Daniella Sorace is the Group Account Director at Kate & Co. PR where she manages a team of 10 publicists alongside a diverse portfolio ranging across fashion, consumer and retail.
Learn how the most successful people in the world structure and manage their days. Sign up to our newsletter today and receive a free gift that will help you achieve your goals!
1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
I’ve led a colourful and very rewarding career to date. Having worked in the PR industry for over 15 years, I have been fortunate to work with some of Australia’s most respected brands over this time, including retailers Zara, David Jones, Myer and L’Oreal, and working with most Australian racing clubs from a fashion and lifestyle perspective including the Victoria Racing Club (Flemington), Melbourne Racing Club (Caulfield) and the Australian Turf Club (Royal Randwick and Rosehill Gardens).
I have also been fortunate to have managed the publicity across various Melbourne and Sydney Fashion Weeks over my time too.
Within my role on a day to day basis, I liaise with a mixture of corporate and professional backgrounds; including having managed the publicity schedules for an array of VVIP international and local talent, corporate CEOs and business entities.
I proudly manage a team of 10 publicists at Kate & Co. PR alongside a diverse portfolio ranging across Fashion, Consumer and Retail.
Reporting directly to the Managing Director, I manage the day-to-day aspects of the business, including team management, strategic counsel, recruitment, developing PR tailored strategies, and onboarding new business alongside our Business Development Manager.
I am the strategic PR lead for accounts including The Australian Turf Club, Lexus Australia, The Australian Distillery Co. Luxe.It.Fwd and Désordre Boutique.
I spend a lot of my time travelling between Melbourne and Sydney and proudly boast a national list of networks across media, talent management, socials and brands.
I lead the team with focus, passion and integrity and am keen to continue building out my 15 -year rich career to date, to further up-skill and focus on delivering compelling results for our clients.
2) What does a day in your life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
We are a hybrid office, which sees us in the office 3 days a week and working from home 2 days. On the days I work from home, I naturally have a lot more time in my mornings and enjoy starting my morning off with a long run or a boxing PT.
A recent day I have experienced back in the office went a little like this.
I am a natural early riser, I wake up and set my daily intention, followed by a run or yoga/pilates movement
Shower and style myself the night before in a look for the day ahead before I arrive at the office.
Breakfast will include a home-made açai bowl or green smoothie with a green tea in hand!
I will scan all national mastheads to stay across the news, before selecting a podcast for my 1.5 hour drive commute.
I typically arrive in the office around 9am and will set up my desk with positive energy and plenty of H20 to get me through the day.
A mixture of meetings with clients or media tend to consume my day. I try and carve out a ‘focus’ period throughout each day to allow time for me to review work, support the team and achieve strategy planning for our business
I make a conscious effort to get up and away from my desk regularly, which might include a visit to our Fashion Showroom or a cheeky visit to the Camilla and Marc, Zimmermann or Vik and Woods boutiques that surround our office in Cremorne.
I’m usually back in the car around 6pm, winding down for my drive home; during this time I will either listen to podcasts, a Spotify playlist or unwind over a conversation with friends and family over the phone
Once I am home, I join my husband to debrief on our days over dinner or we set out for a walk with our 2 goldies before winding down with a good book for the night ahead.
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
I feel empowered to set boundaries and build a routine that works for me. We encourage flexible working for our business; offering 3 days working at our offices and 2 days from home.
I particularly love this balance as it suits my lifestyle perfectly. I adore getting dressed up and seeing the team on the regular; during this time we set out to achieve collaboration, workshop ideas and remain focussed on result led campaigns.
The days at home, we try to respect one another’s precious time by avoiding booking in meetings and allowing our WFH days to be our ‘focus’ time. This time is important to create a space where you can feel productive and inspired.
4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
Everything is in flow; from mindset right through to assessing how your body is feeling.
It is important for me to constantly check in, and level up if needed, to ensure I am setting the precedence for the team to follow suit. Striking that balance is imperative within our industry.
Personally, it is important that I am constantly setting boundaries and carving out time in my day to achieve my goals, both personally and professionally, and supporting the team’s objectives leading them to successful outcomes.
5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?
I certainly have. My morning mantra is ‘win the morning; win the day’ . I follow a routine and this helps me feel organised and in control of my day ahead.
In lockdown I took up running long distances, I find this really helps me clear my mind, alongside a daily meditation which allows time to reset and turn inwards toward my core self.
6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?
I am obsessed with podcasts! Some recommended podcasts include:
- Darling Shine!
- Imperfects
- Mamamia Out Loud, No Filter
- Powerful Stories, Tory Archbold
- Best Friend Therapy
- Celebrity Memoir Book Club
- How to Fail, Elizabeth Day
- This is Not a Love Song, by Amber Petty
Over the break I finished Hugh Van Cuylenberg’s second book called Let Go. I’m also currently re -reading Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg which is always a goodie!
7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?
I can’t live without my NARS liquid blush. I love Strava for tracking runs and Furbo for checking in on our 2 cheeky goldies when we aren’t home.
8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?
Chiara Ferragni, the way she juggles her empire, family life, travel and busy content schedule is admirable.
9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
Balance is in your mindset
Coffee or tea dates with people in and outside your network 3 x times a week is the best way to network!
Teamwork is ‘we’ not ‘me’
Lead with intent
Always be kind
Step outside your comfort zone, always look for opportunities to upskill and stay true to your values.
Before you go…
If you’d like to sponsor or advertise with Balance the Grind, let’s talk here.
Join our community and never miss a conversation about work, life & balance – subscribe to our newsletter.
