Landing your First Media Feature for your Personal Brand

Public Relations (PR) is a transformative tool for businesses of all sizes, yet many small business owners underestimate how accessible and effective PR can be for their growth.

Take Sophia Kokileff, a CPA and career development coach who joined our group publicity coaching program, Five Weeks 'til Famous, with little knowledge of PR. By the end of the program, Sophia secured her first media feature and is now poised to explore new opportunities in 2025, such as podcasts and speaking engagements.

Sophia’s Journey with Public Relations

Sophia’s PR journey began earlier this year when we connected through another business coaching program. She often heard me emphasize the power of PR during events and group calls, and when I launched my own program, she decided to take the leap and join me.

Like many small business owners, Sophia believed PR was reserved for large, established brands. Despite her expertise and credibility in her field, she had not realized how impactful PR could be for building her own online presence. And while she was familiar with paid ads and other marketing tactics, PR appealed to her because of its authenticity and accessibility.

When asked about what surprised her most about PR, she shared: “I had no idea how accessible it was. I always thought there was a barrier, or you needed a middle man (or middle woman, in your case) to help you secure opportunities. I never realized that there’s literally platform I can go on, find opportunities, and pitch myself.”

How Publicity Coaching Can Help You

I created Five Weeks 'til Famous to share my expertise as a top personal branding expert with businesses of all sizes—even those not ready for a larger investment into public relations.

Pitching is a transferable skill, and even if you’re not ready to engage with the media directly, developing clarity around your unique expertise can still boost your confidence as a business owner in conversations with customers, investors, and key stakeholders.

Sophia echoed this sentiment during our conversation:

“PR is less overwhelming when you have someone like Katrina guiding you. Now I know the structure, my pitch, and it makes it much easier,” Sophia noted during our conversation around her takeaways from the program. “I didn’t know public relations was possible at such an early stage – so that was very, very empowering.”

Through the program, Sophia learned the key elements of pitching, including how to structure her pitch and position herself as an expert. Her first media feature, Future Leaders: Career Fulfillment Coach Sophia Kokileff On How Ambitious Young Adults Are Redefining Success, was the result of this newfound confidence and clarity.

Sophia’s Key Takeaway

Sophia’s success with PR extends far beyond her first media feature, and she’s actively planning to continue to to use Public Relations to grow her personal brand in 2025.

As a CPA and career coach, she understands the value of delivering a clear, consistent message that resonates with her audience, and thanks to the program, she now feels equipped to pursue other opportunities like podcast interviews and speaking engagements.

Her advice for anyone considering the program?

“I think if you are interested in PR and you’ve heard the benefits, just give it a try. You’ll be surprised how much you learn and where you can apply it. Even if you don’t send a pitch during the program - the knowledge carries on. Go for it. It’s such a great structure; 5 weeks is short but long enough to get a lot of knowledge.”

Ready to Elevate Your Personal Brand with PR?

Public relations is a powerful tool for entrepreneurs and professionals looking to build their personal brands and attract high-profile media opportunities. Like Sophia, you can develop the confidence to pitch yourself and secure media features, speaking gigs, and other career-changing opportunities.

Five Weeks 'til Famous can help you:

• Develop a professional personal brand that attracts the right opportunities.

• Learn how to pitch confidently and land media features.

• Gain the tools and knowledge needed to leverage PR for business growth.

So, are you feeling inspired to learn more?

• Get to know more about Katrina Owens, Top Personal Brand Expert of 2024, by reading CanvasRebel’s Inspiring Conversations series.

• Click here to register for more information on the upcoming cohort of 5 Weeks ‘til Famous.