for the perfectionists: You learn by trying. You grow by failing. Don't fear either.
💡 Apply this: Rework one pitch today to sound like it came from you, not ChatGPT.
Recommended reads:
Originals by Adam Grant
Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay
Play 8: Lead With Integrity and Intention
Mercedes C. Smith | @mercedescsmith
Mercedes lives by this: People won’t just remember your pitch — they’ll remember how you made them feel. Relationships built on trust have opened doors for her that strategy alone couldn’t.
Her power move? Stay prepared, stay grounded, and never compromise your integrity for a short-term win. In her world, success with values > success with shortcuts.
💡 Apply this: Define your “why.” When you’re anchored in it, everything else becomes clearer — your pitches, your clients, your voice.
Recommended read: Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Final Word.
This is your sign to stop playing small.
Every woman featured in this playbook built her path through courage, missteps, breakthroughs, and unwavering truth. These aren’t just power plays—they’re lived lessons, sharpened by experience and shared with intention.
We did the groundwork. We gathered the game. Now it’s your turn.
Pick a play. Run it with purpose. Refine it with boldness.
And write the next chapter of your own powerful story.
