Jillian Sanders
Founder, Jillian Sanders Public Relations
Jillian Sanders is Denver-based publicist and branding expert with more than fifteen years of experience working with the top interior design, health + wellness, beauty, and lifestyle brands in the country. She began her career as the personal assistant to a Victoria’s Secret supermodel and author of the Goosebumps children’s series, R.L. Stine.
These positions lead to several years as a voice over and theatrical talent agent, followed by jobs as a publicist at Hachette Book Group and Random House. She was then hired by Hearst Magazines as Senior Manager of Public Relations helping to oversee their interior design portfolio.
After 17 years of living and working in New York City, Jillian moved to Denver and started her lifestyle PR firm, Jillian Sanders Public Relations (JSPR). She now works with clients throughout the country on select interior design, beauty, wellness and lifestyle projects and has garnered national publicity for her clients in print, television, and online. She is also a writer and contributes to multiple national publications.
5 Things I Wish I Knew……
✶ Don’t burn bridges.
In January 2020, after 17 years of working in entertainment and PR in NYC, I transferred with my job to Denver. Then, because of the pandemic, I was furloughed and eventually let go within three months of moving. In a new city, without a job, and during a global pandemic, I was at a loss for what my next move would be. So, I put together a website with all my experience as a way to market myself and emailed everyone I knew back in New York saying I was looking for freelance work. Within the first month, I had three clients. The next month I had two more. The third month I had to file for an LLC and was looking to hire. Had it not been for my connections and people who were willing to put in a good word for me, I don't know where I'd be today. To this day, most of my clients come from referrals and word of mouth.
✶ Surround yourself with good people.
I've always tried to surround myself with like minded, ambitious publicists. Throughout my career I’ve been drawn to people I’ve wanted to be like, and have tried to stay away from office drama. I think it's very important to find your people – especially when you're younger. Office contacts can become lifelong friends! In any office building there are always politics and minutiae that can become distracting and career killing if you’re not careful. It's easy to lose time to gossip and "water cooler" pettiness. PRO TIP: surround yourself with good people who motivate you and your career will be all the better for it.
✶ Have hobbies
Work is important but it can't be everything! I believe having something - anything! - outside of work that you enjoy is key to being successful. Cooking, gardening, running, dancing – anything that clears the head and allows you to click into other areas of the brain is good for the soul. I love Pilates, I love to bake, I love to write. When I'm doing any of those activities my brain turns "off" from work and suddenly different ideas come to me - pitches, angles, etc. Things that somehow I wouldn't think of when I'm actively "THINKING" of them!
✶ Find a mentor!
I have had wonderful mentors in my life (one specifically, my former boss Dee Dee) who have been exceptional counselors to me at crossroads both personally and professionally. When you find someone special - nurture the relationship! Dee Dee went from being a boss to a friend to a best friend. That doesn't happen magically. You have to make the effort to keep the relationship alive; and the responsibility is on the younger person. The person in the higher up position is busy, in many cases they have a family, more responsibility, and a lot on their plate. Make sure, especially in the beginning, that you are mindful of that person's time while making the role of mentor an easy one for them to want to step into. Start with a quick meeting. Then ask them if you can treat them to lunch, coffee, etc. on their time...
✶ Don’t waste your time with the wrong people.
Let’s be honest: there are people you will encounter who are two-faced, have hidden agendas, and will flat-out not like you. Move on from those people quickly. There are MORE people you will encounter who will like you, will appreciate you, will help you, and will respect you if you don’t pay attention to, think about, or waste your time with people you don’t like or don’t like you back. I majorly eye roll to myself when I sit down with someone and they immediately start gossiping about who they don't like/who doesn’t like them – BORING! If you are living your own life with integrity, doing your best work, and know your side of the street is clean then the only person you should ever be concerned about is you. The sooner you learn that the better you’ll do in your career AND in life. Period.