Full name?: Jen Appel
Position / Job title?: CEO & Publicity Director of The Catalyst Publicity Group
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a kid I wanted to be an Interior Designer just like my mom. I had a passion for art from a very early age. Watching my mom pick out color samples to new furniture it really made me want to do just that. When I went to college I started in their Interior Design program and quickly realize how much I didn’t fit in. I was also taking Journalism and Communications classes which sparked my interest and I knew from there that writing would be something I had to explore. With that it lead me to Public Relations. It was the best decision I could have ever made. There are so many different avenues that I have been really fortunate to work on with PR. The best part about being a publicist is that no matter the project it is always fast moving and you never know what you are getting yourself in to when you walk in the door every morning.
Fast-forward several years/decades. How did you land (or create) your current position?
After I graduated from Indiana University I opted to get my Masters in PR. It wasn’t a necessity. I felt like I had to do it for me. Throughout my 2 years in Grad School I worked for a fantastic PR firm that worked with really high profile local companies. I worked everything from events to press releases to you name it. I knew in that time span that PR was exactly where I belonged. From there I got a job working for Marketing Firm assisting with their social media and PR for local non-profits, even more so in the direction I was hoping to land. However, unfortunately with the economy at an all time low I lost my job. From there I had to really decide my next approach. Music PR fell into my lap. I was given an opportunity to work with an up and coming band without any limitations. I failed a few times but I also gained a ton of really exciting wins. I chose to take this new found passion and seek jobs in the music industry. Landing a job as the Head of Publicity at a start up, it was a risk but I was excited. After working at the company for a year I decided to branch off on my own. I wanted to create a company that would help the underdog, a company that could aid to the young and thriving artists, something most people in the industry stray away from. And here we are, we just celebrated our 2 year anniversary and already gearing up for a crazy year three.
Did you have to take on internships to get there? How important in general, do you think, are internships?
Internships are vital. Before I graduated college I had 6 internships and if you include the one in grad school, 7. I learned everything in my internships from what I hated about PR to what I really wanted to do. Internships are meant to be a time in your life when you can royally mess up and not get totally reprimanded. Those that do not take advantage of that are crazy! In the real world you could mess up and lose a job, lose a client, or worse your reputation. Use your time in your internship to grow, learn from your superiors, make mistakes and learn how to correct them next time.
Tell us what a typical work day looks like for you. What is your job REALLY like, both the glamorous and not-so-glamorous parts?
A typical day is never so typical. As the CEO I work along side our PR Director Chrissy Borsellino on a daily basis ensuring everything from our current clients to pending clients to potential clients are satisfied. That could entail approving press releases; making sure social media is updated, to taking phone calls. Unfortunately in a PR world life is crazy but in the Music PR world it is even more hectic. Forget the typical 9-5. Your phone better be on you 24 hours a day including weekends and holidays but unfortunately the music business never shuts down and neither will you. The most glamorous part of my day can be anything from watching a band do really well with a premiere, signing a new client, to coming up with a really creative idea for a pitch.
What is the single most important piece of advice you would give to other career-minded women?
Go for it, you have nothing to lose. So what if you try to get the job and you don’t get who cares, there are plenty more out there. If you don’t land the top client it is okay there will be others. I have always had the mindset of not dwelling. The more you dwell on a situation the more other parts of your life suffer. If it is something you have to take time to flesh out the issue, then do it and then move on. It is important as women to take risks and go after your goals. If you want to quit your job and train for a new career there is no one stopping you! Go out and do what you love because if you love what you do everything else around you will make you happy. There isn’t one thing I hate about my job. Sure the long hours and crazy clients can be hard at times but I love what I do. I love the flexibility of working for my money and working when I need to work. It is the best of both worlds and I couldn’t be happier.
Let’s talk about work/life balance. What does that mean to you? Is it important?
This is very important. If you can’t stop working to live your life then what is the point of living. You have to shut off your phone/computer every once in a while and enjoy life. I am very fortunate that the people I’ve surrounded myself with also work in the music industry. When I am having a rough day those that surround me understand and can comfort me where needed. It is important to talk about your work with loved ones but it is equally as important to live your life and shut off work. In the end you work to live a nice life if you can’t live a nice life then what is the point of work.
On that note, do you think women can have it all? Both the baller career, and the happy family?
Absolutely. Hands down individuals that think women can’t have it all obviously haven’t met the right women. Just because a woman is a CEO or the top of her company doesn’t mean she can’t settle down and start a family. Women should surround themselves with individuals that support and love them for being able to do both. Again, the work/life balance is key.
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