Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Proos.
Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Michigan and went to Central Michigan University with absolutely no clue what I wanted to do with my life. For a while, I thought I’d be a teacher because I love kids. Then maybe a photographer, because I wanted something creative. Then one day, my roommate came home and said she was majoring in public relations — once she explained it (writing, storytelling, creativity, connecting with people), I was in.
My first job was at a marketing agency in Detroit working on the Ford Racing account. I went from knowing nothing about motorsports to traveling the country for NASCAR and NHRA events. It was wild, loud, fast, and the perfect crash course in brand storytelling. That job also brought me to California, which completely changed my career and life.
Since then, I’ve spent nearly 20 years at agencies big and small, leading campaigns for brands like ASTROGLIDE, eharmony, mophie, Lucid Motors, and Kashi — launching products, telling stories, and even picking up a few awards along the way. One of the highlights of my career was launching the U.S. consumer division at my last agency — building it from the ground up into a multi-million-dollar business in just five years. Even better, I got to build a team of amazingly talented women who are now all out there shining so bright in their next ventures.
A few years ago, I decided it was time to take everything I’d learned and build something on my own terms. That’s how 1952 PR came to life. For me, it’s always been about relationships — working with people I genuinely like and brands I actually use. It’s been the most rewarding chapter yet in my career journey!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like Taylor Swift says, “I can do it with a broken heart.” For me, that’s less about love and more about work, the kind of heartbreak that comes from giving everything you’ve got and still getting knocked down.
There have been plenty of bumps: getting laid off less than a year after moving across the country, being passed over for promotions, and learning the hard way that hard work doesn’t always speak for itself. For a long time, I thought if I just kept my head down and proved myself, that would be enough. Spoiler: it’s not. You have to be your own publicist, share your wins, advocate for yourself, and speak up for the work you’re proud of.
I’ve had amazing mentors and a few terrible bosses who showed me exactly who I don’t want to be. And through it all, I’ve learned that the hard stuff, the late nights, the tears, the self-doubt, is where the growth actually happens.
Looking back, I wouldn’t trade any of it. It’s what gave me the grit to build 1952 PR and create a career on my own terms. Turns out, I really can do it with a broken heart, and a full one, too.
As you know, we’re big fans of 1952 PR. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
1952 PR is a bespoke consultancy I built to bring back the human side of public relations — thoughtful strategy, storytelling with heart, and genuine relationships that lead to results.
After nearly 20 years in agency life, I wanted to create something that felt more intentional. 1952 PR is where I get to partner directly with the people and brands I believe in — national and regional consumer brands, founders, and thought leaders — in a way that feels personal, strategic, and collaborative.
I offer a mix of services depending on what a client needs most, from ongoing agency-of-record partnerships to fractional PR consulting and short-term campaign support. That includes everything from media strategy and brand storytelling to executive thought leadership, product launches, and influencer collaborations.
Some of my favorite work has included supporting ZAGG through their biggest brand moment of the year — iPhone launch season — helping Rubio’s tell their comeback story after bankruptcy (a full-circle moment for me as a San Diego local), and building a thought leadership platform for the founders of Next Era Legal.
I’ve also spent years working in the relationships and sexual wellness space, from leading ASTROGLIDE’s national campaigns for five years to supporting eHarmony’s relationship experts as media voices on love and connection.
At its core, 1952 PR is about helping good people and great brands tell stories that stick, the kind that build credibility, connection, and trust.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’ve never really thought of myself as a risk taker. I’m not someone who jumps without thinking. But when I look back, most of the big moments in my life happened because of some kind of risk — I just didn’t recognize it at the time.
Like moving from Michigan to California in my early 20s. I was the first in my family to leave home, and less than a year later, I got laid off. I remember calling my dad, thinking I’d have to pack up and move back, but somehow things worked out. I found my next job, built a career, and built a life here. In fact, my family eventually followed me out here, and I now live 10 minutes away from my dad and brother.
Starting 1952 PR was another one of those risks that didn’t feel like one until I was in it. I left a stable corporate job to do my own thing, and while that was scary, it also felt like something I had to do. I didn’t overthink it, I just knew it was the next right step.
I guess that’s how I see risk now. It’s not some big dramatic decision. It’s just saying yes to what feels right in the moment, trusting that even if it doesn’t work out perfectly, it’ll still lead you where you’re supposed to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.1952pr.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1952pr_/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-proos/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1952-pr/
Image Credits
Jenna Guyot Photography
