Women have traditionally been underrepresented in business, but in recent years there has been a growing awareness of the need for greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This has led to a push for more women to enter into business, as well as for more support and resources for women who are already in the field.

The public relations (PR) industry has traditionally been male-dominated, but in recent years there has been an increase in the representation of women in leadership roles. According to a 2020 study by the Women in PR group, women make up around 60% of the PR workforce in the US, UK and Canada, but hold only 30% of leadership positions.

Greatness lies in one’s ability to chase constant improvement. Without that zeal for the next great thing, no leader can tap into the true meaning of greatness – Nicole Rodrigues

Despite the slow progress, some women have achieved success in the PR industry and become influential leaders. There are female CEOs and Presidents at major PR firms, as well as women leading in-house communications teams at major companies. Additionally, there are many female PR professionals who have established themselves as experts in their field and have become sought-after speakers and authors. Nicole Rodrigues, CEO of NRPR Group, is one such powerful female warrior shattering the existing status quo. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, NRPR Group is a leading PR agency that’s staffed with experienced writers, communicators, thinkers, and doers, working relentlessly to establish lasting relationships with clients and the media to create valued narratives with tangible results.

Humble Beginning to an Illustrious Journey

While today Nicole leads NRPR as a seasoned PR and social media marketing pro with over two decades of experience under her belt, her initiation into the industry was fairly humble. As a graduate in Public Relations from San Jose State University, Nicole always nurtured a passion for PR. She started her career working for an enterprise software firm. When an opportunity to intern with the Oakland Raiders came up, she left her position in the company. From cheering for the team as a cheerleader to progressing to the position of the Player Development Coordinator for the NFL team, Nicole garnered invaluable insights into skills that helped her carve out her PR niche in the later years.

After honing her PR skills, Nicole went on to work with some of the biggest names in the industry. She ideated and executed strategic campaigns for brands like Yahoo!, Dolby, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony PlayStation Hulu, MobiTV, Heal, and Demand Media. Finally, in 2014, she left her VP of Digital Entertainment position at Bender/Helper to turn her long-standing dream of establishing an innovative PR firm into reality. This gave birth to the ground-breaking NRPR Group.

Ideating a Revolutionary PR Firm

Nicole created NRPR as a PR agency with a difference. Her vision was to create a PR firm that espoused innovation and paved the way to a whole new digital future. With the birth of NRPR Group in 2014, she successfully created an award-winning, full-service PR and brand positioning agency that serves a vast range of clients right from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies within the consumer tech, FinTech, MedTech, sports and entertainment, enterprise software, mobile, and consumer products industries. Apart from the multichannel PR services offered by the company, NRPR is also the only PR agency to extend cutting-edge content creation services. Through NRPR Biz Pro™, the company offers end-to-end, pre-launch business development strategy and support.

A Renaissance Businesswoman Donning Multiple Hats

While Nicole is well-known and recognised for her pivotal role as NRPR CEO, she juggles multiple roles with perfection. As a prolific writer, Nicole pens her insights and regularly contributes articles to renowned publications like Forbes, Working Mother Magazine, Adweek, PR News, and The HYPE Magazine. She has also penned her first business and life skills book, Beverly Hills Boss to help aspiring entrepreneurs overcome obstacles to taste success. Nicole has taken on the task of bridging the gap between the media and PR professionals with her podcast, PRfect Pitch and her YouTube show, Beverly Hills Boss.

NRPR will continue to grow with the needs of the clients. We will continue to evolve our services and offerings to best meet their needs –Nicole Rodrigues

Nicole’s expertise in the PR industry has earned her a position as a member of the exclusive Forbes Agency Council. She is also one of the eight selected women on the board of The Organization of American Women in Public Relations (Women in PR USA). Apart from these key roles, Nicole also serves as a board member of Fremont College, the Kenley Jansen Foundation, Gradelo and Dock.

