Many in the jewelry industry are doing their best to keep their heads up during these trying times, and one of them is senior account executive for Mega Mega Projects, Jessica Kiraly. Mega Mega Projects represents jewelry brands such as Pamela Love, Karma El Khalil, and Lydia Courteille. In an interview with JCK, Kiraly discusses business during the pandemic and looking towards the future.
When asked if the COVID-19 pandemic has changed business in anyway, she said, "It’s obviously had a significant impact on my work life. I was used to going into an office every day with a tight-knit team, so switching from that to being by myself all day was definitely a huge change. Luckily, the majority of my work can be done over emails, which has made the transition a bit easier. I miss seeing people’s faces, though, whether it be editorial contacts, stylists, clients, or my colleagues."
"The biggest silver lining during this time has been strengthening my relationships, personal and professional," said Kiraly about the future. "We get so caught up in the craziness of life, especially here in New York City, so it’s nice to have the time for an unplanned FaceTime or phone call when I normally wouldn’t. I have connected with people from my past and “met” so many new people this year."
When asked how the pandemic has taught her any important lessons concerning business or personally, Kiraly said, "that quite literally everything can change in an instant. I’m constantly working to embrace and learn from the obstacles that get in my way. I’ve found that in order to succeed in business (and in your personal life) you have to take a second to collect your thoughts and prepare to adjust to new, and often unusual, challenges. It certainly hasn’t been a walk in the park, but this past year has really taught me that constantly fighting and refusing to accept things that are out of my control will only hinder me and the clients I support."
Kiraly was then asked if jewelry PR has faced any changes due to the pandemic, to which she responded that, "the primary change, especially at the beginning of the outbreak, was the immediate shift to coverage suddenly being what felt like 99% digital. Magazines weren’t shooting editorials. Stylists weren’t dressing clients for events or red carpets. My day-to-day quite literally turned upside down. Pre-COVID, I focused a lot of my energy on digital media, but now it’s really become the forefront in terms of where I go for stories and placements. What I’ve loved about the shift to digital is that I can better represent and build awareness for my clients that aren’t always able to have surplus stock set aside for physical shoots."
Information originally sourced from JCK.
