This month’s First Friday Female Founder post features Candice Smith, who is the Founder and President of French Press PR. As a mixed Latina, first generation college student and Harvard graduate, Candice brings a passion to her work that emphasizes each client’s success and a focus on relationships. Both Candice and I are members of The Locality, a co-working space in Downtown Raleigh for female entrepreneurs and intrepreneurs to connect and collaborate, making absolute magic happen by surrounding ourselves with like-minded women courageously going after their goals while making the world a little bit better every day. Candice brings great energy to every interaction with clients, fellow women business owners and her entire community, motivating those around her to level up for an even greater impact on society. Enjoy this peek inside the mind and heart of this absolute rock star!

Candice Smith is a Harvard-educated public relations and visibility consultant for emerging, mission-driven brands looking to expand their digital footprint with data-driven strategies and powerful narratives to engage media. Prior to founding French Press PR, Candice founded multiple award-winning B2B and B2C companies in the social impact space.

First Friday Female Founder Feature:

Candice Smith

How would you describe your company and the products / services you offer?

French Press Public Relations is a boutique PR agency helping social-impact entrepreneurs build their narratives and digital footprints with a high-ROI visibility strategy. Since we specialize in supporting impact-driven startups with traction, we offer multiple full-service packages for founders at different stages of the startup lifecycle. We’re also working on a hybrid and DIY package to help democratize access to PR for founders who need help with PR, but either don’t need or cannot afford a full-service agency.

Why did you start your company?

I started French Press PR because I realized I was a freelancer operating a business with the potential to scale much larger than the way I was operating in the day-to-day. I had a product that worked and a growing team of other skilled freelancers who I realized could help me act out the vision I had in my head. As a serial entrepreneur, this was the first company I started that actually was profitable before it became an official company. That’s how I knew I had something marketable.

What has been the most rewarding part of your journey in founding this company?

Building a phenomenal team. French Press PR is the collection of the several voices, opinions, and passions that make up this team, and I count myself so blessed to be working alongside such a talented, intelligent, and empathetic group of individuals.

About what are you most proud?

Two things, really: 1) the culture we have built at French Press PR, and 2) the systems we have bult to help us support our scaling and data collection efforts.

Are you naturally organized, was it a skill you learned or is it something with which you regularly struggle, and what tips or tools do you use to stay your most organized?

I am NOT naturally organized at all. My whole life is a series of learned, adopted, or (very) painfully crafted systems that help me keep my life and business on track, more or less. My GCal is a tool on which I depend. As French Press has grown, I’ve coded a unique Airtable system for our specific needs.

Who’s the one person who changed your life, and why?

There are too many people to name who have changed my life, but I will say, as an adult, the one person who has changed my life the most radically is my partner Luke. He is a partner in every sense of the word; we collaborate, lift each other up, support each other’s visions, and push each other to keep going when we’re burned out. He helps me keep stressors in perspective and inspires me to become a better version of myself. Perhaps most importantly, he helps me find humor and laughter in the day-to-day grind. I couldn’t have dreamt of a better life partner and I remind myself of how grateful I am for him every day.

Candice with her French Press PR team

What words of wisdom would you have for someone who is overwhelmed with staying organized and / or productive?

You can’t control external forces. You can only control how you react to them.
One of the best lessons I learned in 8th grade Bio is that, as human beings, our bodies are always trying to return to a state of homeostasis or normalcy. I like to use that idea of homeostasis in my business. To me, homeostasis is comfort. Listen to your body and your mindsets for moments of discomfort or stress – those are the signs that something isn’t right. Is it a relationship? See what you can do to talk it out, assert your boundaries, find compromise, or even remove that influence from your life. Is it something at work? Look at the patterns that are causing the discomfort or inefficiency/lack of organization and test steps and systems to change that system.
Leveling up is necessary to grow, and growth is often uncomfortable because it is different. Focus not on the entire feeling of overwhelm but break it down into little buckets. Categorize them. Give them a name. See them not as insurmountable obstacles but as opportunities to grow and learn. By doing this in my personal and professional life, I have been able to work on building the life and business that I have dreamed of.

