How Emily Reynolds Built R Public Relations to Give Emerging Brands a Strategic Path to Visibility

Meet Emily Reynolds, founder of R Public Relations, a boutique PR agency building strategic, narrative-driven visibility for emerging brands, startups, and entrepreneurs. A self-described accidental entrepreneur and former single working mom, Emily came up through freelance writing, academic studies in psychology, sociology, and philosophy, and a mix of independent contractor and in-house communications roles, amassing deep experience in media strategy, brand positioning, and campaign execution before ever imagining she would run her own firm.

What kept tugging at her along the way was a quiet frustration with how often PR was treated as transactional, focused on quick wins rather than long-term positioning. That observation eventually shaped the kind of agency she wanted to build. R Public Relations was founded on the belief that PR should be a strategic driver of growth, not just a placement machine, and that every client deserves a customized campaign that starts with listening. Today her team partners with founders and growth-stage companies at pivotal moments in their evolution, helping them establish credibility, expand their presence, and step confidently into leadership within their industries.

Please share a brief introduction and your business:

I’m Emily Reynolds, founder of R Public Relations, a boutique agency focused on creating narratives and pathways for emerging brands, startups, and entrepreneurs to build visibility in a meaningful way. At our core, we’re incredibly creative storytellers, but not in the surface-level sense. We work closely with our clients to uncover what actually makes them distinct, then translate that into content that resonates with media, audiences, and, ultimately, the market.

I started R Public Relations with the belief that PR should be more than just media placements; it should be a strategic driver of growth. Today, we partner with brands at pivotal moments in their evolution, helping them establish credibility, expand their presence, and step confidently into leadership within their industries.

Do you have a co-founder?

I’m a solo founder, which has been both empowering and daunting. It’s taught me the importance of assembling a strong team and surrounding myself with people I trust.

Are you a mamaprenista?

Yes, and an incredibly proud one at that! We have a total of five. I call my husband’s children when he came into our marriage my “bonus kids” because they’re the absolute icing on the cake for me! Juggling motherhood, partnerhood, and my very demanding work requires a lot of flexibility, a strong support system, and letting go of the idea that everything has to be perfect.

Take us back to when you launched? What was your marketing strategy?

In the beginning, everything was very relationship-driven. I leaned heavily on my network, referrals, and targeted outreach. I was selective about who I wanted to work with and the business reputation I wanted to earn from day one.

I also focused on establishing my expertise in the industry by sharing insights and guidance with colleagues, knowing I wanted to position myself as a strategic partner rather than just a service provider.

Did it go exactly as planned? Not entirely. There’s always an element of unpredictability in the early stages of any enterprise. But the foundation I formed of one-on-one relationships, which is something that has always been part of my core essence, is what ended up driving the growth.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

No! I always call myself an “accidental entrepreneur” because I just fell into it; the steps I took just organically led me to business ownership even though I always thought of myself as a creative first and foremost. Looking back, though, the signs were there. My brain works in a way that thinks about how things can be improved, reimagined, reenvisioned. And I think those are essential tools for a founder. So, no, it wasn’t the original plan, but I guess it became the inevitable plan!

What accomplishments are you the most proud of to date in your business?

It’s not any one thing, actually; it’s the cumulative impact we’ve made. Seeing our clients grow, gain recognition, secure opportunities, and enhance their leadership standing because of the work we’ve done together—that’s the most rewarding part.

There’s something incredibly fulfilling about knowing you’ve helped shape not just someone else’s visibility, but their trajectory. And RPR does that in a very collaborative way. We don’t apply the same formula to every client. We seriously listen to who each client is, what each one wants to achieve with us, and we will do absolutely everything in our power to make that happen.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

That you don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin. So much of the clarity that will later come to you is acquired through action, from just doing. Honestly? If I’d waited to start this journey until I felt certain about things, I never would have embarked.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

What a great question. I like to ask candidates to walk me through a real-life challenge they’ve faced and how they handled it. This gives me insight into how they think, navigate pressure, and take ownership.

I also look for certain traits, like curiosity, adaptability, and alignment with our values—those qualities matter just as much as experience.

What did you do before starting your own business?

