Today we’d like to introduce you to Laila Dar.
Laila, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It’s actually a funny story. I had been working at a boutique public relations firm for a few years when I decided to apply to different MBA programs (mostly to please my South Asian parents). All of the applications required me to write a personal statement about my career goals and how an MBA would help me achieve them. I had no idea what to say so I just made something up. I wrote about how watching my boss grow her agency from the ground up, use her connections to help startup owners thrive and empower other women entrepreneurs had inspired me to launch a PR business of my own. While my boss really did do all of those amazing things, I had no intention of actually starting a PR agency.
My personal statement was deemed good enough by a few business schools, so I was soon accepted to an MBA program. But as I took more classes and thought long and hard about my career, I realized that I actually wasn’t making those things up. I really was inspired by my boss and wanted to follow in her footsteps by creating a PR agency of my own, one that specifically catered to women entrepreneurs and emerging brands. So I launched Dallas PR Gal at the beginning of this summer!
Has it been a smooth road?
I have definitely faced my fair share of struggles so far; anyone who launched a company during this global pandemic has. But women are resilient. I have seen so many entrepreneurs launch new ventures during this crazy time, and it’s clear that the pandemic has not deterred women’s entrepreneurial spirits. So I have still been able to bring on new clients and connect with other startup owners despite not being able to meet them in person. In a way, I think the pandemic has strengthened our sense of community and desire to help one another in any way possible.
We’d love to hear more about Dallas PR Gal.
Absolutely! I am the Founder of Dallas PR Gal, where I work as a freelance public relations consultant. I work with brands in the fashion, beauty and lifestyle spaces on all things PR – including press, events, social media, influencer marketing and strategic partnerships. While I am based in Dallas, I work with entrepreneurs all over the U.S.
My true passion in life is to help emerging brands, talented creators and women-led startups share their stories and unique voices with the world. I love helping women entrepreneurs get the recognition they deserve – especially my fellow women of color!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love that Dallas is all about the hustle mentality. Dallas is one of the top cities in the U.S. for female entrepreneurship, and the amount of young women entrepreneurs in this city is truly so inspiring. People here aren’t afraid to go after what they want and make their dreams come true, and the community is so supportive of that. What I hate the most is that we don’t have HEB!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dallasprgal.com
- Email: laila@dallasprgal.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/dallasprgal/
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/dallasprgal/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/dallasprgal
- Other: http://linkedin.com/in/lailadar/
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