Same same but different: We getpressis share a vision – while at the same time being a colorful bunch who don’t always agree. That can create friction, but even more so, it can spark fruitful exchange and creativity. We love that.

For today’s Team Thursday, we’re introducing three more team members in an interview: Melissa, Amelie, and Natalie.

They’re not the ones with the fancy job titles, but the people behind the day-to-day PR work at getpress: Team Lead & Senior PR Manager, People & Culture Manager, and PR Manager. In this five-question interview, they share lessons learned, small (and bigger) aha moments, and reveal why trust is sometimes more important than control, why you shouldn’t always trust progress bars – and why a penguin is a pretty good fit for getpress.

Read on.

Meet: Melissa Wagner

[she/her]

Role: Team Lead & Senior PR Manager

Your working style as an emoji: 🤹🤓✨

Your hidden talent: (Apparently none – but her team says: optimistic resourcefulness)

Favorite lunch: Anything with salad

getpress in three words: “Always something going on” or “Fast, smart, brave”

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Dear Melissa, forget your job title for a moment. What would your role be called if it accurately reflected everything you do at getpress?

Chief Insight-to-Impact Officer

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What has been your biggest milestone at getpress so far?

My biggest milestone was definitely stepping into the Team Lead role. Suddenly, no longer being responsible only for my own results was scary, but it also showed me what I – and the people on my team – are capable of. I’m incredibly proud that, over the past two years, I’ve built really strong client relationships and helped develop a team that continues to push itself and grow every day.

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What was your biggest fail – and what did you learn from it?

My biggest fail was probably not trusting my team enough at the beginning. Out of a strong sense of responsibility, I took on a lot myself instead of letting go and trusting that everyone on my team was absolutely capable.

What did I learn from it? Trust beats control. And that my role isn’t to do everything myself, but to create an environment where others can grow. Today, I’m much more focused on sparring and supporting the team rather than taking everything on myself – and that makes all of us better.

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Looking ahead: What does the industry need right now, and what contribution would you like to make?

I’m convinced that PR will become more human – despite, or perhaps precisely because of, technological change. Efficiency gains, automation, AI tools… all of that is great and here to stay. But the things that really make a difference can’t be automated: reading between the lines, building relationships, understanding connections, putting decisions into context, and realistically assessing risks.

For me, this interpersonal intelligence is one of the most important skills in PR – now and in the future. And that’s exactly where I want to contribute: continuing to develop these skills myself, bringing this mindset to the team, and showing that, at the end of the day, PR will always be a people’s game.

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Let’s say you guys at getpress were animals: Which one would you be and why?

I’d say a lark. As an early bird, I’m at my most productive when most getpressis are still having their first coffee. I bring positive energy to the team and keep a watchful eye from a bird’s-eye view.

Meet: Amelie Waedt

[she/her]

Role: People & Culture Manager

Your working style as an emoji: 🦉🏃‍♀️🐝

Your hidden talent: DIY crafts – I’ve surprisingly gotten pretty good at it

Favorite lunch: Gyoza

getpress in three words: Fast, spontaneous, friendly

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Dear Amelie, forget your job title for a moment. What would your role be called if it accurately reflected everything you do at getpress?

Talent-Event-Feedback-Fun-Interview-Meeting Officer

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What has been your biggest milestone at getpress so far?

I think it was my transition from working student to full-time employee. It was a completely different feeling of taking ownership – also a challenge, because things somehow felt more serious, while at the same time it brought a huge boost in my development. When you spend twice as much time doing something, you learn twice as fast.

That said, with every year that passes and that I can look back on, I see a new milestone – and I often don’t even realize it’s a milestone until later in the year. Life’s a process.

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What was your biggest fail – and what did you learn from it?

I think no one really noticed my biggest fails because I’ve always managed to fix them pretty quickly. With my latest one, I accidentally cancelled our ATS. Learning: Never trust the progress bar. (I thought I still had to confirm one final step – I actually just wanted to snoop around and see what it would look like.) Well… I reactivated it in under a minute. Oops.

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Looking ahead: What does the industry need right now, and what contribution would you like to make?

Brave people. I know a lot is changing right now, and that can sometimes feel a little unsettling. But I think we have some really strong and smart people on our team – and I’ve had the chance to support many of them throughout the hiring process. I’d love to keep contributing in that way. :)

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Let’s say you guys at getpress were animals: Which one would you be and why?

I think I’d be a sea otter. Caring, optimistic, playful, creative, and social. Very energetic – but also pragmatic and quick to learn.

Meet: Natalie Oliveira

[she/her]

Role: PR Manager

Your working style as an emoji: 💡🆘✍🏼👩🏽💻

Your hidden talent: Languages – even if that sounds a little basic

Favorite lunch: Pad Thai

getpress in three words: Young, trendy, digital

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Dear Natalie, forget your job title for a moment. What would your role be called if it accurately reflected everything you do at getpress?

Operational Firefighter & Good-Vibes Manager

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What has been your biggest milestone at getpress so far?

At the beginning of my time at getpress, I often doubted myself and wondered: “Can I really do this? Will I be able to make everyone happy?” Today, I go into things with a completely different mindset: I can do this. And I can do it well.

Experiencing how much trust and appreciation I receive from my team and clients feels like one big hug – and that’s my very own personal milestone.

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What was your biggest fail – and what did you learn from it?

Honestly, it wasn’t so much one particular fail as it was a pattern I had to learn from. As a people pleaser – and I’m sure quite a few people can relate – I find it extremely difficult to delegate tasks or say no when someone asks me for help.

As a result, I kept taking on tasks that simply didn’t fit into my calendar. I was stressed on the inside, and the feeling of not being able to do right by anyone started to take over.

I had to learn that it’s completely okay to say no, delegate tasks, and not automatically say yes to every request. And that’s not selfish, as I used to think, but a healthy form of self-protection. :)

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Looking ahead: What does the industry need right now, and what contribution would you like to make?

When I open the newspaper, turn on the TV, or scroll through my feed today, I mostly see negative headlines. It can feel like the world is falling a little more out of balance every day – at least that’s how it feels to me. Now more than ever, the industry needs more people who are brave enough to push back against that.

And that’s where I want to help: I want to make visible the people who offer solutions rather than just problems – initiatives, companies, and individuals who are taking bold steps forward and using their voices to make a positive impact. I want to help them tell their stories – and give them the reach they deserve and need.

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Let’s say you guys at getpress were animals: Which one would you be and why?

I’d be a penguin – always moving as part of a team, loyal, caring, and ready to weather challenging conditions together.

Do you have another question for Melissa, Amelie, or Natalie? Drop it in the comments on LinkedIn!