Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Graham. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ashley, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
The Conscious Publicist is a boutique concierge that helps Conscious Media Archetypes™ achieve success through public relations, communications, and media activations. Our team supports organizations, industry leaders, and visionaries with various services, including public and media relations, communications planning, leadership consulting, media training, and executive contributor activations. Our goal is to raise the recognition and credibility of conscious voices and leaders who inspire transformation by publicly sharing stories and methodologies unique to them and their expertise. With our full-service approach, we help our clients go from ideation to transformation through the media, crafting their ideas into meaningful and impactful initiatives.
I have always believed in the power of ideas and their ability to inspire action and change. This belief led me to my career in public relations and media relations, where I can use my skills and expertise to advocate for a more conscious and mindful approach to PR, communications, and leadership. As a leader in this field, I am committed to bringing authenticity and awareness to our work and helping our clients share their stories and messages with the world. Through education, strategy, and a focus on authentic storytelling, we can inspire meaningful change and transformation in the lives of others. Our clients are courageous individuals and organizations dedicated to embracing new beginnings and finding opportunities for growth and expansion, even in the face of adversity. By sharing their experiences through storytelling in the media, we hope to create a positive ripple effect and inspire others to find their path to transformation and growth.
The Conscious Publicist is my second business venture, and it has the potential for significant growth based on my experience in my previous business. The Conscious Publicist has been in the ideation phase throughout my career, primarily taking shape starting in 2019. Through my personal brand, I identified myself as The Conscious Publicist, highlighting my approach and perspectives on the industry and leadership that were vastly unique to me, or so it felt. The Conscious Publicist officially started taking more public form in 2020 and throughout 2022, when our concierge brand was formally formed. I recognized through my previous business that true, long-term success could only be achieved with the help and support of others. Therefore, for the launch of The Conscious Publicist, I have consciously sought and collaborated with experts who bring a range of skills, expertise, and experience to the table. This realization has allowed me to watch the brand and business come to life in ways I couldn’t have imagined at the outset. I am excited to continue exploring the potential of this venture alongside my partners.
Overall, embracing a collaborative approach and seeking out the support of others has been vital in driving business growth and success. I am excited to see what the future holds for both The Conscious Publicist as a firm and the creative endeavors that are waiting to be explored with the like-minded partners and collaborators I have attracted through this business venture.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
As a multi-passionate advocate for a more conscious lifestyle, I use PR, business, and multiple practices to encourage a more mindful way of living and being. I believe that opportunities for growth come to those who are aware and actively seek them out, so I dedicate my time and energy to activate initiatives that benefit myself and those around me. In addition to my work at The Conscious Publicist, I strive to elevate my daily habits, thoughts, beliefs, and practices to become more spiritually enlightened. I am able to better serve those in partnership with me and create stronger connections with others by understanding myself, my energy, and my intuition. This is where self-mastery work has been very beneficial for me and has contributed to the success of my business and creating more joy in my personal life in many ways. I strengthen my relationship with myself through meditation, breath work, and other modalities, which all have contributed to how I connect with others through this business immensely. This is where the ‘conscious’ in our organization plays a significant role. It’s through my own conscious awareness of self, that I am able to support this work and others in a very holistic, empowering way. It is a gift to support myself and others in this way, and this level of awareness in my work and relationships play a significant role towards living a more conscious experience as a whole.
PR is about creating connections between people and their stories through the media. This connection can be through relationships, profiles and highlights on conscious leaders, podcasts, or videos. The media amplifies these connections and the visibility shifts that come with them. As a PR professional, I aim to strengthen my clients’ voices and help them gain recognition and awareness through the outlets and channels most relevant to their stories. My role is to be a catalyst for these connections, using my ability to mirror my clients’ stories to create an energetic connection with the right audience. Therefore, a strong connection to ‘self’ is vital and I believe it has positively impacted my work.
With that said, I am excited to bring this same level of connection and energy to more ways people can connect with the organization and my methodologies. One of the most exciting projects we are working on is launching our podcast, The Conscious Publicist Podcast. This podcast is a space where we explore the intersection of public relations, thought leadership, business, and entrepreneurship, all through the lens of being a conscious human being. We will explore the habits, thoughts, strategies, and modalities that have helped leaders overcome limiting beliefs, comparison, and self-doubt, to become the thought leaders they were meant to be.
The Conscious Publicist is also launching an executive contributors program for our media platform. This program will feature articles, highlights of our favorite modalities, interviews with thought leaders, and opportunities for other leaders to be recognized in our stories. This platform will allow other leaders to share their experiences and expertise with our audience and gain recognition for their work. As a publicist, I work with various outlets for my clients and believe that our brand and organization can create a similar ecosystem for our clients and other notable leaders who want to increase their visibility. Our team has a wealth of experience and expertise in the media industry, and we aim to use this to create opportunities for others to share their stories. This is where we are truly dedicating time and energy to activate initiatives and opportunities that benefit others in this space.
We are also excited to announce the launch of our PR VIP Intensive sessions, which will provide a lot of value to clients who want to manage and execute their PR and media relations campaigns. These sessions will cover everything from crafting media releases to building relationships with journalists and are designed to help clients succeed in getting their message out to the world. Overall, we are committed to helping our clients share their stories and announcements with the world, and these exciting projects and offers are just a few of the ways we hope to do so.
Stay tuned for more updates on these projects and offerings as they become available through our website at www.theconsciouspublicist.com.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
As the pandemic reached its peak in 2020, I found myself feeling a strong desire for change. I had been living in San Diego for many years, but something inside me was calling for a new beginning. After much contemplation, I decided to pivot by moving to Orange County. At first, leaving behind my familiar surroundings was intimidating, but I knew there was more for me on the other side. I knew this was a chance to open myself up to new opportunities and experiences. As I packed up my belongings and said goodbye to my old life, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation.
Once I arrived in Orange County, I quickly discovered that this move was exactly what I needed. The change in environment had a transformative effect on my mindset and how I approached my business and lifestyle. I felt more energized and motivated, and the opportunities that came my way seemed endless. As I settled into my new surroundings, I became more intentional about how I lived my life. The change in the environment allowed me to reflect on what was truly important to me and where I wanted to focus my time and energy. I began to see my business in a new light and was motivated to create a bigger purpose for myself and my work.
In the end, this move proved to be one of the most transformative experiences of my life. It led me to a new way of living and thinking and helped me achieve a level of success I could never have imagined. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to make this pivot, and I will always be grateful for its positive impact on my life. Looking back, I’m thankful for the courage and determination it took from me to make that life pivot. It may have seemed like a risky move at the time, but it ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
Maintaining strong connections with clients is crucial for fostering brand loyalty. I try to stay in touch with my clients as frequently as possible through weekly connection calls, emails, or in-person meetups. The more time I can spend building relationships with my clients, our bond becomes stronger.
Even when I’m not working with a client, I still try to find ways to support them. I might refer them to connections who could use their services or check in to see how they’re doing. By showing my clients that I care about them and their success, even when we’re not actively working together, this shows them that I am loyal to them, which in turn equals their trust and loyalty in me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theconsciouspublicist.com/
Image Credits
Jazzmine Taylor Photography and The Conscious Publicist