How I Turned Years of Media Rejections Into a Successful Freelance Career

Faith in business is about trusting your vision, even when the world seems too busy scrolling to notice. For women entrepreneurs, it often takes creativity, conviction and a touch of audacity to make that faith pay off.

My journey from a fresh-faced PR professional to a freelance journalist taught me all three.

When I started in PR in 2012, I noticed a trend that made me roll my eyes daily. Big multinational companies always got the media spotlight, while small investment banks and startups were basically invisible — like being ghosted by the cool kids in high school.

Fresh out of my MBA in marketing, I thought maybe it was me who was doing something wrong. I continuously kept sending thoughtful pitches to the journalist, made endless follow-ups, and sometimes begged for story placements like a desperate contestant on a reality show. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work. I was ignored, hung up on or dismissed.

Of course, we all make mistakes along the way. I still remember one mortifying incident early in my career. I was following up with the editor of one of the largest publications when someone on the other end of the line told me he had resigned. At the agency, we had an internal mailing system to track media movements, so I quickly updated it. Turns out, that “resigned” editor was close friends with our senior management. Within hours, they contacted him—only to find out he was very much still the editor, and someone had clearly lied to me.

The horror I felt being so young in the agency was unforgettable. But I didn’t give up, I kept making those follow-up calls, determined to get my startup clients noticed.

Eventually, I realized it wasn’t me. It was the media. Editors chase the big names, the celebrity CEOs and the multinational companies. And what about the startups, they were only entertained they’ve raised millions in funding. That’s when I decided: if no one is going to write about these startups, I’d do it myself.

Pivoting to freelance journalism wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. It took me nine years to get started on that, and pay-to-play still makes people raise an eyebrow. Many people believe that paying for visibility diminishes credibility.

But here’s the thing: even traditional publications sell editorial space. Think of it like SaaS — you pay for access, but the value is in the reach and results.

I take a similar approach; except I add human creativity and storytelling. I write journalistic-style, data-driven articles that highlight founders’ stories and innovations. The goal isn’t to sell anything, it’s to get people to notice and engage.

In a digital-first world, visibility is everything. Studies show that 70% of millennials research and make purchase after seeing content online. So, when a reader discovers a startup through a well-told story, it’s a connection built on authenticity, not a hard sell.

The ethical line is crystal clear. I’m not misleading anyone, I’m giving companies a platform to be discovered, to be understood and to compete in a landscape where media attention is uneven.

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In fact, this approach has become an integral part of hybrid PR strategies that balance earned coverage with creative, paid visibility. Many are seeing the results and they trusting the process.

And I continue to lead with conviction, because faith in your vision, backed by creativity and courage, can reshape the rules of the game.

Women who lead with faith in business know this: sometimes, the only way to be seen is to take the pen into your own hands.

Claim your journey, share your challenges and wins in your own words and don’t wait for someone else’s validation. Compelling storytelling often attracts media attention naturally. Remember, brand recognition and coverage take time — keep showing up, refining your message, and staying true to your mission.