Trailblazers and leaders: Juanne Fuller
Juanne Fuller | Principal | JujuPR
How did you get into marketing/comms?
I've always worked in and around Arts & Media. I used to be an actor (100 years ago!), presented and produced radio shows, as well as producing TV programmes and occasionally writing articles for newspapers. So naturally I had a lot of contacts and knowledge of what it takes to get coverage in the media.
I was doing some ad hoc marketing in 2018, when I was approached to do the publicity for an all-women-of-colour Shakespeare production. The directors were keen for the audience to be as diverse as the people on stage and the crew behind the scenes, so the Globe Theatre hired me as a 'specialist media' consultant. After that I started JujuPR. I wanted to work with artists I knew, many of whom had long careers, but without getting the profile they deserved.
What is something that you do every day without fail?
Flag my emails and update my notes! Writing notes was something I considered 'handy' before peri-menopause, but I simply couldn't do my job without them now.
What is the best piece of advice that you’ve received? And who gave it to you?
My partner advised me early on not to take every non-response as a personal slight. The pitch you're working on may mean the world to you, but more often than not the recipient won't know you from Adam! It's the nature of the business.
What is a tool/hack that you would recommend to anyone starting out in PR/Comms/Marketing?
Pay attention to statistics that will make your pitch more compelling. If you can provide a figure that indicates a new trend or changing zeitgiest, it can make your 'story' irresistable. There is something about numbers!
What’s your greatest achievement to date?
As a one woman band, I'd say getting to the postion where I don't need to work with any client solely for money. I'm also proud of how diverse my clients have been, ranging from authors to actors, composers and dance companies. I'm currently working with a mathematician!
Is there a particular comms campaign that you’ve seen in your career that you didn’t work on but wish you had?
Tracee Eliss Ross's Pattern campaign. It's sexy, yet simultaneously wholesome. It's inclusive (featuring black women of all shapes, sizes, complexions and hair types) and for all its slickness, it still manages to have the essence of Tracee's signature humour and joy.
In three words, describe your approach to your role/work?
Professional, Direct, Bespoke.
What’s a question every PR/marketing pro should ask themselves?
Are you truly resilent? Can you represent your client in choppy waters or when plunged into a crisis? It requires a wholely different set of skills.