Cornerstones of the NRPR Empire

With the myriad of PR agencies overcrowding the market, established difference is key. Nicole started NRPR with a set of clear objectives that have kept the venture from getting drowned in the sea of PR agencies. Basing strategies on clear planning, cohesive messaging, and detailed execution has helped the company consistently succeed in its task of challenging, redefining, and reshaping the PR status quo.

At NRPR, the focus is on the client’s unique voice. Abandoning the age-old cookie-cutter approach, the company believes in espousing a tailored one, where the client’s voice is privileged. Nicole believes that understanding this unique voice and message can help the company better communicate with the client’s target audience. Thus, Nicole and the team at NRPR have modelled themselves as extensions of the client’s internal marketing team – dedicated to enhancing the client’s bottom line with PR strategies that align with the client’s broader vision.

Pillars of Inspiration Shaping Nicole’s Journey

The insights we gather during our formative years have a way of impacting the rest of our lives. This adage is more than true for Nicole who grew up in the shadow of an empowered female figure. As Nicole heads one of the largest and steadily growing PR agencies, she is reminded of this key influence on her entrepreneurial journey. Nicole credits her mother for the relentless drive to excel she espouses today. Growing up, Nicole witnessed her mom balance work and home. She witnessed her mom take care of six kids on her own, while simultaneously handling business operations. Her mother’s zeal and resilience give her the inspiration she needs to strike the perfect balance in her life as a mother and CEO.  

Garnering Recognition as a Female PR Warrior

Nicole’s place as a leading female executive in the PR field is indisputable. Her role in leading NRPR has achieved boundless recognition ever since the venture’s inception. In 2017, Nicole was honoured with the Stevie Awards Top Female Executive in the PR Industry award. In the same year, she was also bestowed the Bulldog Reporter’s 2017 Gold Public Relations Professional of the Year award. In 2020, Nicole was named as the Business Role Model of the Year in the Women World Awards for Female Achievers. Most recently, she has received the Most Innovative PR Entrepreneur (USA) award in the 2021 Influential Business Women Awards.

While Nicole’s professional successes have been widely celebrated with awards and accolades, she values her role as a mother to be equally seminal. According to Nicole, having raised her daughter as a driven and exceptional young woman is one of her greatest achievements in life.

A Leader Empowering Others

Being a great leader isn’t just about basking in your own success and chasing the next big accolade. True leaders are those who can inspire and empower others to carve out their own paths of success. Nicole is one such rare gem who has managed to not inspire others but has worked tirelessly to charter an actionable course of empowerment.

Her empowerment journey started in 2017 as the NRPR Group’s CSR program – ‘Make It Happen.’ This ongoing project soon turned into a second venture for Nicole, one that was focused on helping students find their passion. Established as a non-profit, the Young Dreamer’s Foundation provides city students with the tools and tactics they need to pave a path for the future. It helps aspiring entrepreneurs to connect with executives, celebrities, and athletes to succeed in their future pursuits, both personally and professionally.

Words of Wisdom for Female Entrepreneurs

As a seasoned leader, Nicole has garnered boundless industrial knowledge and insights. In outlining the indelible industry secrets for young female entrepreneurs, Nicole states that stagnancy is the beginning of the end. According to Nicole, learning is an indispensable part of any industrial vertical. With the constantly changing business landscape, any entrepreneur that takes this core principle lightly is bound to lose.

Researching, gathering insights, and tapping into the pulse of a client’s industry is necessary if one is to succeed in the world of PR. Finding trusted advisors willing to guide you through the norms and ways of the industry can help make this journey easily. “While consistent learning can keep you prepared for the tasks ahead, there’s no substitute for hard work and dedication”, adds Nicole. The pursuit of success cannot be made with diluted focus. A razor-sharp focus is essential if women are to succeed in the competitive business world. Lastly, understanding the company you’re building can help empower and train those who will espouse these roles in the future.

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