Georgette Pascale once dreamed of being a fashion stylist. But while attending New York City”™s Fashion Institute of Technology she realized that the design industry had its struggles and was perhaps less glamorous than she had envisioned. So, the Milford native switched to the school”™s marketing communications program. That”™s where she found her calling for public relations after internships in fashions, sports, music and travel ”“ “very fun, sexy things.”
Today, Pascale, a fairly new resident of Fairfield, works out of a stylish yet functional office in the stunning, waterfront home she shares with her husband, Rob, three young children and two dogs. She runs her company, Pascale Communications L.L.C., which represents pharmaceutical, medical device and health care companies and hospitals from California to Israel. She says she taught herself most everything she knows about the health care industry.
Past and present clients include big-name companies such as Allergan Inc., a maker of Botox and smaller startups like Restoration Robotics Inc., which develops robots for hair transplant rejuvenation.
“My friends are all like, ”˜It”™s not Chanel, girl,”™” laughed Pascale.
“But for me, I”™m driven by the new business angle of it. It”™s winning the client and showing that even though I haven”™t worked in hair restoration, I have a great PR team behind me, and here”™s what we can do for you.”
“Common sense is what makes me business savvy and honestly, the ability to read and really work with people. ”¦ It sounds silly or cliché, but PR is PR whether you”™re pitching lingerie or music. It”™s honestly knowing your client and knowing what the media wants.”
This month she”™s launching an app, PRAddix, as a way to “disseminate news quickly and efficiently” to match the “evolving mediascape.” Yet a true believer in “old school mixed with new school,” she will still handwrite her thank-you notes.
While the critical health care reform debates are going back and forth in Washington, her business hasnӪt been affected since it represents necessities, rather than luxuries, she says. So six and a half years later, the business is still growing with close to 30 clients and a team of 14 colleagues all working from home from New York to California, using Skype and social media to constantly connect. Sometimes theyӪll visit Fairfield and sheӪll talk shop on the beach or at one of her favorite local spots, Caf̩ Lola.
Pascale said she hopes that being a virtual company helps it stand out without being the main selling point.
“It does cut costs down, so clients do see that in their bills since we don”™t have a big rent, so I can put that money towards my colleagues to pay them well because they”™re doing hard work.”
As a female business-owner, Pascale also thinks it”™s crucial to mentor and support fellow working women, something she missed out on prior to starting her company. Today, she works with the nonprofit organization, Prevent Blindness America, and serves as secretary of the board of Ophthalmic Women Leaders, which “unites the women that work in the eye-care space, talks about job leads and how to mentor.”
“Everyone needs a mentor, someone that you can turn to for advice that”™s not a friend or direct colleague. ”¦ Mentoring is important because I learn from the people I mentor sometimes and it”™s good to give back. I”™m very karmic.”
Pascale enjoys building relationships with “fabulous and diverse women” because “the passion women have is second to none.”
“It”™s important to note that it”™s not always easy, but they have a passion and tenacity that I don”™t see in some men. They will keep going till they get it right.”
Her website is pascalecommunications.com.
