Riannon Palmer is the Founder and CEO of Lem-uhn, the feel-good PR agency for companies that care. After feeling the pressure to work more hours than necessary while employed at one of the UK’s leading PR agencies, she looked for a better type of PR agency. Palmer couldn’t find a place where she wanted to work so in May 2021, aged 24, she founded Lem-uhn. The feel-good PR agency supports purposeful businesses to grow with earned PR, influencer engagement, and content. Palmer says many PR and advertising agencies work for the fossil fuel industry and others partner with brands damaging people and the planet. She works exclusively with purpose-driven brands that are building a better world.
What are your main priorities and goals in your role?
Lem-uhn was created out of the need for a more positive type of agency. Like many in the industry, I had experienced the poor work culture of the PR industry and had seen colleagues leave the sector altogether. My goal was to build a better type of agency. Through implementing positive work policies that prioritise happiness, well-being, and work-life balance, we’re achieving that.
Since launching Lem-uhn, I’ve introduced policies to create a happier workplace including Menstrual Leave, a Work From Anywhere Policy, Wellness Days, and Flexible Fridays. Our policies have been praised by industry leaders and in the press including the leading PR publication, PR Week. Lem-uhn’s ability to attract and support purposeful clients and drive amazing results is due to the happier work culture we’ve nurtured.
From the start, it’s also been our mission to work with change-making brands that are contributing to a happier world. We aim to build positive companies and help them to achieve their goals, from driving revenue to positive social impact.
What are your biggest challenges as CEO?
I never envisioned that I would be a CEO. When I was growing up I hadn’t seen young female entrepreneurs and I didn’t think it was achievable for someone like me. The past three years have been a huge learning curve. I have become experienced in financial planning, operations, sales, and HR. You have to wear a lot of hats when running a startup.
One area I certainly didn’t think I’d need to learn about is legal. However, six months into running Lem-uhn, I was faced with a legal challenge. A company with a similar name threatened to sue us. At the time, it was a huge stress and it was the first time I thought about calling it a day and closing the company. Instead of fighting them in an expensive and exhausting court case, we decided to rebrand and change our name. Now, our branding is often complimented.
What are the challenges facing the industry going forward?
The PR industry is losing countless talented employees due to the poor work culture. In the last 12 months alone, 91% of PR professionals struggled with their mental health. While the poor practices continue, the issue will continue. During the pandemic, we saw some more flexibility for PR professionals such as flexible working options. However, the tides have turned back with employee flexibility back to pre-pandemic levels.
Like it’s old school work culture, the PR industry is also in the dark ages when it comes to modernising its practices. Many agencies continue to focus on either digital or traditional PR. We do both. We also use modern tech to help us do our job and deliver better results.
What new trends are emerging in your industry?
“Digital PR” has become a buzzword in the marketing industry over the past five years. Unlike traditional PR which focuses on raising brand awareness, digital PR’s aim is to increase SEO value and therefore, where a website sits in search results. Digital PR gains a client’s website relevant links to help boost its ranking. SEO is incredibly important for every website as without it, your marketing activities may be pointless. Potential customers don’t always click directly through an ad to purchase. Often, it takes time and they’ll search for you at a later day. Good SEO means when they search for you, or terms associated with you, you’ll appear high up in results.
Are there any major changes you would like to see in your sector?
The PR industry is outdated. I would like to see the sector place more importance on employee wellbeing. Currently, when I tell people about the positive nature of our company they’re excited as it’s not the norm in the PR industry. I want a day to come when we’re the norm, not the extraordinary.
How do you define success and what drives you to succeed?
For me, success is happiness. I am incredibly lucky to have a job I love and to be building a company that I am passionate about. Naturally, for a company to flourish you also need to have a strong economic outlook. I am passionate about showing the industry that you don’t have to choose between employee happiness and financial success. You can have both. Our focus on employee happiness has been a huge part of our growth. Happy employees deliver better and more efficient work.
What have been your highlights in business over the past year?
Our past three quarters have been our three strongest financial ones to date. It shows we’re on to a winning formula.
What’s next for your company?
We have plans to expand our team, services and regions within the next year.
Where do you want your business/brand to be this time next year?
2024 is predicted to be our biggest year to date. In 2025, I want to continue our success. We want to support more positive businesses.
What is the best book you’ve ever read (non-business) and why?
The Choice by Edith Edgar. It follows one woman’s life story, from being sent to Auschwitz as a teenager to becoming a renowned psychologist. It helps you to reevaluate the way you think about everything and can help change your mindset.
What is your favourite hobby and why?
I love exercising, whether it’s lifting weights at the gym or a HIIT class. I find exercising in the morning before I start work helps me to be more productive and focused during the day.
What is your mantra for life?
Do more of what makes you happy. Founding a company isn’t an easy journey, there are big highs and terrible lows. However, it has also brought a huge amount of happiness to my life.
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