Meet Michelle Bondarchuk, a now Miami-based PR and event pro. Michelle got her start in the beauty and fashion public relations world, on both the agency and brand sides. Her later experience in editorial hepled paved the way for her to build a reputation – and business – focused on supporting brands and agencies on press, influencer, experiential and more. Read on for more on her career to date and the exciting projects Michelle is working on now.
Where are you currently - and usually - based?
I’m based between New York and Miami, but now have the pleasure of calling the Sunshine State home!
What are your specialty practice areas?
I specialize in creative brand building, ideating and executing events, branded partnerships, and influencer programs. I’m also skilled at supporting press and marketing strategy, and project management. I like to think of myself as a valued partner and an extension to one’s team.
Tell us about your career background before becoming a freelance consultant.
My background has always fallen between fashion and beauty. I started out in the PR department at Frédéric Fekkai. From there, I spent six years at Paul Wilmot Communications, where I grew into my role as one of the Account Directors, overseeing press for clients such as La Prairie, MAC Cosmetics, and Dr. Perricone, learning everything I know from some of the best in the biz. My next position was at Karla Otto, where I worked with American and European fashion brands such as Erdem, J. Mendel and Genetic Denim. While there, former colleagues and industry friends reached out for my expertise on press and activations for their new companies. It felt like the right time to explore and take on a few freelance projects, which paved the way for my next few years. I worked with agency partners such as Mission Media, where I oversaw Van Cleef & Arpels and J.Crew accounts, and projects with KCD, MAC Cosmetics and Yigal Azrouël.
When an opportunity arose to freelance at Condé Nast, I accepted and ultimately found myself going back to a full-time role at W Magazine. I spent three years as the Associate Director of Experiences at W Magazine and Vanity Fair, where I helped create unique events and partnerships across the New York, Miami, and Los Angeles markets for many of our esteemed advertisers in luxury, fashion, beauty, and tech. I was also responsible for activating some of our editorial tentpole events during Art Basel, Golden Globes, and the Oscars. The experience is what led me to see what I was truly passionate about in my career, and I decided to take these learnings and return to project-based work – I’ve been doing that ever since.
What are some of your current projects/clients?
I’m currently finishing a project with John Hardy, which began as a maternity cover to manage the press/influencer teams. I ended up staying on with the brand for a year-long project. Recently, I’ve also joined Gnazzo Group in Miami, working on some of their incredible accounts and providing support with events and partnerships.
What are your favorite aspects of freelance life – and least favorite?
I love being able to work with clients I’ve chosen. We don’t always have the liberty to do so and I feel incredibly fortunate. I also appreciate having flexibility in my day and making my own schedule, though not always the case! Being your own boss is one of the most rewarding aspects, but I feel most freelancers will agree that working around your clients’ schedules, discussing fees, and being your own IT/HR/business manager can be challenging. It’s been a learn-as-you-go process!
Who would be a dream client?
That’s really hard to say! I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible brands, agency partners, and some fearless leaders. At the end of the day, a lot of time and energy is spent working so it’s important that there is genuine excitement for a project and that it’s something I personally would want to get behind.
