CEO Today Global Awards 2023 - USA - - 69 - www.farrell-talbotconsulting.com - Importance of social media: Social media has become a critical tool for PR professionals to reach and engage with target audiences. Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have provided new opportunities for us to share stories and build relationships with key stakeholders. Over the years, I have had to learn to be proficient working with digital and social media. 15 years ago, Facebook and Twitter were just starting to be used by journalists, companies and PR people to share information. Today, if you are not using these tools, you are not maximizing how you communicate on behalf of your clients. - Real-time communication: The speed of digital communication has increased the need for PR professionals to be able to respond quickly to breaking news, crises, rumors, and negative news. Keeping up with national and global news is also critical and can often be challenging because there is so much happening in the world. The need for real-time responses and the ability to be agile and knowledgeable on behalf of clients and the industry is crucial to a company’s reputation. What would you count among your greatest achievements during this period? Balancing the responsibilities of running a business and being a parent is a challenging task for anyone, regardless of gender. However, for women to successfully balance both business and family responsibilities, we often have to overcome significant obstacles, including workplace discrimination, a lack of familyfriendly policies, and societal expectations. There is a quote that says, “Women are expected to work like they don’t have children and mother like they don’t work”. This highlights a persistent issue faced by many working mothers who are often expected to balance their responsibilities at work and at home, but are often criticized if they prioritize either one. It reflects the expectation that women should be able to ‘do it all’. It’s important to recognize that everyone, regardless of gender, should have access to work-life balance and the ability to care for their families without sacrificing their careers. Creating Farrell Talbot Consulting allowed me to not have to make sacrifices in one area or the other. It has allowed me to service companies in need of seniorlevel communications support and also, at the same time, be the best mom I can possibly be for my two boys. I have always said that I have two important jobs to perform: mother and communications professional. As an entrepreneur, I can do both successfully and efficiently – providing great customer service and results, while also attending school functions, baseball games and field trips. I created this new way to work many years ago before work from home was the norm, and I made a decision to prioritize being present for my children and my clients. By running a successful business while also being an active and engaged mother, I have hopefully broken down these biases and proved that it is possible to excel in both domains and to achieve balance. I have hopefully served as a role model for other women and helped other moms see that they can have careers and care for their families without having to choose to put their energy into one area or the other. Finding balance and being a founder of a successful business and a present mother is my greatest achievement. For women to successfully balance both business and family responsibilities, we often have to overcome significant obstacles.
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