Collabetition: How Two PR Visionaries Turned a Podcast Into a Movement
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
When Liselle DeGrave launched her PR firm in 2004, she had little more than a dial-up connection, a fax machine, and an unshakable belief in the power of a well-told story. Across town, years before she would become her business partner, Rachel Dickman was building her own foundation, first as an intuitive communicator, and later as a strategist with an MBA and a passion for public-sector storytelling.
They met in the early days of their careers, forming a fast friendship built on shared humor, ambition, and the casual joke that one day they’d start a PR firm together. Life took them onto different paths, but the spark of collaboration never fully faded. When Rachel founded RMG Communications in 2018, reconnecting with Liselle felt seamless, almost destined.
What began as occasional collaboration quickly evolved into something unprecedented: a partnership model they named “collabetition.” Two independent PR firms, DeGrave Communications and RMG Communications, working side-by-side, sharing ideas, strategies, and goals without sacrificing their own identities. It was cooperation without ego, competition without conflict, and support without limits.
A Podcast That Became a Powerhouse
Their bond deepened when they launched PRessing On in Public Relations, a podcast born during a conversation about mentorship, purpose, and the gaps they saw in the PR industry. What they intended as a resource for young professionals blossomed into a movement, an international platform redefining how PR pros view leadership, ethics, and entrepreneurship.
The podcast quickly gained momentum, attracting listeners from across the U.S. and overseas. Practitioners, agency founders, students, and corporate communicators wrote in to share how the episodes helped them regain confidence, pass accreditation exams, launch firms, and reignite passion for the field.
And the industry noticed.
PRessing On earned the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) National Bronze Anvil Award, one of the highest honors in communications. And just this month, it was recognized with the Polaris Award from the PRSA Inland Empire Chapter, solidifying its place as a standout voice in the PR landscape, an accomplishment especially meaningful for a duo committed to authenticity over flash.
For Liselle and Rachel, these honors were less about accolades and more about impact.
“Our goal was never fame,” Rachel says. “We just wanted to create a place where PR professionals felt seen and supported.”
Liselle adds, “Storytelling is powerful. Helping others find their voice is the real reward.”
Co-Authors, Co-Creators, Co-Dreamers
Their partnership didn’t stop with the podcast. In 2023, Liselle and Rachel co-authored A Practical Guide to Starting Your Own PR Firm, a book that quickly became an Amazon #1 New Release. The guide demystifies entrepreneurship, blending personal stories with step-by-step strategies for launching and sustaining a PR agency. It has since become a go-to resource for aspiring firm owners, classrooms, and seasoned professionals considering a new chapter.
Writing the book together cemented the philosophy behind collabetition: that collaboration fuels clarity, courage, and creativity.
Two Firms, One Philosophy
DeGrave Communications remains rooted in Liselle’s belief that clients deserve direct access to experts. Her firm is known for hands-on support, values-driven leadership, and a deep commitment to public-sector transparency.
RMG Communications operates through specialization, using Rachel’s technical expertise in public engagement to execute complex, high-stakes campaigns with clarity and precision. The firm is also known for integrating innovative tools, including drone storytelling and AI-supported analysis, while always centering humanity in communication.
Together, they embody an approach that balances excellence with empathy, ambition with authenticity.
A Legacy Written in Collaboration
What makes Liselle and Rachel’s story remarkable isn’t just their success; it’s their belief that success multiplies when you share it.
PRessing On in Public Relations is more than a podcast.
It is their platform, their classroom and their love letter to an industry they’re committed to shaping for the better.
Their message is consistent:
There is room for everyone. There is opportunity for everyone. And the future belongs to those who rise together.
Connect With Us
Instagram: @DeGravePR
Instagram: @RMGcomm
www.PRessingOnPodcast.ocm
Instagram: @PRessingOnInPR
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