Hazlina Hashim

Founder 

H2S Consulting

Kuala Lumpur

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"Do away with the 'we have always done it that way' thinking"

After 17 years running a bricks-and-mortar operation, Hazlina Hashim launched an online PR consultancy during Covid, an operation that started as an extension of existing client services to a full-fledged startup. The portal enabled client collaboration in terms of project management, campaign tracking and product/service selection. In May 2021, Hashim opened My PR Company to new clients as well, providing cost-effective PR services to companies and jobs to freelance PR professionals available to work with them. 

How do you define innovation?
Doing things and going places with it where others dare not venture to.

What is the most innovative comms/marketing initiative you've seen in the last 12 months?
A lot of start-ups deserve mention, locally and globally, for their approach during the pandemic. Many have found ways to be innovative with less budget, and have managed to remain relevant.

In your opinion, what brands and/or agencies are most innovative around PR and marketing?
Adidas Yeezy. A brilliant collaboration that become so influential.

Describe a moment in your career that you would consider 'innovative.'
When I founded MyPRCompany portal, and worked on it for months in the beautiful island of Langkawi during lockdown.

Who do you admire for his/her approach to innovation?
Elon Musk is so interesting.

How do you get out of a creativity rut?
Playing the piano, listening to all kinds of music from classical, jazz, Stormzy to Grace Jones, exercise and travel. Spending time with family and friends.

What advice would you give to the PR industry around embracing innovation?
Be open to new ideas, challenge status quo, embrace technology to its fullest, recruit people with varied experience and from other industries for the different input they can bring to the table, continue learning things daily, be bold and confident. Do away with the 'we have always done it that way' thinking. Spend time with people outside the industry to be able to look at things with a different perspective.

What would you be doing if you weren't doing your current job?
I am exactly where I want to be, in PR and an entrepreneur. I am excited to bring MyPRCompany to the next level to achieve global success. One more thing to achieve would be to finally finish the book I am writing, to be a real writer.

Which book/movie/TV show/podcast/playlist/other cultural source has helped you get through this year or provided inspiration?
The Man Who Knew Infinity about Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan is both a great book and movie.

What's your favourite time of day and why?
Early mornings usually 6am, for that first cup of coffee followed by work-out to start the day.