Do you use technology to help stay productive or organized? If so, what’s your favorite program, app or tech tool?

Anyone who knows me professionally knows that I am an Airtable fanatic. It takes commitment, but the power of being able to customize a low-code tool like this has been an incredible asset and value-add to me and my team.

How do you feel about work/life efficiency or integration in your life, including any tips or challenges for managing the personal and professional commitments in your life?

I’ve found that there’s never a perfect balance of work/life efficiency. In the constant juggle of Work, Sleep, Friends, Family, and Self-Care, one or more balls will always get dropped. The best way to manage it is with conscious and mindful intentionality. As I’ve entered my 30s, I’ve learned how to listen to myself and my needs a lot more. The more I replenish my own batteries, the more I have to give to the others in my life. I’ve also learned how to set better boundaries to avoid commitments or even people who drain me. I am confident in my work ethic and drive, and have learned how to silence the guilty thoughts when I feel like I need a couple of hours or even a day or weekend to recalibrate and recuperate.

About what causes are you most passionate?

I’m most passionate about supporting female founders and founders of colors running ESG-focused (environmental, social justice, and governance) startups with a wide social impact. The more I can help these founders spread their stories, the more lives I will be able to help impact. I’ve learned so much from my day to day work about so many causes that I want to help impact: from the importance of financial literacy, to disaster relief, to the social epidemic of loneliness, to the future of food and climate change.

What have you found to be the most effective way to relax after a long day or super long week?

I enjoy playing board games or video games!

What is your favorite author/book?

I’ve always loved Shel Silverstein’s poems since I was a child. They’ve held up over the years, and are surprisingly poignant to re-read as an adult.

What is your favorite inspirational quote?

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” - Will Durant (commonly attributed to Aristotle)

Candice with her French Press PR team

What is your go-to accessory?

My laptop backpack. It’s my “Office on the Go” and has all my essentials in there. I (almost) never leave home without it!

What are the fundamentals of your beauty routine?

Do what makes me feel good! These days it’s about getting good sleep, staying hydrated and using a good moisturizer with SPF.

What is your favorite food?

As a self-proclaimed foodie, I can’t limit myself to just one! I will say, though, that I’ve been challenging myself to diversify my diet and eat more seasonal produce – there’s nothing quite like enjoying a meal from ingredients picked at peak freshness.

Of the locally-owned and -operated establishments in the place you currently live, which are your top 3 favorites and why?

Flourish Market. Half of the items in my closet are from this mission-driven, women-owned boutique, and I adore Flourish’s founder, Emily, who is an absolute powerhouse!

Two Roosters. I love their monthly rotating ice cream flavors, and always get excited to check the next batch they’ve cooked up on the first of the month!

Fiction Kitchen. Some of the best, most inventive vegan food and cocktails I’ve ever had.

What is your favorite place that you have visited?

Tough one. For pure relaxation, I’d say one of my favorite trips in recent years has been the island of Caye Caulker in Belize. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a slushy piña colada while drifting in a hammock moored in the crystal clear water off the beach. I like to approach trips these days less with a decision about the place and more about how I want to visit it like a local. Any destination can be an adventure if you step away from the tourist traps.

Candice with her French Press PR team

What streaming show or movie could you watch on an endless loop?

This may seem a little silly, but The Mummy was one of my first DVDs, and I used to watch it on repeat as a kid. I can quote FAR too much of that movie, and if I see it’s on a streaming service, I won’t hesitate to put it on in the background.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

The power of infinite languages

What advice would you give your 21-year-old self?

Don’t take yourself so seriously. Let loose once in a while. Seek out more experiences and people who make you laugh. Don’t cling to or compromise your values for the people who make you sad.

If you could have lunch with anyone (living or deceased), who would it be and why?

I’d love to have lunch with Peter Attia – he has interesting insights on the science of longevity, self care and living well. Preventative healthcare is something I’ve become more interested in as I’ve gotten older, and I’d love to learn more about his perspective.

The team of French Press PR crafts bold PR strategies for visionary founders, best serving clients with a unique understanding of the entrepreneur’s hustle and grind. They amplify underserved voices and focus on brands making a social impact.

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