3. Mastering the Art of In-Person Networking with Lisa Smith, Founder of The PR Net

What if networking didn’t have to be polished, perfect, or painfully awkward? In this episode, I sit down with Lisa Smith, founder of The PR Net, to explore how real relationships—not forced transactions—are the key to building a global network and thriving in the ever-changing world of PR and marketing.

New Zealand native Lisa Smith has a unique work history, blending entrepreneurship in communications and marketing, publishing, online retail and new media. At 25, Lisa started a PR agency in Sydney which she ran for several years then subsequently sold. She concurrently authored a coffee table book and founded and ran a fashion e-commerce business. After moving to the US, Lisa consulted on communications and marketing to brands and agencies. This experience was the catalyst for her starting The PR Net (launched officially in September 2015), a media platform and members’ network for the marketing communications industry, whose members are drawn from leading brands and agencies in the US, UK, Canada, and beyond.

In This Episode:

• How Lisa built The PR Net from a few coffee meetings into a global community
• Her philosophy on connection over transaction
• What’s changed most in PR, marketing, and communications over the last decade
• Tips for networking as an introvert (and how to not feel awkward doing it)
• How to ask for referrals without being pushy
• The importance of building relationships before making the ask

Connect with Lisa: https://www.theprnet.com

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-weisberg-coady-57aab37/