SARAH MAWJI | PORTFOLIO.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine | Volume 2 | Issue 5 | 2024

SARAH MAWJI: VENTURE STRATEGIES PR

Vancouver-based boutique public relations firm Venture Strategies PR is built for the brands of the future. Helmed by Sarah MAwji, the firm is dedicated to amplifying the voices that drive change, innovation, and impact in today's fast-paced world. With a strong belief that every story, regardless of size, deserves to be heard, Venture Strategies empowers brands to share their message with clarity and conviction.

The firm specializes in a range of industries, including technology, wealth management and finance, commodities, lifestyle and health, retail, and more. Venture Strategies offers tailored PR solutions for businesses of all types, from emerging start-ups to established enterprises across the public and private sectors.

Although based in Vancouver, the firm's scope of operations extends beyond the West Coast, working with clients across North America and internationally.

Venture Strategies manages the complexities of public and media relations, including PR launches, earned media, thought leadership, and stakeholder engagement. This allows clients to focus on growing their business while the firm handles the intricate details.

The firm's comprehensive services include earned media, media training, press releases, social media strategy, reputation management, award submissions, event and onsite press management, and custom communications consulting. From press conferences to impactful content creation, Venture Strategies ensures that each client's message resonates with the right audience.

At Venture Strategies, the goal is not just to tell a story but to create meaningful connections that elevate brands and help them thrive. If a client has something to say, the firm helps them say it in a way that truly makes an impact.

IN HER WORDS

"I am a " do-er" by nature. I prefer to avoid sitting around and waiting for others to make things happen. If I can do it, I am going to do it. There is nothing more satisfying than turning ideas into reality through action. If I do not know how to do something, chances are I will learn. If I am good at something, there is nothing more I love than to utilize my skill set to make an impact on others.

"I have always believed that "earning your place is the highest reward." It is a saying I came across long ago that stuck with me and is something I live by.

"As a child, I figure skated, played piano and violin, and even attempted to teach myself guitar. I played soccer and field hockey; I swam I read I was in acro, hip-hop, and jazz. I developed an appetite for life at a young age, which I still hold today. I am excited about the endless possibilities ahead and in front of me now.

"I was always involved in fundraising! I fundraised for the World Partnership Walk multiple years in a row. I also co-chaired the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay for Life in honour of my grandpa during my university days at Simon Fraser University.

"We raised $36,000 throughout the 12-hour walk, which took many months to plan! I co-chaired a team of 17 and was one of the primary liaisons with the Canadian Cancer Society's Vancouver Team.

"I did not realize I was an entrepreneur until I officially incorporated my business in January 2023, but I should have. There were signs, and I had grappled with the idea of entrepreneurship for a few years before incorporating it.

"My background is in Health Sciences, so how I ended up in Public Relations is still a mystery - especially to me! I think one of the things I am most grateful for is that I have always followed my instincts And they have not led me astray!

"Looking back at my track record, the first marketing company I ever worked at took me from Intern to Account Manager within a record time of 6 months. Now, they did not just give me this promotion. I had to advocate for myself. Trust me, there was a lot of pushback. But they ended up giving me the opportunity and I did not disappoint.

"My work output and revitalization of the operational processes were solely responsible for pushing the boutique company well over the 7-figure line. Not only did I assist in running the operations, but I also supported them on the business development front.

"I was the firm' s youngest executive, which echoed throughout my career."

"If we had a conversation about my work history, you would be surprised at how many different industries I have worked in, including agriculture, cannabis, marketing agencies, PR agencies, and investment and wealth management.

"In these various industries, I primarily took on executive roles with the function of Marketing, Events or Public Relations, so that part all stayed relatively the same, but to carry out your role for each industry well, you have to learn A LOT.

"I took the leap and became an entrepreneur in 2023 after I helped put one of Canada's top independent brokerages on the map in front of a middle-market private equity firm based in the US, from which they received a 9-figure equity injection. That transaction valued the brokerage at $425 million. It has done great things since and sits at an even higher valuation today.

