Today, we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Swickle.
Hi Nicole, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Publicist. Athlete. Published Author, Emmy-nominated Producer and Editor-In-Chief. Out of all of the roles I’ve held, it’s the personal side of Public Relations that resonates the most with me.
I’ve been fortunate to manage teams and campaigns for top brands including ESPN, Red Bull North America, Red Bull Media House, PUMA Golf, COBRA Golf, and more. From the New York Times to Bleacher Report, BuzzFeed, the Huffington Post, and more – my love for representing relatability, humility, and authenticity is my “why.”
At every job I’ve ever had, I always received the same feedback in reviews: I was too invested. I went too deep. I cared too much. It was just work. One day it hit me… Maybe my investment in people and communities is exactly what an athlete or brand needs to tell stories that are bigger than business.
Maybe going deep is necessary in today’s society where Gen-Zs can sniff out authenticity from a mile away. Maybe that level of care and compassion is what separates us from big agencies. I want to work with people who have great days, bad days, and “Nicole, can I share what’s on my heart” days. This will never be just work.
In 2023, I launched Honest Interactions PR + project management. My company focuses on storytelling for sports, athletes, health, and fitness. Honest Interactions represent the relationships I have with the people in my network. The messy, unfiltered moments that make up the fabric of who we are. Our stories are rooted in reliability. We’re “HI” for short because every story starts with a simple hello.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My transition from working for big brands to entrepreneurs has had its ups and downs.
The pros:
-I can be selective about who I work with, and the stories I share. It’s less about quantitative KPIs and more about the meaning behind the message. As someone who was born to exchange deeper dialogue and not checkboxes, this speaks to my heart.
-Business has come relatively easy. If there’s one thing I’ve learned — it’s to be a good person. Be someone that others want to engage and share with. You can be the best in the world at what you do, but if you’re difficult to work with, you won’t go far.
The challenges:
-I have my days where I miss being part of a larger team. Sometimes I just want to swivel around in my chair and bounce an idea off a colleague. Thankfully, I have a close network I can call — but there’s a different energy in the right office environment.
-BOUNDARIES! I’ve always been a little Type A when it comes to my work, but I feel like there’s something extra to prove when you’re the CEO. This makes it hard to put the work down some days.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe you can tell us more about your work next?
There’s that one thing we all have in us that we were born to do. It’s just effortlessly in us. For me, it’s creating connections with people. PR isn’t 9-5. It’s not all highlight reels, and it’s certainly not a plug-and-push exercise. To me, PR is…
Fully embed myself in niche communities to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for people and their passions. It’s telling stories that transcend sports and lead consumers to fall in love with topics they didn’t even know they cared about.
It’s creating tangible experiences for press + influencers that add a new layer of color and connection to their editorial output. To me, PR is curating a beautifully planned calendar, but also recognizing when a buzzworthy moment is too good to miss.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Every day, I make it a point to scan AdWeek, Mashable, and LinkedIn. Even if it’s for five minutes during lunch. It’s important for me to feel inspired, challenged, and curious.
PR isn’t an industry to do things the way you always have. You’ll get left behind – fast! I’m also a major fan girl of Brene Brown. Her work on shame, vulnerability, and leadership has helped me connect with myself and others on another level.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.honestinteractionspr.com
- Instagram: @honestinteractions and @nswickle
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nswickle/
