Her Story
About Andrea
Andrea Blythe is a public relations professional with about 13 years of experience in the industry. She started her career after graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism in 2012 and completing an associate's program at Parsons The New School for Design in 2013. While at Parsons she interned at Stella McCartney, which led to a two-year role on the menswear team at Burberry. In 2015 she joined Current Global, where she has spent nearly 11 years leading media relations strategies for clients including Champion Athletics and Hidden Valley Ranch while expanding her work across travel, consumer, wellness, tech, and fashion. Blythe attributes her success to good mentorship, beginning with her manager at Burberry who introduced her to PR in New York City, and values the creative thinking of colleagues and female leaders who model work-life balance as a mother. She is also an independent creative writer who began developing her romantic fantasy series Young Power in 2016, self-publishing the first book in 2019, with the fourth and final installment Eternal Power releasing on September 10. She is a member of the philanthropical organization PEO and prioritizes wellness, fitness, reading, and outdoor activities with her two boys and dogs.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Andrea
01What do you attribute your success to?
Definitely good mentorship. I was very fortunate when I started working at Burberry to have a manager who truly took me under his wings, and introduced me to this wild world of PR in New York City. And I think since then, I've really appreciated being able to work with fellow colleagues who have had really creative thinking. Since joining Current Global, a lot of my leaders have been female, and just being able to also see other mothers in this working field and seeing how they've been able to balance and navigate work-life balance has also been really helpful.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Professionally, it was from my manager at Burberry, and it was, you know, whenever you're thinking about your role, and if somebody ever asks something of you. Just think about, like, what is on their plate, what do they have to deliver, and how do you make sure that everything you're giving to them in a product is what they are looking for, or like what they might need for their role. Because at the end of the day, especially if you want to continue to move up the ladder or be promoted, you have to have that thought of well, what do you do for your job? Because that's the job I want.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say it's all about relationships. You know, you can look great on a resume, but I always think about the reason why I was able to secure a job at Burberry was because my reference at Stella McCartney was a friendly of the PR manager at the time. Also, you know, to never undervalue the act of a thank you note. Just always valuing the relationships that you're building and continue to work and be able to meet people and socializing and building those relationships, because you never know when it's gonna come full circle.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think it's just the ever-evolving media and modernizing it to fit all of these audiences shifting patterns of consumption. It's being able to navigate how to tell a story in a chaotic environment where something could go viral. The opportunity is because everything keeps changing, that there's always something new to consider, and so if something doesn't work is okay, because in a week something else could pop up that works better.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
It's being able to separate work from personal. Working in the world of PR it's a great field but at the end of the day it's PR, it's not the ER. I've really prioritized the special time when working 8 hours, doing good work, being efficient, so that once I close my laptop, I can really unplug. I work to live, I don't live to work. A job's a job and it allows you to enjoy other facets.
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