Hi! Hi! I’m Lauren Valdes, also known as the new Director of PR & Influencer here at HJ-PR. A bit about me, I was born and raised in Los Angeles and recently moved to Newport Beach within the last year or so. I definitely wouldn’t consider myself a beach girl, but I do like looking at it and love the community that a beach town encompasses. In my spare time, when I’m not working, I’m a motivational speaker (I have been for a little over 12 years) and enjoy being a bit of an influencer. I guess you can say I like to stay busy! When I’m not dreaming of content ideas or thinking about branding, you can find me riding my Peloton, hanging out with friends and family, and golfing at the range (when the conditions are ideal). Most things in my life always seem to relate to the idea of community and connection. That’s what I love Public Relations and Influencer Marketing! It’s all about leaving a mark and enhancing or creating new connections with people. It’s all about fostering a community.
Well, that’s enough of me rambling on. Here are some fun fill-in-the-blank questions:
In another life, I’m pretty sure I was a comedian. I am sometimes loud and love making people laugh. I like being the life of the party.
If I won the lottery tomorrow, I’d start a shoe company that makes fashionable footwear for individuals with prosthetic legs. It would be a one-for-one business plan where with every shoe purchased, money would go toward helping individuals with prosthetic limbs. And, you know, keep working here.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is from my mom. When I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 14 her response was “we just have to fix it.” That phrase has stuck with me since then. Under adversity, I don’t have to or need to get stressed, I just have to fix it and work to achieve my end goal.
If I could invent a holiday, it would definitely involve lots of food and games. Preferably cornhole and beer pong.
What advice would you give a candidate who wants to join our team of superstars? Be yourself and you’ll fit right in! The people that work here are driven, amazing, and insanely friendly. It’s definitely a family environment.
If I weren’t so damn good at my job, I’d probably be a full-time motivational speaker about body image, overcoming adversity, and perserviring during difficult times.
Cats or dogs? Dogs! Along with our Shih Tzu, Ronie, my family just added an 8-week old Shih Apso named Havana.
My favorite word in the English language is Rambunctious. It’s just so much fun to say!
My favorite word that has no direct English translation is Wabi-Sabi. “Finding beauty in imperfections.”
What’s the most inspiring part of your job? If I do my job correctly, I can give an audience “all the feels” and stimulate an emotional connection between them and a brand. Being able to form that connection is pretty uplifting and rewarding.
The most important thing I learned before high school was the importance of family and a strong foundation. The summer before freshman year I was diagnosed with cancer. The close support, family around me, and having that strong foundation helped me get through every obstacle.
If I were a superhero, my superpower would be the power of being lucky all of the time. I was watching Deadpool and one of the characters could subconsciously and psionically initiate random telekinetic acts that affect probability in her favor and I thought that was the coolest thing! I love the idea of going back to somewhere like Haiti and them being able to benefit from a little added luck coming their way.
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be a famous actress when I grew up.
If you were a pasta shape, what shape would you be and why? Bow tie pasta! Because when you see that kind of pasta you can’t help but smile and feel a bit of nastalgia. Plus when you see a bow tie it signifies a bit a quirky poise.
