PR: On the Hiring Horizon - Soft Skills That Matter
Wed Feb 04 2026
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett interviews Kristina Markos, an associate professor and co-founder of GenSpark Solutions.
They discuss the significance of soft skills such as listening, presenting, collaboration, and curiosity in public relations. Kristina shares her varied background in agency work and academia, emphasizing the transition needs between generations in the workplace.
They address the importance of effective presentation skills, the need to ask questions, and the impact of AI on communication roles.
The episode highlights the evolving PR landscape and the exciting opportunities for emerging professionals in the field.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:50 Guest Background and Experience
02:03 Importance of Soft Skills in PR
03:28 Predictions and Essential Skills
05:04 Teaching Communication Skills
09:42 Presentation Skills and Their Importance
15:38 Collaboration and Intergenerational Communication
30:37 The Impact of Short Attention Spans
31:15 The Importance of Asking Questions
32:36 PR Professionals and Journalism Training
36:32 Understanding Organizational Dynamics
43:08 The Role of Writing in PR
49:52 Listening and Perspective Taking
53:47 The Exciting Future of PR
58:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Show notes:
Kristina Markos on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinamarkos/
GenSpark Solutions: https://www.thinknovl.com/genspark
PR Club Prediction Post with Kristina's thoughts that sparked the idea for the topic: https://prclub.org/tips-from-the-board-its-prediction-time
Follow the host:
Website: www.michellegarrett.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prstrategist/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PRisUs
X/Twitter: https://x.com/PRisUs
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@prwritergal
Michelle's book - B2B PR That Gets Results - is available now
Book a no-obligation call to talk about your needs here.
About the host: Michelle Garrett is a B2B PR consultant, media relations consultant, writer and author of B2B PR That Gets Results, an Amazon Best Seller. She helps companies create content, earn media coverage, and position themselves as thought leaders in their industry. Michelle’s articles have been featured by Entrepreneur, Content Marketing Institute, Muck Rack, and Ragan’s PR Daily, among others. She’s a frequent speaker and podcast guest on public relations and content. Michelle has been repeatedly ranked among the top ten most influential PR professionals.
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In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett interviews Kristina Markos, an associate professor and co-founder of GenSpark Solutions. They discuss the significance of soft skills such as listening, presenting, collaboration, and curiosity in public relations. Kristina shares her varied background in agency work and academia, emphasizing the transition needs between generations in the workplace. They address the importance of effective presentation skills, the need to ask questions, and the impact of AI on communication roles. The episode highlights the evolving PR landscape and the exciting opportunities for emerging professionals in the field. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:50 Guest Background and Experience 02:03 Importance of Soft Skills in PR 03:28 Predictions and Essential Skills 05:04 Teaching Communication Skills 09:42 Presentation Skills and Their Importance 15:38 Collaboration and Intergenerational Communication 30:37 The Impact of Short Attention Spans 31:15 The Importance of Asking Questions 32:36 PR Professionals and Journalism Training 36:32 Understanding Organizational Dynamics 43:08 The Role of Writing in PR 49:52 Listening and Perspective Taking 53:47 The Exciting Future of PR 58:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Show notes: Kristina Markos on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinamarkos/ GenSpark Solutions: https://www.thinknovl.com/genspark PR Club Prediction Post with Kristina's thoughts that sparked the idea for the topic: https://prclub.org/tips-from-the-board-its-prediction-time Follow the host: Website: www.michellegarrett.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prstrategist/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PRisUs X/Twitter: https://x.com/PRisUs Threads: https://www.threads.com/@prwritergal Michelle's book - B2B PR That Gets Results - is available now Book a no-obligation call to talk about your needs here. About the host: Michelle Garrett is a B2B PR consultant, media relations consultant, writer and author of B2B PR That Gets Results, an Amazon Best Seller. She helps companies create content, earn media coverage, and position themselves as thought leaders in their industry. Michelle’s articles have been featured by Entrepreneur, Content Marketing Institute, Muck Rack, and Ragan’s PR Daily, among others. She’s a frequent speaker and podcast guest on public relations and content. Michelle has been repeatedly ranked among the top ten most influential PR professionals.