Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Osborne
Hi Erin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Independence and autonomy have always run in my blood. At age five I was convinced I would own my own hair salon, which was quickly followed by visions of my own veterinary practice. These entrepreneurial aspirations then evolved to cafe ownership during my days as a barista at the height of Seattle’s grunge scene in the late 1990s. Shampoo, pets and coffee aside, those dreams have now been realized in my adult life with my company, ON PR, a female-owned and operated PR agency focused on lifestyle and hospitality clients. The journey wasn’t a direct line, yet each detour, challenge and celebration has contributed to our philosophy.
My career trajectory took me throughout the west coast, working for a variety of PR agencies from large multinational offices in Spokane and Seattle to a boutique tech-focused firm in San Francisco. Each experience offered further expertise and a stronger hold on which clients and projects drew my inspiration. With the support of some very special mentors who provided both leadership and independence, I grew a passion for sharing stories and supporting destination marketing, alongside an understanding of business operations.
In 2015 I launched Osborne Northwest Public Relations (ON PR), a creative PR agency committed to doing good work for good clients, and most importantly with a team of good people. Now, nearly 10 years since the launch of ON PR, we’re navigating the corporate landscape in a way that delivers excellent results for our clients, provides a work-life balance for the team and ensures the desired path for not just day-to-day life, but the future. I am extremely grateful for the support system of professional mentors, family, friends and colleagues that both inspire and support this mission.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When I became a mom in 2013 while working the traditional agency life, things like flexible hours and paid parental leave were extremely uncommon. A few days before my maternity leave was set to begin, I was told that I would actually have to pay the agency for my insurance while I was out, all while not collecting a salary. This was the first parental gut punch in a series of them that led me to hop off the corporate ladder and launch ON PR. It crystalized the need to hire good people, trust them implicitly and respect work-life balance. Promoting that balance, fostering collaboration among colleagues, and striving for industry expertise are top priorities for our team.
While we maintain office space in Seattle and have regular in-person meetings, remote work is available to all team members. This flexibility allows time to explore personal and professional pursuits. We actively encourage participation in industry events, conferences, and community engagement. Many of our team members are deeply involved with non-profit organizations that align with their own values and passions.
One of our account directors volunteers by hosting support groups for middle school-aged children dealing with anxiety and depression, a commitment that grew from their work on a suicide helpline during the heightened needs post-COVID. Another member of our team, dedicates time to fostering dogs from a local rescue organization, ensuring they receive care and attention while awaiting adoption into forever homes.
I play an active role as a member of the Visit Seattle PR roundtable, a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences such as State of Washington Tourism and DMA West. Beyond my professional engagements, I volunteer as head soccer coach for elementary aged girls through Catholic Youth Sports Organization. I am a scout leader with the Girl Scouts of America, leading meetings, coordinating community outreach initiatives, and collaborating with local farms and the Ballard Food Bank.
As you know, we’re big fans of Osborne Northwest Public Relations . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Founded by Erin Osborne in 2015, ON PR is a boutique public relations agency representing world-class lifestyle and hospitality clients. While the agency has steadily grown since inception, we remain thoughtful about our client portfolio with a focus on sustaibable growth. The past year brought new clients and key hires while maintaining legacy accounts held since the agency’s inception. With clients at the forefront of topics like environmental impacts of overtourism, climate change and social justice, ON PR played a key role in education on regenerative tourism, and giving voice to indigenous, LGBTQ and female-owned small businesses.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Curiosity. Ask questions and have genuine conversations. These will lead to meaningful storytelling, impactful business outcomes and positive relationships. Wisdom is something that must be earned. Life experience coupled with an openness to try new strategies and approaches is key to ongoing success.
Motivation. Seek opportunities rather than waiting for ideas or concepts to come to you. If there is a problem or challenge, get creative or put in some extra research instead of immediately asking a leader for help.
Trust. Whether it’s within relationships or yourself, trust is fundamental in business for several reasons, as it forms the basis of successful relationships with customers, employees, and partners. It underpins every aspect of business success—from employee engagement and customer satisfaction to innovation and sustainable growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.onpublicrelations.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ONpublicrelations
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onpublicrelations
Image Credits
Personal photo: Hannah Corbin
Photos #1 and #6, Hannah Corbin