Meet Valerie “VK” Fields | Entrepreneur and College Professor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Valerie “VK” Fields and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Valerie “VK”, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Our PR PROS team has a reputation for consistent excellence; because as a leader, I believe ‘How you do anything is how you do everything.’ If we say we’re going to do something, we do it – and we do it right the first time. As a matter of practice, we return calls and emails promptly, we meet deadlines, and we stay on budget. Period.
I’m also known to walk away from opportunities that aren’t mutually beneficial. I’m not in the business of chasing money; we’re in the business of providing excellent Public Relations and content creation services, which propel our clients to success. If a deal or opportunity isn’t beneficial to the client and isn’t profitable for our team, then it isn’t the right fit. Our agency is not only defined by the clients and projects we have on the roster, but also by the projects we’re willing to leave on the table for a better opportunity in the future that allows everyone to win.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started my public relations agency in the back bedroom of my childhood home in Raleigh, North Carolina. Launching the company occurred as a result of an economic recession and corporate hiring freezes at the time. I decided that if I couldn’t find a job, I would create one, which is how I became an entrepreneur. Now I’ve spent 30 years in the Public Relations industry; and 28 of those years as an entrepreneur, running a PR agency. In college, I majored in Public Relations at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before graduating, I left school to work full time in Public Relations at Walt Disney World in Florida, which helped expand my skillset and establish the professional foundation I’ve built upon. After working for Disney, I returned to school, graduated and started my company within three years and didn’t look back. My company PR PROS is a full-service agency specializing in public relations and content creation. I’m also a certified Crisis Communication professional, meaning I help clients craft their statements, actions, and messaging during challenging times where there is a lot of attention from the public or the media. In terms of lessons learned and business longevity, I owe most of my professional wins to showing up and perseverance; sometimes you just need to outlast the competition to win.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I like experiencing new things and supporting small businesses, so I’m pretty sure we would spend time darting around the city and the Triangle region to visit the various shopping districts in Downtown Raleigh, Village District, Midtown (Raleigh), Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, Main Street in Durham, and uptown in Charlotte.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shoutout my father Leroy Fields, Jr. – who at the time of this interview is 98 years old. For my entire life, he has been a champion for me and my aspirations, and he has been my biggest cheerleader. I admire the man he is and how he lived his life and led by stellar example. My wonderful husband Shelton Russell is the wind beneath my wings; who never misses an opportunity to uplift and support me in everything I do. I’m grateful for supportive family members and an amazing group of colleagues and Public Relations professors at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Last, I appreciate everyone whose kindness and contributions have contributed to my success. For me, gratitude is a lifestyle … so, I thank you.

Website: https://www.globalprpros.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vk-fields-pr-pros