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PR PROfile: Phoebe Yong, Principal, Magnolia Marketing Communications

by | May 3, 2018

Magnolia Marketing Communications was a Bronze Award winner in the “Best Financial Services Campaign” in Bulldog’s 2018 PR Awards.

Length of PR career (so far): 25 plus years; too long to even remember when I started!

Your most memorable campaign: World’s first smartphone on Windows platform (big flop)

Favorite journalist to work with: Ira Apfel. Editor of AFP Exchange.

Number of 2 a.m. clients this month: Zero.

Biggest complaint about social media: Sometimes it’s hard to separate posts from brags.

Best thing about working at your agency: We laugh a lot—at each other, clients and ourselves, especially ourselves.

Last time you didn’t do any work all weekend: Can’t recall.

Most misunderstood things about PR: Just ‘cause you know the editor of WSJ doesn’t always mean you get ink from him/her.

What got you interested in a PR career: Rejection motivates me and telling unique stories.

Most interesting thing about your job: Each person has a story. I get to dig deep to find out more and find the story and tell it in the most compelling way.

Number of meetings you were in last week: 6

Rate your math skills from 1-10: 7

Best advice to a PR student: Be hungry and tenacious in your pursuit for a story.

What do you read daily? CNBC, BBC, Bloomberg Markets and etonline.

Favorite way to de-stress: Drink and golf; not necessary mutually exclusive to each other.

The moment you realized PR is more fun than you thought it would be: I was in Vegas (one of many times) for tech trade show early in my career, going up the escalator to Caesars I couldn’t believe that I got paid for what I do as I simply loved my job. I won’t forget that feeling and tried to make sure that feeling of gratitude and loving what I do was sustained throughout my professional career.

Worst PR crisis in the news this year so far: With President Trump at the helm, there are too many to list. But FB security debacle is one that comes to mind.

Favorite non-work hobby: Journaling and golf.

Last book you read: I almost forgot about you by Terry McMillan.

Cocktail of choice: Crown Jewel—7-Up, Cranberry Juice, Crown Royal, Malibu Rum, Pineapple Juice

Your first “real” job: Office Assistant, at a government job.

Childhood “dream job”: Journalist covering war stories.

Three people you’d love to invite to dinner: Bob Costas, Michael Jordan and Jack Nicklaus.

Your next big adventure: Training and playing for World Amateur Golf Tournament.

Your ideal Saturday: Golf with my husband and dinner with my kids and husband (after shooting a round of 80s; I can only dream)

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