Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Collins.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My career path started as a college swim coach directly upon graduating from Purdue University where I was a DI student-athlete. I felt that coaching was my calling and dedicated 10 years moving across the country to pursue my passion. I coached at Illinois State, the University of Kentucky, the University of Pittsburgh, and Cal Berkeley. As I moved through these roles, I gained a lot of success and recognition in the swimming community as a great recruiter, landing me several Director of Recruiting roles at the various schools I was a part of. I really loved coaching, but to be a great recruiter on top of that required a ton of extra time. I was spending many hours, days, and weeks working on the road and it was wearing me down. Days in the office were often12 hours plus, only to come home to spend another hour or two on the phone with recruits. I had no identity outside of work, I could not maintain any kind of relationship with those I dated, and I came to find that my “dream job” wasn’t all I felt it would be cracked up to be. To make a long story short, I met my now-husband about 4 years ago and decided it was time for new priorities in my life. After we got engaged in 2019, I decided to step away from coaching and take some time for myself and our relationship. During this time, I was able to try new things and do things I have always enjoyed like writing. I made up my mind thatI wanted to use my degree in public relations/advertising and see what opportunities were out there. I had some non-profit PR work experience, but that was it. I was applying for jobs in California, where we were living at the time, and getting in the final two or three when it came to interviews; however, I was losing out to those with 5+ years of experience in an agency somewhere else in Northern, CA or another big city. Then, COVID hit and there were zero jobs available. It was a challenging time for me, as it was for most people. I felt lost and unsure of where my life and career were going and as a normally very competitive, busy, and motivated individual, this was a new space for me to exist in. After a few months, I got pretty fed up with feeling this way, woke up one day, and thought, “why can’t I do my own thing?” Around this same time, my husband accepted a job at the University of Tennessee, and it seemed like the perfect time and way to embrace a new place and community to start up my own PR business. To be honest, it has a long way to go! I have one company I work with as Director of Public Relations and Communication Strategy (Beine Wellness Building), and some freelance gigs in the works in the area. I am still working on finishing up my website and finalizing/implementing a plan to grow my business and brand, particularly in the Knoxville locale.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In my opinion, if a road is smooth I would question if an individual is taking enough risk. Maybe one can fall into a great opportunity out of a little luck, but to try something new at any point of life and make it into your own (let alone successful) is a lot of work. It takes a lot of time, energy, and failures along the way. For me, personally, I gave up a substantial salary and great job to do this thing. I have taken on a lot of little side and part-time jobs to make sure I am contributing at least some financially in my relationship. Jobs I never thought I would do in my 30s like tutoring, babysitting, door dashing, swim lessons for little kids in their home pools (after coaching Olympic swimmers). I had to put pride aside and not care what other people think. I am sure a lot of people think I am crazy for leaving my job at Cal, a premier program in the swimming world, to start a new path at ground zero and that is ok. I am stoked to get this business going and do what I need to do outside of that to make it work. I would be lying if I said it was easy or glamourous.
When I visualize myself and where this is all going to go long term, it is exactly where I want to be, and I continue to focus on that. At the end of the day, I know I am doing the right thing for me, and I am happy with the work I am doing. I couldn’t do it without great support from friends and family, and especially from my husband, Rob.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Sarah Collins Public Relations?
I do freelance PR and Advertising for small businesses nationwide and local companies in Knoxville, TN. This includes writing press releases and blogs, creating digital and hard copy media kits, working with companies to create or re-create their brand, image, and/or mission. I also do outreach to newspapers, radio/podcasts, magazines, and blogs, etc. Additionally, I help businesses grow in their community and beyond, plan and host events, run social media, and more. I believe what sets me apart from others is my passion and pride for my work, and always taking a chance/believing in the “little guy” (aka small business). I have seen a gap in the companies that most agencies work. Most are larger organizations with bigger budgets. I am a person who wants to see small/local businesses succeed. We need more entrepreneurs who make it and become the success stories for our youth and others to be inspired by.
My services are offered in various packages based on what companies are looking for and what they can afford. I am always willing to work with people one on one to figure this out, as well.
What matters most to you? Why?
Being a trustworthy and loyal person is most important to me. Any success I have had in other areas or this one is due to the fact my word means something and people find me loyal. I really care about relationships and other people. I still feel that face-to-face interaction is most important, even in the digital age.
This is important because when I work with people on a strategy for their company and/or brand it will always involve some sort of community-based, face-to-face approach.
Contact Info:
- Email: sarahcollinspublicrelations@gmail.com
- Website: (In the works)
- Instagram: @sarahcollins_pr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahcollinspr
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahCollins_PR
Image Credits
Shannon Melek Photography
