This story is part of our 1,000 stories campaign. What’s your story?
Name: Barbara Henricks
Business: Cave Henricks Communications, full service media relations for authors
Industry: Marketing & PR
Location: Austin, Texas, U.S.
Reason for starting: A deep passion for books and authors. I left a NYC based book PR firm after launching and running their business book division for a decade. I was worn out by ten years of telecommuting. I left amicably, took my biggest client with me and opened my own doors in late 2006.
Related: Read about another female entrepreneur working in publishing here.
How do you define success? Doing what I love every day and creating a company where others want to come to work. We’re book lovers at heart and it’s truly a joy to work with authors who are so passionate about the stories they have to tell. Being part of that process is something I never grow tired of.
Biggest Success: Along with representing some of the biggest names in business today, including Jack Welch, I am most proud of my work with the Gallup Organization. I spent 12 years working with them, launching books whose mission was to rebrand the company from being only a polling group to a management consulting concern. I was part of the team. Their books had a larger purpose in the company platform which made that work challenging and resonant.
Related: News in the World of Women
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it? The biggest challenge in starting your own business is to know what not to do. I don’t love systems, I detest bookkeeping, and I’m not the most organized person you will ever meet. I addressed this by making my first hires an office manager and a CFO. Smartest thing I ever did.
I’d like our agency to become the first that tears down the divide between traditional pr and social pr. I strongly believe that being a publicist in the 21st century demands mastery in both areas of media and that segregating the efforts detracts from them both. Secondly, I’d like our agency to be a home for authors. As the publishing world struggles through a chaotic team, it gives us a chance to form lasting relationships with authors and allow us to represent them throughout their career, not just at the time of a book launch.
Who is your most important role model? Peter Georgescu, Chairman Emeritus of Young & Rubicam. I first worked with him in 2008 on a book he authored on creativity. He has served as mentor and friend as I opened my own company and I admire his business acumen, his thoughtful insight, and his unending graciousness. In the cut throat world of business, Peter had a long and storied career while remaining true to his own values. If I could achieve even half of what he has, I’d leave the business world happy.
[box_light]Website www.cavehenricks.com
Twitter @barbarahenricks
Facebook www.facebook.com/cavehenricks[/box_light]
Tell us your story!
Read about another entrepreneur here!
Edited by The Story Exchange