Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Meaghan Shanley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Meaghan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

To me, success is about much more than simply doing what you love. And although I have a deep love for what I do, there will always be adversity and challenges that arise in any business. I’ve found true success goes beyond that. It encompasses a deeper level of self-awareness and the ability to hold myself accountable. It’s about understanding my strengths and weaknesses and leveraging them to pursue my goals. Leaning into my strengths, recognizing areas for personal growth and knowing when to pivot strategies. Rather than a particular achievement, it’s the experience and journey of it all that I find is true success. Finding fulfillment in the process and value in every experience.

To me, success extends beyond external validation. It comes from taking that step back, finding moments of reflection and learning about myself free from the opinions and influences of friends and family. I focus on maintaining a personal approach with clients, being intentional with my thoughts and actions, and building a soft confidence that feels authentic. I’ve also come to understand that taking care of myself means more than just bubble baths and a healthy work/life balance; it involves challenging myself and seeking discomfort for the sake of personal growth.

It’s an everyday effort, but I consistently strive to focus on the long game, especially in public relations. By committing to gradual improvement day by day, I set myself up for eventual and guaranteed success. I try to keep my sights on the bigger picture and trust in the power of incremental progress not only for myself but for my clients.

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.

I run Evergreen PR Consulting where I specialize in working exclusively with interior designers to elevate their names, share their stories and get their work published. Through personalized strategies, strong media relationships, and creative storytelling, I help designers attract their ideal clients and build long-term credibility. With a background in both boutique and large-scale PR agencies, my goal is to create a collaborative and educational experience that leads to sustainable success for designers.

I began my PR career in the fashion industry, working for brands such as HALSTON, Vivienne Tam and Haute Hippie in New York City. Building on this experience, I further honed my skills at a corporate PR agency, where I had the opportunity to work with fashion brands like the outerwear brand Nobis, the lingerie brand ThirdLove, Jessie James Decker’s Kittenish line, plus size brand Fullbeauty and event designer Jung Lee.

Fast forward five years when I made the leap to continue my PR career in the interior design industry where I found my stride. I was working alongside rising star designers such as Sasha Bikoff, Anne Hepfer and Kevin Dumais. In addition to designers I was also working with design brands during their most pivotal moments: British kitchen designers Plain English and their New York City debut, the luxurious wallpaper brand de Gournay’s collaborations with the likes of Bergdorf Goodman and Aquazzura, Luke Irwin’s storied rug collection with Williams Sonoma, and interior designer Brigette Romanek’s vintage-inspired furniture line with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.

After nearly a decade in Manhattan, I headed back across the Hudson to my roots on the Jersey Shore. It was on a hike through Mount Tammany’s trails that the name for my pandemic-borne, interiors-focused business, Evergreen PR, occurred to me. I launched Evergreen PR in 2021. The name is a play off my love for the outdoors and the journalistic term evergreen, always relevant regardless of the season.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Networking! My goal has always been to establish authentic connections with others in my industry. I look to be a valuable and reliable resource for editors, writers and freelancers by offering expertise from my clients and presenting tailored pitches that foster trust. Beyond expanding my network as a publicist, I strive to cultivate meaningful relationships with my industry peers and clients. By doing so I’m able to grow my clientele and have a consistent stream of referrals. Although cold emails and Instagram were initially my primary sources of new business, I have noticed a gradual shift towards referrals as my best source of new business.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

One of my favorite case studies involves my work with Ahmad AbouZanat, an incredibly talented interior designer based in both New York City and Texas. Our goal was to build brand awareness and establish his presence in the interior design industry. Our work together spanned a year and yielded great results, highlighting the immense impact of a consistent branding strategy.

From the start, we positioned Ahmad as a rising star designer dedicated to crafting modern, elegant interiors with a strong emphasis on functionality. By strategically highlighting Ahmad’s notable projects in iconic New York City buildings, we effectively showcased his unique design approach. Within a year, Ahmad secured a coveted spot on House Beautiful’s Next Wave list. Ahmad was also featured in three home tour features, received over 25 press mentions, landed his custom rug collection in Interior Design Magazine, became an AD Pro Directory founding designer and participated in the prestigious Kips Bay Decorator Show House (twice). Christie’s International Real Estate Magazine even recognized Ahmad as a design visionary in a beautiful print feature with his peers.

This PR story always underscores the transformative power of consistency for me. Showing up consistently in multiple channels over time. Maintaining a focused message throughout all our pitching endeavors was crucial.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.evergreenprconsulting.com
• Instagram: @evergreenprconsulting
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meaghans/

Image Credits
Photos of me are by IMEG Photos