Interview with Elissa Kravetz – Kravetz PR & Founder, The Farley Project
– Los Angeles, California
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do professionally.
I grew up in MA and have been living in Los Angeles for almost 11 years. Currently I am business partners with my sister, running the LA office of our bi-coastal PR Agency Kravetz PR. A year and a half ago I founded The Farley Project, a 501c3 non profit organization dedicated to spreading the message of love & kindness to schools throughout the country. We are finishing up our 6 week curriculum right now with an inner city middle school here in LA and plan to go into a few new schools come the fall. I love dancing and yoga and traveling around the world any and every chance I get! India is one of my favorite places, I breathe differently when I’m there.
What do you enjoy most about your profession and why did you choose it in the first place? What was the inspiration for your company/project?
When I first decided to open my own PR agency I was working in house with Steve Madden. He has always been my mentor, and I remember telling him “I’m going to open a PR firm and do it for the nice girls! I’m not going to hire the tradition type of “PR person” but rather run an agency of people who are kind” 14 years later and this is a reality. Sometimes during our crazy PR day we will stop and write “you are beautiful! You are perfect!” on pieces of paper and walk up and down La Cienega and put them on people’s cars.
The inspiration for The Farley Project came after a breakup. I was boxing and started picturing the people that were mean to me when I was in 7th grade – my ex BFF and the girls that beat me up. I realized then how much my being bullied had affected me. It was something that I never talked about and just kind of “stuffed away” for 20 years. After lots of mediation and yoga and self realization work I started heeling and also started speaking at schools around LA about my experience. I went to New Hampshire and spoke at the overnight camp that I grew up at, and the director of the camp gave me a check. I opened a bank account with this check and started The Farley Project! My mission is for noone to eat lunch alone in the cafeteria, I know what that feels like and it feels awful.
Tell us about any new projects you have coming up (or recently completed).
Right now we are getting ready to launch Kravetz Couture, a division of our agency for our higher end clients. We are currently working with some amazing new fashion and accessories brands, based all over the world. I’m heading out to London next week to visit a client there. For TFP we are having our first fundraiser this summer and putting our love & kindness program into a few new schools come the fall!
Tell us about your community involvement – what you are passionate about outside of work and home and why/how you participate?
Outside of PR work I am trying to grow The Farley Project. I KNOW that we will eventually be in every school in the country. I am a big advocate for anti-bullying and I speak at schools and camps throughout the country whenever I can! I also volunteer with the Kabbalah Centre here in LA, feeding at homeless shelters downtown and volunteering at different events – we recently volunteered at a battered women’s shelter on Mothers Day, where the women and their kids received clothing, got their hair and makeup done and did arts & crafts. I try to give as much as I can, my time, financially, whatever I can do – this is what fills me 🙂
What is the biggest risk you ever took professionally and/or the biggest obstacle you have overcome?
I’d say one of the biggest risks we’ve taken professionally is turning down clients. When you are starting a business and you know what your worth and value is and brands are offering you less then you want for a retainer – it’s scary to turn down the business! But we’ve done it. I also think that starting a business on your own is a risk…when I did it I remember everyone thought I was crazy and so many people put their fears on to you, saying things like “how are you going to do this? And what if this and what if that!?” I remember feeling “there’s no way I CAN’T do this. Failure just is NOT an option” I believe people do not chase their dreams because they get stuck in the “how” the how ALWAYS presents itself once you jump off the cliff!! You just have to jump! I am a big believer in the universe and the power of intention.
From where do you draw inspiration? Who have been your role models, mentors, etc?
I often draw inspiration from other business owners, people like Donna Karen – she runs an empire and travels around the world wanting to make a difference. I would LOVE to work with Donna one day. Steve Madden has been my mentor since I was in college. I started working with him when I was 19. He’s taught me a lot about hard work and perseverance. Spiritually I look to people like Mother Theresa and a Swamiji from an Ashram that I visit in India – they are pure light and just want to help people and make the world better!
What do you do to keep yourself sharp? What one thing have you done in the past year that has made a significant difference in your life/your business?
I TRY to meditate every morning, I don’t always get to it, but I try to. I have a completely different day when I mediate. I also try to NOT be on the phone when I walk my dog in the morning. It’s tempting to call my sister right when I get up and walk Lillee and we jump right into talking about work. But I TRY to not do this, and take the 15 minutes to just walk Lillee and enjoy the walk, look at the trees and smell the flowers in my neighborhood. This gets me present. An almond milk latte after all of this grounding gets me going as well 🙂
One thing that I’ve done in the past 3 years that has completely changed my life is travel to Asia. I’ve been to Bali, India and Thailand and these trips have literally changed my life. I used to think nothing of spending $500 on a pair of shoes. But now I see that $500 can send 2 children to school FOR A YEAR in India. So I prefer to spend my money this way. And traveling to third world countries just woke me up and made me get back to my inner light and realize what is important. We are working to develop a division of Kravetz PR that is based solely on Corporate Social Responsibility – we want to help brands get involved with charities and help to bring light into the world.
What one thing would you like to learn this year?
I would like to learn how to be PATIENT! I would like to learn how to master the art of BALANCE. I would like to learn how to do a perfect pirouette 😉
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years I see myself living in an amazing airy open gypsy house, either in Beachwood Canyon or in Malibu. I’ll be running KPR and in addition to LA and NYC, we will have an office overseas. The Farley Project will be in schools in almost every state. And I MAY even have a baby…we’ll see 😉
What do you do for fun/relaxation/entertainment?
Dinners with friends. Travel. Yoga. Hiking. Dance class. I love to see live music. And love to spend the day at the park with Lillee, barefoot on the grass with a good book. And I could not live without the LA Korean Spas.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Be FEARLESS! Look at yourself every day in the mirror, look right into your own eyes and tell yourself that you are amazing and worthy of all good things in the world, doing this for 2 minutes every day will LITERALLY CHANGE YOUR LIFE. If you have a dream GO FOR IT!! There is no one out there who will push you towards your dreams more then yourself, be fearless, be brave and never give up!
What’s the best way for our readers to connect with you?
My twitter and instagram handles are @eliskrav
I can also be found blogging on The Huffington Post
Kravetz PR can be found on FB, Twitter and instagram as can The Farley Project