It was a thrill to interview Sir Richard Branson for the National Press Club on May 19 when the English industrialist was in DC to lobby against the proposed British Airways/ American Airlines merger.
“We have survived the recessions in 1991, 2001, and 9/11, but if this alliance is permitted to occur, it will be like competing with our hands tied behind our back,” he told the audience.
Although most entrepreneurs don’t face the dramatic challenges that Branson does, they do bump up against competitors trying to elbow in on their market share. As public relations specialists, it’s our mission to help clients grab more of the thought space by doing just what the savvy Branson did — get in front of the very people who are going to appreciate your product or service, then do everything you can to convince them your approach is the most advantageous.
Of course, it wasn’t too hard on the eyes to watch Branson in action. Perhaps the best part of his hour-long speech was the question-and-answer session in which he talked about his plans to take his spacecraft Eve (named for his mother) into orbit later this year. “These are exciting days for flight,” he shared. “Once we perfect our approach, I think we might give the moon a miss and go straight to Mars.”
Here’s to shooting for the stars. Talk to you soon. —Hope
Hope Katz Gibbs, president & founder Inkandescent Public Relations / hope@hopegibbs.com
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Despite April showers, it’s been a sunny month thanks to some special opportunities, including being commissioned to write an article for the National Press Club’s newsletter and blog about everyone’s favorite Nanny, award-winning actress and activist Fran Drescher.
After struggling for eight years and seeing eight doctors in an attempt to figure out what was making her feel sick, Drescher was diagnosed in 2001 with uterine cancer. She went on to write two bestselling books, the second of which led to the birth of her nonprofit organization, Cancer Schmancer. Then, after years of persistent lobbying of the Bush Administration, in September 2008 she was named the U.S. State Department Special Envoy for Women’s Health.
“I am not glad that I got cancer, but I am better for it,” she told the audience that gathered at the Press Club on April 14. “I remember standing in my bathroom after the surgery looking swollen and bruised, and feeling nothing like the Superwoman I had felt I was my whole life. I wished I could have been anyone but me in that moment.”
Of course, Drescher did find the courage to go on, and although she continues to work as an actress, she has taken on a new mission: to inspire other women to take charge of their lives. “Stage one is the cure,” she counseled during her hour-long speech. “Know your own bodies and listen to that little voice. If it tells you something is amiss, don’t take no for an answer until you find the right doctor — and the right diagnosis.”
May we all be inspired, even in our darkest hours, to dig down deep and find ways to give back. Here’s to May flowers. Talk to you soon. — Hope
Hope Katz Gibbs, president & founder Inkandescent Public Relations
hope@inkandescentpr.com / www.inkandescentpr.com
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What a great month March has been! On March 2, I had the privilege of interviewing Vivian Schiller, the new president of National Public Radio when she spoke at the National Press Club in DC.
The topic of her talk was, “What Public Broadcasting can learn from commercial media – and vice versa.” Her advice: Shout from the hilltops about accomplishments and offerings. Who am I to argue? Following are some of the news hits and accomplishments our clients have garnered since our news blast in February.
And do check out Ms. Schiller’s entire speech here and on our blog Truly Amazign Women.
Talk to you next month! – Hope
Hope Katz Gibbs, president & founder
Inkandescent Public Relations / hope@inkandescentpr.com
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