Bryanne DeGoede

BLND Public Relations is a full-service communications agency specializing in public relations, social media, influencer marketing and experiential events. Managing partner Bryanne DeGoede founded the firm in 2014 and brings more than 20 years of industry experience.

How does authenticity play into your business model?

I loathe networking. I love relationships. There’s a huge difference. PR is a relationship business, and the best opportunities in my career have come from genuinely knowing people, actually liking them and staying connected long after either of us needed something from the other. Clients feel the difference between someone building a relationship and someone building a contact list.

What belief have you completely changed your mind about?

Early in my career, I had an idea of what an agency owner was supposed to look like—how she dressed, how she spoke, how she led—and I spent a lot of time modeling myself after the person I thought I needed to become. But as BLND grew and I got older, I realized I wasn’t becoming anyone. I was becoming more myself. The more I’ve leaned into who I actually am—the ways I lead and communicate, the things I care about—the more I’ve found my people and my people have found me. I’ve learned that being unapologetically yourself attracts the right people into your life.

What is your current passion project?

I recently decided to put my money where my mouth is and finally get in front of the camera like I’ve pushed my clients to do for years. I’m now creating content for BLND, and it’s a lot of work but I’ve fallen in love with it. Putting more of yourself out there helps the right people find you.

What does success look like?

When I started BLND, success was bigger clients, more revenue, a bigger team, more recognition. I still want to build something wildly successful, but now my definition of success is having a team I genuinely love working with, doing work I’m proud of, being present for my family and having the freedom to actually enjoy the life I’ve worked so hard to build. I don’t want to build a successful business at the expense of a successful life.

Photographed by Fabien & Laura Castro