As vice president of The PR Boutique, Lesley Ford oversees the firm’s Austin and San Antonio accounts and assists with new business development. In her role, she is responsible for helping create overall client strategies and managing clients’ daily needs and expectations. This involves identifying newsworthy topics, determining best tactics for heightening brand and project awareness, and pinpointing the best channels for gaining positive media exposure.
The touchstone of Lesley’s public relations success is delivering superlative client service. She develops a personalized relationship with each client and immerses herself in their business to gain a complete understanding of their needs and objectives, industry, and whatever sets them apart from competitors. Through in-depth consultations, Lesley seeks to understand and build on any work already done by the brand, bringing fresh ideas and added value to the table. She designs relevant, engaging pitches that don’t merely convey information to the media but move the needle in the client’s favor and support their goals.
Lesley’s strengths lie in effective client positioning; designing winning media pitches; garnering earned media coverage; obtaining paid media placements in top-tier publications, organizing community outreach campaigns, and planning and executing special events. She particularly enjoys working with real estate developers, hotels, and B2b clients.
In her leisure, Lesley spends time chasing after her young twin (a boy and a girl) and relaxing with her husband and friends. She also enjoys working out and reading.
Best vacation: My honeymoon to Anguilla. It was amazing and a place I hope to visit again with my family.
Favorite music genre: Country or yacht rock
Person I most admire: My dad. He is an incredibly hard-worker who achieved great success during his 50-year career as an attorney, but he is also very humble, giving person. I can only aspire to be somewhat like him.
Most likely place to be found on a Friday night: At home with my family, often grilling out and enjoying a cocktail—preferably, a cosmopolitan.