Melissa Conner - Future of PR and Building Meaningful Brands

In this episode of She’s Smart, Maria sits down with Melissa Conner — powerhouse publicist, local mom, and Partner & Managing Director at Jennifer Bett Communications — the agency behind some of today’s most beloved consumer brands.

From her early days in New York PR to co-founding JBC and scaling it into a 50-person agency working with brands like Magic Spoon, Parachute, Fashionphile, and MIDI Health, Melissa shares her journey of storytelling, entrepreneurship, and finding purpose in the chaos. She opens up about trusting her gut, building a business while raising three kids, and how she and her business partner have grown a company that’s as values-driven as it is effective.

We talk about:

• How Melissa pivoted from fashion dreams to PR leadership

• Why your story — and your product — matter more than ever

• The power of strong female partnerships and work-life integration

• Trends shaping the future of media, influencers, and PR

• What makes a brand press-worthy in today’s crowded landscape

• Melissa’s advocacy around small business tariffs and women’s healthcare

This is an inspiring and insightful episode for anyone building something — a brand, a business, or a life on your own terms.

Jennifer Bett Communications: https://www.jenniferbett.com

Female Founders Sound the Alarm about Tariffs: https://www.inc.com/ali-donaldson/female-founders-sound-the-alarm-about-tariffs-to-president-trump/91175323