"Being responsible for developing the communications strategy and generating the earned media exposure that led the company to this success was eye-opening.

"It was the first time I had seen my skill set actualize into something of this scale. I realized I could do this for others - help others reach their goals - so I left and started my firm. Fortunately, the brokerage became my very first client.

"Fast forward to today, and it all makes sense. My PR firm, Venture Strategies, supports clients across an array of industries, be it energy, mining, technology, financial services, luxury fashion, health - we also work with companies in both the public and private sectors, primarily across North America (but not limited to!).

"I am so thankful for my career journey because it was active. Because of it, I know what I love and do not love to do.

"One of the biggest takeaways from having a multi-sector background is that there is a good chunk of crossover no matter your industry. Also, if I had only ever worked in one industry and decided to open a PR firm, we would not have been industry-agnostic. And I am so happy that we are.

"Leading up to the birth of Venture Strategies, I travelled a lot for work. For one period of time, it was every two weeks. I lived out of a suitcase for a good span, and when the pandemic hit, all of a sudden, I had this extra time.

"During this same period, I was getting a lot of word-of-mouth referrals. I would, of course, take them on as side hustles because I had the extra time to do them. I have always been pretty good at juggling a lot, so it was never an issue for me, but when my PR firm Venture Strategies was born, these side hustles became some of my key.

"As my work life began to become established, and I hired and grew a team (we are a team of seven today!), my personal life also changed. I got engaged in July 2023 and married in November 2024.

"Between growing the team and client base and planning a wedding, 2024 has been one of my busiest years. But also, without a doubt, it is the best year of my life.

"Shortly after I incorporated, I made it public (to friends, family and my network). Some of the contacts in my network immediately made referrals. I was surprised at how fast they were made.

"I am always happy to make referrals for others, but when they are made for you, the feeling is different. I was quickly able to add a few private companies to the Venture Strategies portfolio, but things changed when we entered the public domain.

"Today, we have just shy of 15 companies in our portfolio, with a team of seven and growing. I am thankful to all the people who vouched for us. You can have years of expertise, but when your company is new, the endorsement and support make the difference - no matter how small or big."

"My approach is quality over quantity. Start small. Deliver quality. Simple. This approach has brought quality results, which has led to the extension of over 90% of our contracts. PR is a long game. It is essential to know and communicate this to clients. We are transparent about our approach upfront - what is realistic and what is not, but more importantly, we often move clients away from "what they want vs what they need." The sweet spot is to be able to do both, but more important is getting the results they need.

"For those unfamiliar with the difference between PR and marketing, PR is rooted in increasing your visibility via media relations. It is heavily fact-based, requires a significant amount of research and strategy, and is fast-moving.

"Last year, we changed the name from Final Edit Media to Venture Strategies. While we have done one rebrand already, we plan to undergo a significant transformation in 2025 to have our public assets represent the calibre of work we do. It is funny how sometimes you can prioritize your client's needs so much but forget about your own needs. This is a non-negotiable for us in 2025.

"With earned and owned media at the forefront, we are built to lead brands and organizations through today's increasingly complex and competitive landscape.

"This is our mission statement. It is one we live by. Our model is earned and owned media first, making us different from a good chunk of current PR firms. Earned media takes a lot of work to generate. You cannot buy it, making it the most valuable form of third-party exposure. While we offer paid media, 99%of our clients come to us for earned and owned media - and we deliver.

"We have placed clients across the majority of significant Tier 1 publications and trade publications, including Business Insider, Globe and Mail, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Forbes, TIME, Business in Vancouver, BC Business, Techcrunch, VentureBeat, AI Journal, Wealth Professional, Investment Executive, Bloomberg, and so many more.

"The current landscape is evolving, making trade publications just as vital as Tier One outlets. Effective utilization of this coverage can significantly elevate our efforts toward achieving our goals. We excel in this area, and I am committed to doubling the size of our company by the end of 2025. If you know any exceptional publicists seeking a home in a fast-growing firm, I would love an introduction!