We’re looking forward to introducing you to Vlad Drazdovich. Check out our conversation below.
Vlad, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
Honestly, almost everything is misunderstood about PR. Nine times out of ten, when someone asks what I do, and I say I work at a PR agency, I get a blank stare. Most people really have no clue what public relations actually means. The follow-up question is usually something like, “So… you do marketing?” And while PR and marketing can overlap, they’re not the same thing.
Marketing is about promoting a product or service to drive sales. PR, on the other hand, is about building credibility, shaping public perception, and managing a brand’s reputation. It’s less about selling, and more about storytelling, trust, and long-term relationships.
At Red Banyan, we like to say that perception is reality—and that’s the core of what we do. Whether we’re helping a company handle a high-stakes crisis or crafting a thought leadership strategy for a CEO, we’re working behind the scenes to shape how the world sees them. Strategic communications is about making sure the right message reaches the right audience at the right time—and that it reflects who you are and what you stand for.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Absolutely. My name is Vlad Drazdovich, and I’m a Vice President of Performance Improvement and Analytics at Red Banyan, a crisis PR and strategic communications agency.
Our firm specializes in high-stakes, fast-moving, reputationally sensitive situations. Whether it’s helping a company navigate a PR crisis, reposition a controversial brand, or handle a media firestorm, we’re the team people call when they need to communicate their side of the story effectively when it matters mos.
What makes our work unique is that we get to work with all sorts of clients, from organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies to celebrities, public officials, and presidential candidates.
A big part of what we do is helping clients tell their story in a way that aligns with their values and resonates with the audiences that matter most to them. Sometimes that means shielding them from the public eye; other times it means turning up the volume on a message that deserves to be heard.
What I love most about this work is the mix of strategy, speed, and storytelling. Every client, every situation, is different—and we’re constantly learning, adapting, and figuring out new ways to communicate more effectively. Right now, we’re doing a lot of work at the intersection of crisis management and public advocacy—helping clients respond to real-world challenges while also shaping the broader conversation.
At the end of the day, we’re helping people and organizations protect what they’ve spent years building. And for us, that’s the most impactful thing we can do.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
While I’ve had the privilege of learning from incredibly talented colleagues over the years, the person who’s taught me the most—hands down—is Evan Nierman, the founder and CEO of Red Banyan.
Evan has been my mentor since day one. His background in crisis PR is nothing short of extraordinary—he’s handled some of the most sensitive, high-profile reputational challenges in the world. I’ve learned nearly everything I know about PR and crisis communications from working alongside him: how to shape narratives, how to stay calm under pressure, how to work your way through the chaos of a breaking news story. But more than that, I’ve learned how to lead with integrity.
That’s the lesson that’s shaped me most. Evan built Red Banyan on a foundation of values—Strategy, Integrity, Commitment, Accountability, and Results—and he lives those values every day. Watching how he treats clients, colleagues, and even critics has taught me what it really means to do this work the right way.
I wouldn’t be the professional I am today without his guidance, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have learned from one of the very best.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There were definitely moments when I thought about changing my career. I joined Red Banyan right out of college, and jumping into PR agency work at that stage was like being thrown into the deep end with no life jacket. It was a lot. Long hours, fast turnarounds, intense pressure—it wears on you.
For the first few years, I was constantly second-guessing myself, feeling like I was just trying to keep up. I wouldn’t say I ever seriously planned to quit, but I did find myself wondering from time to time if I was cut out for this kind of work, or if maybe I should try something a little less chaotic.
But I stuck it out. I started to find my footing, gain confidence, and However, I persevered and as I got better and better at what I do, things got less and less stressful for me.
I’ve since changed many hats at the agency and was able to hone in on things that I really like doing, like strategy, operations, and problem-solving. And now, not only do I feel much more at home in what I do, I actually look forward to the challenge.
So yeah, I’ve had moments of doubt. But I think that’s part of any real growth story. You question things. You push through. You figure out who you are in the process.
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. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in PR is that all publicity is good publicity. It’s a cliché we hear over and over—and it’s dangerously misleading. I know it because Red Banyan specializes in crisis management, so many of our clients are dealing with the issue of bad publicity.
Not all exposure benefits your brand. Sometimes, the wrong kind of attention can permanently damage your reputation, ruin your career, or put your company out of business overnight.
Another falsehood is the idea that media exposure automatically equals credibility. Just because a name appears in print or on a screen doesn’t mean it carries weight or trust with the audience. It’s important to tell the right story to the right audience at the right time. Visibility without strategy is just noise.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m doing what I chose to do, and that’s good enough for me. Nobody told me to work in communications. I picked this field because I’ve always been fascinated by how people shape narratives, influence one another, and build perceptions—both of themselves and the world around them.
Is this my true calling? Could I have been just as happy as a scientist or a graphic designer? Maybe. No one really knows what path might’ve led to the “best version” of their life. But I believe the universe has a way of guiding us to where we need to be. The choices we make, the people we meet, the skills we develop—they all shape the road we’re on.
So while I can’t say with certainty that I was “born” to do this, I can say that I’m engaged, challenged, and growing in this work. That, to me, feels like a pretty strong sign I’m on the right path.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://redbanyan.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbanyanpr/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vlad-drazdovich/
- Twitter: https://x.com/redbanyan
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007935436321
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RedBanyanPR
