An Inspired Chat with Lucy Rendler-Kaplan of The Valley

Lucy Rendler-Kaplan shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Lucy, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
People think PR is about “getting coverage.”
In reality, it’s about shaping meaning, credibility, and momentum.

1. “PR = press hits”

Coverage is an output, not the goal.

Good PR:

Positions why someone or something matters

Frames the narrative before the internet or critics do

Builds trust that advertising can’t buy

A single thoughtful interview that reframes a story can be more valuable than 50 shallow mentions.

2. “PR works fast or it doesn’t work”

PR is cumulative, not transactional.

People expect:

One press release → instant virality
What actually happens:

Repetition across platforms

Third-party validation over time

Familiarity → trust → demand

PR works like compound interest. It’s invisible until it isn’t.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi!
My name is Lucy, and I’m the founder of Arkay Marketing & PR. We handle everything from social media, to product launches, to event production (gifting lounges, experiential events) to celebrity and personal brand building.

With a strong background in CPG, I thrive on introducing people to new products, brands, experiences and people. I’m lucky enough to not get jaded, which I think a lot of people in my field do – but the expressions on clients faces when their brand hits the news will never not be the most exciting and rewarding to me!

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I grew up as an only child, never terribly sure of who I was, or what my places was in the world. Early early on, I discovered acting and finally felt “found.”

My biggest influences were my acting teachers, Joyce and Byrne Piven – they really took me in as almost an adopted grandchild (which is exactly what I needed at the time)
WIth them, and at the workshop, I was around other “weird” kids that didn’t have much attention spans, were always “too talkative” and “moved around too much,” and that suddenly was cool and neat!

I felt they saw something in me and loved me until I learned to love myself.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d say, “CHILL OUT a bit!” Things that were SO dramatic and SO life changing in the moment, so weren’t, in the grand scheme of things. I feel bad for younger me that would be so hard on herself for not getting straight A’s, or acing every test – you can’t ace life. And I don’t think school really sets up children to learn those lessons at the time they’re most needed.

One favorite thought of mine is to ask myself in the eye of the storm – “How much will this really matter next year?” And that help me put a lot of stress into perspective.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. I am who I am at all times. Is that always the best? Probably not, but I pride myself on the fact that when people come to me, they’re getting the same person no matter how they came into my life – I don’t put on airs, I don’t tell people ONLY what they want to hear….if you ask me something, you will be getting the truth as I see it then.

It just makes life so much easier, no? There’s nothing to have to remember from one person to the next. I’m open and honest and if I didn’t wear my heart on my sleeve as much as I do, my face will always give away what I’m thinking and feeling!

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will tell how I was always there for them. I try to be everyones cheerleader, whether it’s a client, a family member or a friend.

I hope people will say that I showed up — consistently and without keeping score. That when they were unsure of themselves, I believed in them anyway. That I celebrated their wins as if they were my own, and stood beside them when things felt heavy or uncertain. I wanted people to feel less alone — in their work, their doubts, and their dreams.

I hope people say I believed deeply in people — their ideas, their potential, their growth. That I helped them see themselves more clearly and connected them to opportunities, confidence, and each other. I tried to leave every room better than I found it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.arkaymarketing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkaymarketing
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyrendlerkaplan
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArkayMarketing