We are thrilled to announce our newest SVP and welcome Charlyne to the Kite Hill PR team. She has proven to be a wonderful addition as she has already begun uplifting us all through her charisma, charm, and willingness to share her wisdom. Her years of experience along with her passion for the communications industry are just a few of the qualities she brings to the agency. We are excited for you to get the chance to know her, too. Read below to learn a little more about Charlyne’s background, passions, and advice!
Name: Charlyne McWilliams
Title: Senior Vice President
Location (where in the world are you literally working from?): Silver Spring, Md.
After working at the same agency for nearly 20 years, how do you feel about transitioning into a new role at Kite Hill PR? First of all, I am excited to join a growing, recognized PR firm where I can share my knowledge and help develop new PR talent. I will be transparent and share that I am a little nervous about learning new industries but I am sure I will catch on quickly because of my tech experience and because I am a slightly reformed type A who wants to excel at everything immediately. I am ecstatic to get to work with such a great group of people who genuinely care about each other as much as they want to do incredible work. I am looking forward to helping people shine and continuing to grow the Kite Hill reputation for being a place to succeed professionally without sacrificing your personal life.
As someone who has worked from home for nearly 20 years, what are your biggest tips for staying productive and agile in a digital professional environment?
Create a workspace. With more video calls, prioritize a stable video and good lighting. Cameras are much better than they were when I started and they are not that expensive.
Get dressed: I know. I know. Many people found it convenient to work in PJs during the pandemic. I found that when I get up and get dressed, I have a better mindset for work; I am more present.
Have a pleasing backdrop. Even with blurred backgrounds, you can see some of what is going on behind you.
Learn when to disconnect. You may be tempted to answer that one email or write that one release after hours or on the weekend. But doing so more often than not can set you up for burnout. It is ok and sometimes needed to take a break in the middle of the day to breathe.
Be flexible with your technology. If you have a power or Internet issue, and you have to be on a very important call, you might need to relocate to a place where you can take the call. It might be on your phone or it might be on your laptop in a coffee shop. Explain your situation and keep it moving.
Do not be afraid to ask for help or to call someone if you get “into your head” too much. This is for projects, stories, and even if you need a bit of a pep talk. Teamwork makes the dream work.
What are you most excited about for your new role as Senior Vice President at Kite Hill PR? The opportunity to work with people who want to grow in their public relations careers and the chance to share what I have learned and learn from them. I want to show them you can be a lifelong teacher and learner if you recognize your gifts as well as your need to evolve.
What core values do you live by and implement into your professional life? How do you see these aligning with Kite Hill’s values? I have always cared about people; I am honest and transparent; I communicate clearly; I work hard and would say I am a doer, and I want to enjoy what I do and the people around me. This is why it felt like home when I started working at Kite Hill. When I read the agency’s core values - Agility, Balance, Collaboration, Candor, and Passion - they resonated with how I work and live my life.
With your extensive tech PR agency experience and knowledge, what do you feel are the most rewarding aspects of working within the technology communications space? There is rarely a dull moment. Technology is constantly evolving and we learn how to use it to improve how we communicate and reach the audiences we want to connect with the most. Being able to connect companies with the opportunities to share how their stories about how technology can positively affect an industry is exhilarating to me.
What are your favorite ways to stay up to date on topics relevant to the tech PR space? (podcasts, publications, favorite books, etc.) Online articles, posts on LinkedIn in specific groups, and books.
Fun fact about you: I ride a motorcycle. I have ridden from Maryland to California and back, Sturgis (North Dakota), the Southern Most Tip (in the Florida Keys), and Niagara Falls New York. I have experienced extreme heat (109 degrees) and cold (32 degrees) on a bike, and I don’t recommend either.