In this latest ‘meet the lorries’ installment, we spoke to one of the key cogs of our growing European team. Here’s what Youna Loève, account coordinator in our Paris office, had to say about musical theatre, her first job and joining the agency during a pandemic.
What advice would you give to someone who’s interested in working in b2b tech PR and marketing?
Be prepared to navigate sectors that are as challenging as they are interesting. The b2b world isn’t something that we’re regularly in touch with in our daily lives. As someone who came into this environment without expansive PR knowledge, I had to quickly grasp what b2b comms meant, what concepts and processes it entailed, and how to reach business audiences.
In tech especially, it can feel like a whole new world. To ease your way in, I’d recommend taking a deep-dive into Google, making good use of Twitter and, last but not least, subscribing to media newsletters that you know you’ll enjoy reading!
What skills are essential for your b2b PR role?
This role requires you to be open-minded, organised and adaptable. I thought I was extremely organised before starting this job, as I’m definitely the “mum” of my friendship group. Turns out I had a good base, but it truly is an ongoing learning process! Moreover, never expect your day to go as you planned. Your pristine to-do list will definitely end up full of extra scribbles, arrows and new bullet points by the end of the day. PR is a balance between the planned and the unexpected, so flexibility is key!
What’s your favourite part of working in PR?
I particularly appreciate the variety of tasks, clients and projects I get to work on. Jumping from the agency’s marketing, to cybersecurity, to femtech on the same day can be challenging, but it’s also exciting! There’s always more to discover and to learn. It’s a great opportunity to gain a more in-depth knowledge of certain industries, and figure out which one you want to explore further in the long run. This is also very much a people-oriented job, which is an aspect that is very important to me.
What’s the best part of working at the lorries?
Most people will tell you it’s your colleagues – but I assure you that it really is! As I started this new job in the middle of the pandemic, I wasn’t sure what to expect and how both my professional and personal life would be impacted. Here, I found an extremely supportive environment and felt part of the agency from day one. I love this “work hard, play hard” vibe that the lorries give out, and feeling surrounded by like-minded people during this difficult time has been extremely important to me. I can’t wait until we all finally meet in person!
How would you describe your day job to a child?
We do everything we can to keep our clients happy. When it works, it makes us happy too! I also get to talk to the people who write newspapers.
What’s something not many people know about you?
I am a big fan of musical theatre and musicals in general, whether they’re old or new. I’ve been dancing for a long time, and for a while, performing in a musical was my dream. I haven’t given up just yet though – the only issue is that I painfully lack the necessary vocal skills. I’m also a horse riding fan and have been riding for around 20 years now!
What was your first/most unusual job?
My first job was as a babysitter. I was relatively young, probably 14. I’ve worked a lot with children since then – it’s actually my most extensive professional experience! I’ve been a nanny in France, an educator for small children in Germany and a teacher in the UK. I’ve worked with kids of all ages and backgrounds, and it has truly been an incredible learning experience.
Which three items can’t you live without?
My roller pen, because I’m someone who needs to put most things in writing. My phone, because I like to keep in very close touch with my family. And a bunch of medication that I need to prevent a couple of annoying chronic conditions from ruining the day!
If you’d like to find out more about the lorries and the openings we currently have available, click here, or drop us an email at hello@rlyl.com.
