#WeeklyDisruptor: Founder of The PR Closet, Alexis Rodriguez

Each week at Embrace Disruption we introduce you to an influential person in the digital, blogger, arts, culture, film, or media world! Every Thursday, you can check back at EDPR to find out who we think is particularly amazing at ‘embracing disruption’ within their respective industries.

This week, we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Rodriguez, founder of the famous PR pro blog, The PR Closet!

What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?

Beauty publicist & Founder of ThePRCloset.com. I attended college at Pace University in Pleasantville, NY, and majored in Literature and Communications with a minor in Art History and Marketing.

Elevator pitch. Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).

I am a New Yorker. I’m married and live in Manhattan with my husband, James, and our dog, Hendrix, the cutest black Cavapoo. I am a beauty publicist by day and blogger by night. I love writing, teaching, and baking (random, I know.) I love to travel, but hate to fly. I eat healthy, but have a raging sweet tooth and hate working out. I’d rather read a real book than a Kindle. My idea of a good time is a great dinner with friends or going out dancing. I volunteer my time with The Somaly Mam Foundation. I’m tenacious, passionate, honest to a fault, a true go-getter, and a believer in karma. I believe in quality over quantity, and I try to give more than I get.

Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?

I didn’t decide on a career in Public Relations actually. I just kind of found it organically. I started as an international business major in school and switched to Literature/Communications my sophomore year. Then I started taking internships, and the only ones I could ever find were in PR. I didn’t even know what PR was at the time. I landed one working with beauty brands and loved it, so I kept that internship for a while and eventually it turned into a full-time job. I mean, what girl wouldn’t love being surrounded by beauty products all day long? The rest was history…

What is the best part of your day‐to‐day?

Meeting new people. I love networking and learning about other people in my industry, but also welcome any time I get to expand my network beyond beauty and fashion. Meeting new people keeps me on my toes.

What’s the most challenging?

That you are only as good as your last placement. The client moves on very quickly and always wants to know what’s next, and sometimes it is hard to outdo yourself.

If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?

I am not sure I would look. I would like for it to remain a mystery. If I had to guess, it would be something related to teaching. I just have a feeling that is what my next phase in life will be.

How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?

I just keep calm and carry on. The nature of a publicist’s life is being disrupted. You have to just accept it and roll with it or find another job.

What is the most memorable moment in your career?

When Diane von Furstenberg personally called me on my cell phone at 8AM in August of 2003 to tell me she wanted to hire me. Definitely a career high.

Do you support any initiatives or charities? 

I do work with the Somaly Mam Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to ending human trafficking and to rescuing and empowering those who have been trafficked. Somaly Mam herself was a victim of sex trafficking, sold by her father into sex slavery at a young age. I met her years ago and she touched my heart in such a profound way. I now help raise money for and awareness of her foundation. www.somaly.org

Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.

I really don’t ever think that far ahead. I can barely keep up weekend to weekend! All I want at 65 is to look back at my life and have no regrets.

Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what would it be?

The Weather Channel!

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