PR is one of the oldest and most well-known forms of marketing, but is still an untapped strategy for most busy business owners.
The good news is, you don’t need to hire a PR agency or expert to do some of the basics to get your business on the map. In this workshop, we’ll outline the key tactics used by the top publicists and marketers that you can do yourself in a sustainable way that makes sense for your business.
This session will cover:
- Basics of how PR works in 2025
- Different types of media outlets and how they typically work
- How to reach out to the press to pitch yourself
- Ways to create your own newsworthy moments
Presenter
Erin Simpson is a trusted advisor to startups and founders, and has led the boutique PR and marketing agency Brick Lane since 2015.
Erin draws from her nearly two decades of marketing and communications work for companies ranging from Fortune 50 consumer brands to fast-growing disruptive startups. Before starting Brick Lane, Erin served as Lyft’s first head of PR and communications, and built the company’s brand awareness from scratch from the startup’s initial launch through the ridesharing industry’s early years. Through Brick Lane, Erin has worked hands-on with 50+ venture-backed startups to date, often referred by leading Silicon Valley firms including a16z and Y Combinator, as well as established businesses like Airbnb and Ford Motor Company.
Erin also is the founder of modern cat products brand Wildcat, which led to connections with pet experts, industry leaders and content creators she now advises through her growing pet-focused consultancy, Meow Lane.
Prior to Lyft, Erin held in-house PR and marketing roles at category-defining brands including Benefit Cosmetics (beauty), JANUS et Cie (furniture/design), and Disney (entertainment), and holds a degree in Psychology from UCLA. As a small business owner herself, Erin is passionate about making marketing expertise more accessible, and frequently teaches workshops on brand building for organizations including the SBA (Small Business Administration) and groups supporting underrepresented founders.
