Meet Lauren Miller, the dynamic entrepreneur and Founder of a boutique PR and digital advertising agency Lauren Lee Creative. With a decade of cross-industry experience and a passion for fostering impactful connections, Lauren has established herself as a strategic communicator and innovative leader. Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from the University of Georgia and a minor in Fashion Merchandising, she has navigated the bustling streets of New York, the vibrant lifestyle scene of Atlanta, and the entrepreneurial culture of Charleston. Each city has uniquely shaped her personal and professional growth, contributing to her success in the PR and advertising world.
In this exclusive interview, Lauren shares insights into her inspiring journey, from starting her own business to overcoming challenges and celebrating achievements. She discusses the pivotal moments that have defined her career, the importance of meaningful relationships, and her vision for the future of her agency. Join us as we delve into the experiences and perspectives of Lauren Miller, a trailblazer in the PR and digital advertising industry, and discover the inspiring tales of success and determination that drive her forward.
Reflecting on your journey from New York to Atlanta and now Charleston, how have these different cities influenced your personal and professional growth?
Each city has played a distinct role in shaping my growth. New York laid a sturdy early-career foundation, where I learned independence, a robust work ethic, and how to blend professionalism with personal style. Atlanta further honed my client and event management skills, and it’s where I met my now husband. With its quietly thriving entrepreneurial culture, Charleston has been instrumental in my career. Since relocating here, I’ve immersed myself in a network of diverse small business owners that has propelled my success. Together, these cities have taught me invaluable lessons in resilience, adaptability, and creativity.
We’d love to hear about a pivotal moment in your career where you felt a strong sense of personal achievement. What was it, and what did it mean to you?
Starting my own business. Before this, I worked at a few different agencies, never really considering venturing out on my own. However, in 2022, I realized entrepreneurship was the best move forward. Feeling confident I had what it takes, I decided to take the leap. Since then, I’ve been fully committed to building and growing my company. It hasn’t been easy stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing challenges, but the rewards of being my own boss have been incredibly fulfilling.
Beyond your professional pursuits, what are some hobbies or interests that bring you joy and fulfillment outside of work?
Beyond work, fashion is a major passion of mine. One of my favorite things to do in my downtime is browsing Pinterest for outfit ideas and staying updated on fashion trends. I’ve always been the go-to person among family and friends for style advice (which I absolutely love). I also love painting, usually abstract acrylics. Most of the artwork in my home is my own. Yoga is also a significant part of my life. I earned a 200-hour teacher training certification in 2022 and regularly practice vinyasa several times a week for relaxation and rejuvenation.
As someone deeply involved in fostering connections, how do you nurture and maintain meaningful relationships both within your industry and beyond?
Building and nurturing meaningful relationships is crucial for me, both personally and professionally. I actively engage with people I meet, try to empathize as much as possible, and avoid burning bridges. Whether making new friends or meeting potential clients, I focus on creating genuine connections and often suggest meeting for coffee or lunch because face-to-face interactions are vital in this business. I prioritize being open and creating a space for people to share. This openness builds trust and leads to deeper connections. I also make sure to stay in touch with past contacts because you never know where opportunities may arise. For instance, one of my first clients came from an agency that offered me a job three years prior. Recently, I contracted with one of my former bosses for project support. Relationships are key, and my goal is to cultivate mutually beneficial partnerships.
We’d love to know about a book, podcast, or piece of media that has inspired or influenced you recently. What was it, and how did it resonate with you?
I recently read “The Obstacle Is the Way” by Ryan Holiday, which stuck with me. I’ve been a fan of his newsletter, “The Daily Stoic,” so I was excited to dive into his book. What stood out was how practical and relevant it is to real-life situations. The book offers a broad perspective on overcoming obstacles, highlighting that challenges are opportunities for redirection and growth. This mindset resonated with me because it emphasized the importance of resilience and perseverance in reaching goals. I liked that it gave me actionable insights to navigate through hurdles. It was a great read to start 2024, motivating me to keep pushing forward.
Your agency specializes in crafting digital advertising and PR strategies for small and mid-sized businesses. How do you tailor your approach to suit the unique needs and budgets of these clients?
We customize our approach to match each client’s goals and needs, offering personalized PR and digital advertising services. Our process starts with understanding their objectives and crafting a tailored strategy for effective goal achievement. While our combined services ensure consistent messaging and a unified market impact, we recognize that this may not be a fit for every client. Our thorough consultation and onboarding processes help optimize budgets by aligning strategies with capabilities and preferences. For clients focusing on digital advertising, we identify the best platforms, like Instagram, LinkedIn, Meta, etc., based on their target audience, budget, and objectives. For those prioritizing PR, we outline strategies such as story angles, targeted events, awards, speaking opportunities, partnerships, and more. Ultimately, our success is tied to our clients’ success. We strive to assist our clients in advancing their business objectives while positioning ourselves as strategic partners.
Can you elaborate on the importance of securing awards and speaking opportunities for your clients in enhancing their visibility and credibility in the market?
Participating in awards submissions sparks internal discussions about what makes the business unique, its approach to thought leadership, and its impact on clients, teams, and the community. This process also generates content for press angles and social media beyond the submission itself. Winning awards not only earns recognition on prestigious lists but also creates engaging content for social media and websites, attracting clients and top talent. Speaking engagements are equally valuable, providing opportunities to share industry expertise with audiences, in person or virtually. Additionally, speaking engagements often include branded materials, boosting visibility. What’s great about speaking opportunities is their range and variety, from podcasts to keynotes to panels and fireside chats. This allows businesses to position themselves as experts across all levels of an organization, enhancing credibility for future engagements.
Can you discuss the role of social media platforms in your PR strategies and how you leverage them to amplify your clients’ messages?
Let’s clarify that PR and social media are different. Many confuse them, but from my experience, they work best as separate but coordinated efforts. My team focuses on securing press features and supporting social media to maintain consistent and accurate messaging. We use social media in our PR strategies when we land press coverage. Working with the social media team, we tailor content for different platforms to reach a wider online audience. For example, when a client is recognized on a national fastest-growing company list, we share the link and support drafting copy with the proper award names and publication tags for maximum visibility. We also coordinate with the social media team during campaign launches or new service announcements to ensure timely and engaging posts. Our goal is to keep a steady flow of news and update content, expanding our clients’ reach through strategic sharing and engagement.
Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for the future of your agency, and how do you plan to continue driving innovation in the PR and advertising space?
I’m focused on growing the agency by bringing in more clients and expanding our team. Even though we’re still new, I see us reaching a national level while nurturing a culture of adaptability, hard work, and ingenuity. I also aim to refine our niche further, using my diverse experience in fashion, lifestyle & entertainment, and technology to our advantage. We’ll focus on what we do best – showing up because we genuinely care about our clients and their outcomes, working diligently until the job is complete, and prioritizing continuous learning to deliver exceptional results.