Member Monday - Max Weisman
Posted by [email protected] on Mar. 23, 2023 / Subscribe 0
Where do you work and what does your job entail?
Principal of Halom Strategies which helps clients with media training, branding, and offers ghostwriting. By day, I’m the Communications Director for Councilmember Isaiah Thomas where I handle media relations, serve as a spokesperson, pitch stories, and handle all things digital.
Are you an active volunteer in any organizations beyond PPRA?
I am the Secretary of the Board of Philadelphia Hebrew Public, I am part of the Communications Committee for the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center, and I am a committee person and Treasurer in the 38th ward.
What made you want to pursue a career in PR?
While studying communications at Temple, my classes and real-world experiences showed me the value of effective storytelling. Whether a brand, an issue, or a person - I’ve found joy and success in helping to tell wonderful and inspiring stories.
What do you like most about working in PR?
I find strategizing and collaboration most exciting in PR. When a client shares their goals and stories with me, I enjoy brainstorming the best way to tell their story while mapping the best partners and outlets to help share their story.
What advice do you have for someone who’s early in their PR career?
In one of my early PR classes, a professor had us pretend to represent feuding celebrities as an exercise. Even now, when I read on social media or Twitter of a feud or conflict, my brain instinctively returns to this exercise - I’d recommend it to any student or young professional.
What are some of your most memorable moments working in PR?
I’ve met some really wonderful people in this field - clients, journalists, and everyone in between. While the resources, topics, and strategies will change - you can’t forget the people or organizations who have given visible PR wins.
What’s a challenge you faced in your career? How did you overcome it?
Changing technology and digital tools tend to be a challenge but a positive one. It’s tricky to check trends and tools, especially as a one-person-stop, but finding the time for research, exploration, and creativity has paid off. It’s a struggle to find time to read articles or listen to experts but worth finding that time.
What are your hobbies?
I have always enjoyed reading, going to concerts, and some form of exercise. I am currently training for the Broad Street Run and working on adding running to the list.
What's something you'd like to learn?
As my background is in traditional PR, I would love to hear from digital experts about emerging trends and ways to best infuse traditional and digital communications.
Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?
I did Temple’s Semester in Rome which was a beautiful city with wonderful people (and new Temple friends!). It allowed me to easily travel throughout Europe and Italy but the pasta and wine always brought me back to Rome!
0 Comments