Written by: Matthew Celestial, Executive Director, Statement Strategies & Mentor, CPRS Toronto
I was living above a restaurant in The Village when I launched my public relations firm, Statement Strategies. Back then, I made sure to keep my personal life a mystery, to present myself as a PR enigma. The closet is a terrifying place to be in. It isn’t for the claustrophobic. For many years, I struggled a lot with my identity. When I came to terms with being queer, I knew that life would present itself with challenges. For queer people of colour, like myself, our solution is to remain hidden. These feelings aren’t foreign. We often try to stay away from the spotlight.
This isn’t always the case in public relations. If anyone had told me I’d land a career in public relations, I’d simply be confused. After all, I was a timid teenager infatuated with MuchMusic, reading Vogue late at night from underneath my bed, and dreaming about becoming a dermatologist because I felt self-conscious about my own skin.
Life doesn’t always work out that way. I fell into this career with an excitement to tell stories, share the work of some of the most talented people I’ve had the privilege of representing, and to empower others. The journey has been difficult, and being a queer person of colour, I haven’t always been immune to the bigotry in the world. But being queer gives you a lot of life lessons, and sometimes, I find myself reminding my teenage self a lot of things.
You belong here.
There is room and a seat at the table for you and your ideas. No one is too small to contribute to the team effort. No matter how many times people try to close the door on you, remember that you are right where you need to be.
There are people who want to see you win.
For so long, queer people have spent a lot of time being alert. Sometimes, it’s a learned habit to be on guard, terrified of what people might think about you, and defensive. However, there are people who want to see you succeed – from your mentors to colleagues to family and friends.
You are a leader.
A career title might mean a lot to people, but I believe the title that everyone can earn is ’leader’. This doesn’t always mean you need to lead a large team or be in a management role. Queer people have spent many years leading themselves through some of the most difficult times. You can make a huge impact by drawing from your experiences and reflecting those takeaways into your everyday actions.
Be yourself.
The only person you need to be in this career is yourself. Along the way, you’ll find what works for you, what doesn’t, and you’ll learn from your mistakes. There is no one single pathway to success, so show up for yourself and be the most authentic version of you each and every day.
You’ll make mistakes. Just own it.
There are going to be tough days in this career. It’s a reality of being human and the world we live in. While we may not always have control over what happens in every situation, what we do hold power over is how we bounce back and move forward.
Empower others.
One day, you’ll be comfortable under your own skin. When that day comes, pay it forward. Help others speak up when they can’t. We already do that work for a living and it can mean more than you know for someone to see a piece of themself represented through you. Let’s build each other up together so we can create a more inclusive and prosperous industry.
Stay curious and continue to learn.
Everything is constantly changing. We don’t have to be fixated or contained in a box. Keep learning. Whether that’s about yourself, the world you live in or where you want to go. Life is meant to be dynamic and ever-evolving, so go with the flow and embrace every opportunity.
One last thing: Enjoy the process. Because it’s going to be a wild ride.
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About Matthew Celestial
Matthew Celestial is the Executive Director of Statement Strategies, a communications and public strategy firm, specializing in technology, entertainment, and innovative lifestyle brands. He has handled PR campaigns for Pixar Animation, DreamWorks Animation, Corus Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, and others. He is passionate about professional development programming for minority groups.