Interview Series: Georgie Wilson | History Will Be Kind

In today’s blog, we sat down with Georgie Wilson, Senior Account Director at History Will Be Kind, an award winning, top creative communications agency. Georgie moved to Australia from the UK two years ago and has over six years of experience working with big names like Google, Uber, and LinkedIn. Specialising in “corpsumer” PR – a blend of corporate and consumer work – she brings energy and expertise to every campaign. Her journey into PR wasn’t traditional, but her passion for storytelling, strategy, and people led her here, and she’s never looked back. In this Q&A, we dive into Georgie’s journey in PR, what makes a strong PR candidate and her interview tips for PR professionals.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your work in PR.

Hey, I’m Georgie! I’m a senior communications professional working in Australia, having moved here from the UK two years ago. With over six years in the industry across both markets, I’ve had the chance to work with some incredible agencies and brands that are set on creating impactful work. This includes the likes of Uber, Google, Etihad, Samsung, LinkedIn, Barclays Bank, and The McGrath Foundation. My portfolio is in the “corpsumer” space, a mix of consumer and corporate PR, which lets me work in everything from tech and finance to sports and nonprofits. It keeps my days exciting!

How did you start your career in PR, and what inspired you?

Like a lot of PR professionals in the UK, my path into communications wasn’t a traditional one a.k.a. I didn’t study the subject at University. So after my graduation and a gap year, I was keen to jump into a career but wasn’t quite sure what I wanted that to look like. Realising I wanted to continue pursuing some of the elements that I enjoyed as part of my study at uni – writing, storytelling, strategy, and the people at the centre of it all – and thanks to some advice from a friend in the industry, PR became an obvious choice. It sounded like a perfect match for my interests and skillset.

I started as an Account Executive at a small agency in London, before moving into a mid-level role at the UK’s largest independent full-service PR consultancy. It was there that I really fell in love with the industry – both the impact we could create for clients and the inspiring people I got to work with every day.

Throughout my career, I’ve always worked agency-side – thriving in the dynamic, fast-paced environment, where there’s fresh challenges, new industries to learn about, and the chance to stay endlessly curious. When I had the opportunity to move to Australia, I was drawn by the chance to experience a new market and face the challenge of a different media landscape. It’s been a great journey so far – learning the nuances of the Australian industry and building relationships here.

What early career challenges did you face, and how did you handle them?

One challenge that I faced early on in my career was learning to find and trust in my own voice. As a young professional, it’s easy to feel hesitant or intimidated in a room full of people with years more experience. And so, in my first role I did find myself second-guessing if I had anything valuable to add, or holding back in conversations when I probably had something important to say.

I remember attending a training session with an impactful speaker back in the day – all about finding and using your voice as a woman in the workplace. A key take away from this was, “even if you feel uncomfortable and uneasy in a meeting, just say something – anything.” So essentially, the advice to break the initial silence, get a footing, and add yourself to the conversation so that your presence is known. It opens the gate for better confidence and contribution moving forward. It’s stuck with me for years.

What skills are essential for a successful PR career?

At a fundamental level, these are key:

• Time management
• Flexibility
• Attention to detail
• Analytical thinking

However I recognise there’s so much that can be taught and learnt.

What’s truly important is having a growth mindset, being curious in the face of a challenge, and a strong can-do, sleeves-rolled-up attitude, to enable you to navigate new and exciting territory with resilience. You don’t have to be the most naturally creative or confident starting out, but showing up ready to learn and grow will carry you far.

What makes a great PR candidate stand out from a good one?

Preparedness and genuine enthusiasm make a big difference. Great candidates that I’ve interviewed in the past have come well-prepared, demonstrated considered thinking, and brought their own authenticity to the conversation.

Running the junior recruitment for our team, as well as the intern program, I meet prospective candidates all the time. What tends to make a strong impression on me is the interviewee’s knowledge, insight and enthusiasm for our agency specifically. It’s crucial to ask yourself, “why this role” and more importantly “why this agency” – whether that’s from the clients we have, to the campaigns that we’ve executed, to the awards we’ve won. Broadly speaking, it shows you’ve done your homework and that we’re the ones for you – which ultimately helps us decide if you’re the one for us.

Separately, if you already have some experience, sharing tangible examples of campaigns or clients that you’ve worked on, the journalist you’ve engaged and why, your role in that campaign’s success, and key learnings. If you’re very new to PR, think about researching brands or organisations that you think are doing well (or not so well) from a communications perspective, and share your insights. Having a point of view of what others are doing, and where you want to go is vital.

What common mistakes do junior PR professionals make, and how can they avoid them?

One major mistake is rushing through work, which can lead to errors. We’re a fast-paced industry, which means juggling different priorities, deadlines and people – but accuracy and attention to detail are still crucial. Try not to rush through your work, and focus on the right balance of quality versus quantity. It can help to always plan in more time for deliverables than you expect; leave 10-15 minutes for a final, thorough review; print off materials to read through and review in a different format; and don’t be afraid to flag any shifting deadlines early so that others can support & plan around you.

I’d also say that you shouldn’t overlook mastering the basics – like crafting water-tight media lists or writing concise pitches. Doing the fundamentals of the role well is what leads to bigger, more creative opportunities down the line. And don’t get bogged down with feedback – we all get it, at every level. It makes us all better to hear other perspectives and is an important part of growth. Embrace it as a tool for development rather than seeing it as criticism.

How do you stay on top of industry trends, and what advice would you give juniors?

There’s a couple of things I would suggest. Firstly, on your commute into work or when you first arrive in the office, have a listen to a news radio show or podcast – ABC, Daily Aus, 2GB – and get a newspaper or online publication app of your choice (best if it fits into your client portfolio) on your phone to read through. You could also pick one or two journalists or publications that are important to your clients’ industry, and make it a rule that you have to read through their content each morning.

When it comes to other agencies or brands and inspiration sourcing, I find LinkedIn so handy to stay up to date with what others are doing in the industry – and the trends to stay across. Social too! Make a list of who you want to follow, hit that button, and that content will come to you as you’re scrolling through.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your PR career?

I’ve worked on some brilliant clients and campaigns throughout my career, but it’s always so rewarding to see the junior members of the team grow in confidence and skillset. I’m passionate about creating a working environment that breeds support and trust, where the team feels empowered to take on challenges and bring their best self to work each day. True collaboration – across levels – creates the melting pot where creativity and strategic thinking flourish.

Keen to chat with Georgie? Connect with her on LinkedIn today!