Women in PR
Introducing a new way to connect with community leaders, skill share through informal discussion and enjoy the camaraderie of women in communications roles from across the state.
Join us each month to discuss leadership resources, work + life balance, equity and equality, emotional intelligence, mentoring, overcoming impostor syndrome and more.
Upcoming Events
Briana Bryant, MPA, Southern Research Institute
Louise Oliver, APR, Owner and President, PERITUS Public Relations
Jacque Shaia, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Public Relations, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Thursday, October 20, 1pm via Zoom
Join us for a Women in PR Panel featuring three of our chapter's most seasoned professionals discussing wage negotiations, goal setting, women in the workplace, and more. Submit questions here.
Past Events
Denise Berkhalter, APR
YWCA Central Alabama
Not the “Y”… it’s the “YW”! YWCA Central Alabama has been around 118 years, and you wouldn’t believe the amazing programming going on there to empower Alabama’s women and families! Hear the YW story and learn how successful PR leadership at nonprofits with limited resources is a tough-but-possible, fulfilling job. Berkhalter will share her leadership story and give us a peek into her toolbox for addressing huge public relations and communication priorities in the nonprofit sector.
Learn more about the YWCA mission at ywcabham.org.
Leading with Confidence: How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome
Featuring Elise Mitchell, APR, Fellow PRSA
Impostor Syndrome is common among accomplished professionals who stubbornly believe they are not as competent as others think they are. In fact, more than 70% of individuals will experience feeling like a phony at some point in their lives. Buying into the belief that you’re not worthy causes all sorts of problems, including heightened anxiety, fear of failure, increased self-criticism and a hesitancy to “go for it.” Mitchell explores specific steps you can take to combat impostor feelings and live into your true capabilities.
Owning your personal brand
Featuring social media expert Maree Jones
PR pros sometimes miss the mark when it's time to tell our own stories or make a big splash on personal social networks. In this informative and inspirational presentation, PR and social media professional Maree Jones shares her journey of creating a solid, values-driven personal brand through social media. Whether you want to land more business or become the go-to expert for people who need your services, learn why doing your own PR by embracing social media is one of the best career moves you can make.
Louise Oliver, APR
Peritus Public Relations
In 2014, Peritus PR founder Louise Oliver received a phone call resulting in a 30-day notice to find a new job when her former employer was closing shop. With the help of Alabama’s PR community and a dedicated team, Peritus PR was started with a vision to connect communities for a brighter Alabama. For the first time, the Peritus team will share their story in hopes to inspire others to use their gifts to strengthen their team culture from within. This unique Women in PR session will provide lessons learned on culture building, regardless of team size, resources and experience level.
Jacqueline Allen
AIDT
Join us for a discussion about leadership with Jacqueline Allen, AIDT assistant director of communications and external affairs. Allen will share her leadership story and insights from the AIDT leadership development program.
Breann Murphy, Ph.D.
Jacksonville State University
Join us as Murphy discusses leadership among female chief communication officers serving in various organizational settings. She will explore her research findings on the transactional and transformational qualities women exhibit in leadership roles, and how advancements of the profession, c-suite expectations, and needs of employees influence the ways women adapt.
Represent Alabama Women in PR
Part of what makes programs like Women in PR so great is that we can come together and witness women in leadership at every stage of their career, in any industry and from all walks of life. While we’ve worked hard to bring content from local leaders and members that are doing amazing work in their corners, the truth is that we all have a leadership story that’s worth highlighting.
Help us amplify your story, celebrate our collective successes and emphasize the power of women in leadership as a Women in PR influencer. The two surveys below include a collection of questions about your leadership experience and what you think about the Women in PR program. Influencer responses will be featured in the chapter’s ongoing social media and website content and will help add visibility to our network of leaders and change makers across the industry.
Leadership Resources
Podcasts
Brene Brown
Harvard Business Review
Momentum Leaders
Dale Carnegie
Vanderkam & Hart-Unger
Wall Street Journal
