As CEO of RAW Marketing Ruth Ann Wiesner is a self- proclaimed "Principal
Cleaver Heaver”. This describes the no-nonsense approach that she takes
with every aspect of the creation and operation of RAW Marketing.
Highlighted as one of the Top 125 Women Entrepreneurs for the Chicago
area, Top Mompreneur of 2012, and recently a finalist as one of the Top
25 Awesome Mom-Based Biz in Chicago, Ruth Ann has burst onto the scene
with her creative and innovative marketing techniques.
In this interview she discusses why she started her own firm, the relaunch of RawMrktg.com and more!
- Brea: What attracted you to PR/Marketing?
RuthAnn: I have always been intrigued by the sayings "You can't change someones
perception." and "Perception is Reality". When I first began in
Marketing and PR, I quickly realized that (when done correctly), through
Marketing and PR, you have the power to change just about anyones
perception of anything. That type of influence is very powerful,
especially when most people do not realize that everything created by a
Marketing/PR or Advertising agency is done to invoke a very specific
perception of their client or their clients product.
- B: Why did you decide to open your own firm?
R: After working at the Directorship level of Marketing (the PR Dept rolls
up under Marketing in most larger businesses) for many years, my life
took an exciting turn and I found myself relocating. In the process, I
was approached to continue handling the Marketing for my client, but in a
consulting role from afar. Within weeks of my relocation, I had
acquired half a dozen more clients and decided I better make this
official, and RAW Marketing was born!
- B: In your opinion, what is the biggest misconception people have about PR/Marketing?
- Brea: Tell me about yourself
Hope: I’m Hope Frick. I graduated a semester early, in December, with a degree in Public Relations from Waynesburg University. I live in Elizabethtown, Pa. with my family and my dog (who steals the spotlight on my Instagram). I’m a huge movie fanatic (so sad awards season is over), I’m a sushi lover and I check People.com before I check my Facebook and Twitter every morning. Also, my mom likes to call me Elle Woods because I’m obsessed with small dogs and my wardrobe mainly consists of varying shades of pink.
- B: What do you like most about PR/Marketing?
H: In high school, my parents said they’d send me to college to do what I do best…talking. That being said, PR/Marketing lets me feel “me”. I love writing and social networking, so PR/Marketing lets me combine all my interests. It’s a really creative field so I feel inspired everyday and can really think outside of the box. Plus, I’m awful at math and there’s very little math involved.
- B: I noticed you are currently interning with Tower Marketing, how did you land that position?
H: I’ve been interning with Tower Marketing since December. I was graduating early from college and I was a bit (probably too much) obsessive about finding a job after graduation. I was really eager to get into the field. I stumbled upon the job listing on LinkedIn and applied on a whim. I just really clicked with the team who interviewed me and was ultimately offered the job (I found out in the middle of class and screamed during a lecture, I was so excited!) I made sure to include my best writing samples and social media snippets in my portfolio and also made sure my resume was the best reflection of my educational and professional experiences. Hard work really pays off; it’s such a rewarding feeling!
Sadly, I’ll be leaving Tower next week, but I’m happy to share that I accepted a full time position as the Social Media Coordinator for Fresh Creative Inc., a digital marketing agency in Lebanon, Pa. I’m so excited to start this next chapter of my career and I’m completely convinced my work at Tower helped me land this new position.
- B: What does a typical day look like for you?
- Brea: Tell me about yourself
Aurian: Ha, the dreaded interview question! Just kidding.Well, my name is Aurian (pronounced Ah-ree-on) but everyone calls me Auri. I’m in my last semester of graduate school at the University of South Florida majoring in Sport and Entertainment Management. It’s a dual degree program (MBA and MS) and I’m proud to be in the inaugural class! I actually graduated from USF with a BA in Political Science, random I know.
I work as the Event Marketing Resident at the Tampa Bay Times Forum and I love PR and Marketing. I also like food. Actually I love food. And music. And laughing. And food.
- B: If you could go back to undergrad what would you do differently?
A: My initial thought was “Change my major!” but in all honesty, I wouldn’t change anything. I learned so much about myself in undergrad; I feel so blessed and grateful to have had the experience. I learned to take care of myself, be comfortable with who I am and to do what truly makes me happy. I know it sounds corny and a bit cliché but I seriously, and unknowingly, found myself.
I also found out that my lifelong mission to be an attorney was no longer my dream. I initially wanted to venture into Sports Law but quickly realized that I needed to work with people and create ideas. After taking on a few internships in sports marketing and entertainment PR, I figured out what worked for me.
- B: What area of PR are you most interested in and why?
A: I’m definitely interested in entertainment PR. My first experience in entertainment PR was at my internship for a boutique entertainment and sports group in Tampa. I was the Publicity Coordinator for a rookie NFL player and learned so much about patience and how to draft my first press release. Working in event marketing has been amazing and I’ve been able to watch various players like the publicist, agent, tour manager and media reps in action. I love being in the thick of things and compiling strategies for clients. It’s also a great challenge to pitch shows and artists to fit with the appropriate media outlet. Learning what works and what doesn’t work for each individual artist and show is exciting.
- B: Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! How has your MBA program helped you prepare for post grad life?