I did lots of things (like freelance writing) and got educated in multiple areas (including psychology, sociology, and philosophy), all of which contributed to my perspective and approaches to my chosen field. When I launched my career in PR, through both independent contractor and in-house positions, I concentrated on strategic communications, learning the ins and outs of the power of customized campaigns. I amassed deep experience in media strategy, brand positioning, and campaign execution, with the goal of attaining a well-rounded outlook on how PR functions from all sides.

What stood out to me over time was how often PR was treated as transactional, focused on quick wins rather than long-term positioning. That realization stayed with me and eventually shaped the kind of agency I wanted to build.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

It wasn’t one single moment, it was more of a gradual realization. As a single working mom contributing to other people’s ventures and visions, I wanted to bring more of my personality to my profession—try different tactics, go deeper with clients, connect PR more directly to business outcomes.

As the pull toward creating something of my own grew stronger, I started forming a vision of my own of the type of company I wanted to run, one that reflected my values, was highly strategic, and provided truly personalized service to clients I would be honored to represent. At a certain point, my fear of the risk involved was outweighed by the excitement of the personal agency and autonomy involved.

Do you have any recent wins?

This past year has been a period of strong momentum. We’ve expanded our client list, secured national media placements across top-tier outlets, and continued to refine our niche.

Beyond that, beyond the awards we’ve won or the publications that have featured us, our recent track record has been about depth: fortifying relationships, delivering more strategic impact, and really solidifying our reputation as a trusted PR partner.

What’s one app on your phone that you cannot live without?

Slack. It keeps our team connected and facilitates seamless communication, which is essential in the fast-paced environment of public relations.

Who are your customers?

Our clients are primarily founders and growth-stage companies, especially within hospitality, innovation, and lifestyle-driven spaces. Many of them are at a turning point in terms of launching, scaling, or repositioning, and they understand the value of being seen in the right way on the right platforms for them.

We also work with executives who are pursuing thought leadership. There’s often a moment where a business owner realizes that their personal voice is just as important as their company’s, and that’s where we come in, to amplify that voice and share it with a larger audience.

What’s your top productivity tip?

Get clarity. Clarity is everything. When you’re clear on your priorities, decision-making becomes easier and your time is used more effectively. I used to have trouble with this, wanting to be everywhere at once and do “all the things” for all our clients. Now I better understand the primacy of focused, structured objectives.

I also believe in organizing your day around energy, not just tasks. That looks like protecting your spans of uninterrupted work, minimizing distractions, and being very discriminating about where your attention goes.

What’s your favorite business tool?

Asana. It brings structure, visibility, and accountability to everything we do. In an industry where timing and coordination are critical, that level of organization is indispensable.

What’s your approach to work-life balance?

I like that word, I like thinking of it as integration. Because the truth is, balance can’t be maintained at all times. There are seasons when my business requires more of me, and I think my husband, kids, and friends understand that. So I have to integrate my work into my life instead of futilely trying to compartmentalize.

The trick for me, I’ve learned, is just being present in whatever I’m doing at any particular time. It’s true, I sometimes arrive at the soccer game late or have to cut bedtime short. But when I’m there, I’m committed to being there. That’s another thing that took me quite a while to incorporate into my life, but now it’s become my top priority every day.

How do you avoid burn-out?

By paying attention to the early warning signs. Burnout doesn’t happen overnight, it accumulates. I’ve learned to make space, set boundaries, and step back when needed. To delegate. To trust my team members to do their job so I can do mine.

But it’s also a mindset—adapting to the stressors that come with the territory, understanding that feeling overloaded sometimes is just part of the process you need to learn to manage. It’s not something separate that you can just banish from business ownership. When I allowed myself the grace to just feel run down and overworked at times, it granted me permission to actually schedule time for refueling and recharging.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Start before you feel ready. Then stay consistent, even when things go quiet. And remain concentrated on forging genuine relationships. They’re what’s going to bolster you when things get tough and what’s going to carry you farther than anything else.

Also, trust your perspective—the way you and only you see things. Ultimately, that’s what sets you apart.

Emily’s story is a reminder that the most durable businesses are often the ones that grow out of a quiet frustration with the status quo, and that the relationships a founder forges early, patiently, and with real care are what eventually carry them the farthest. We are so excited to have her in the Entreprenista community and cannot wait to watch R Public Relations continue to grow.

Want to connect with founders like Emily? Visit Entreprenista League to explore our community and discover more stories of women building businesses that truly matter.