PRWEEK: Careers Q&A - Stacy Ang, Director and co-founder, The Right Spin Public Relations Singapore

I was building greenhouses, nurturing plants and combing mountains for plant samples. Then I was doing my honours degree in botany at the National University of Singapore.

How did you get into PR?

By chance! I applied for a position as a government life sciences officer but during the interview, the HR manager felt that I had that X-factor for PR.

How long have you been in PR?

I've been in tech PR for nine years, starting in government corporate communications that culminated in a six-month stint in Silicon Valley. In 2000, I set up The Right Spin with my partner Nancy Lim.

What inspires you about your work environment?

I'll let my account executive, Kelvin Yew, do the talking for this: "The Right Spin gives a lot of room for ideas to be tossed up anytime from anyone. Its dynamic pace drives me to deliver my very best to our clients."

Wht would be the one piece of advice you would give someone trying to break into PR?

It's not glam and glitter like some young executives perceive it to be. Behind every CNBC interview or successful press conference are hours of intensive strategising, thinking and preparation.

What factors do you believe make a good PR practitioner?

Back to basics - flair for communication, ability to think like a journalist, good organisational skills.

What has been your biggest achievement?

None. But thankfully God has achieved many things through me, like steering The Right Spin to be a leading tech PR agency in Asia amid tumultuous economic climate.

What's been your biggest mistake?

Letting my staff know about a silly car park incident. I have had to put up with teasing ever since!