SALON SPOTLIGHT

Since first opening its doors ten years ago in New York City, NeueHouse has been a meeting place for creators, thinkers, and innovators. As we celebrate ten years, meet some of the members shaping shaping our community and keeping us inspired from coast to coast.

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Name: Chet Mehta

Briefly describe what you do:
I’m the founder of a strategic communications firm, PR Dept.  We work with a wide range of entertainment and lifestyle clients, mainly spearheading their consumer press and influencer engagement strategy.

Road not taken: My parents were only going to be happy if I became a doctor, a lawyer or an engineer.  So when I was a child I was convinced I’d become a doctor, but because of my love of animals, I wanted to be a veterinarian… but once I realized how much math you have to take in college to go down that path… I quickly discovered communications and fell in love with studying it at USC.

What’s a metaphor to describe your creative process?  My creative process is like an explorer charting new territory, venturing into the unknown, charting new paths and coming back with treasures.

What person or piece of creative work has had an impact on your own?  “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi is an indispensable guide for anyone looking to excel professionally through the power of authentic networking. I read this book when I was starting out in the entertainment industry and it tonight me how building genuine relationships can propel your career forward. The book teaches the importance of generosity and connecting with others on a personal level to make deep connections. Whether you’re just starting out in your career or seeking to advance to the next level, Never Eat Alone provides the insight and mindset needed to create meaningful professional relationships and achieve lasting success.

I tend to get my best ideas and breakthroughs by: Reading. My first boss in the business always told me, the greatest publicists have to read the news…seeing how the media is reporting, tracking industry trends and keeping on top of what brands are doing is a key ingredient that plays a role in how we run our practice.

Current read or listen:
Pod Save America Podcast or NY Times The Daily

Something new you’ve discovered in the past year that now you can’t live without:
My air fryer.

Best part of what I do:
It doesn’t feel like work. I am so grateful to have found something I am truly passionate about it.

Hardest part of what I do:
The constant hustle and grid.  Running a boutique shop means you can’t get complacent.  No matter how much success you achieve or how happy clients are with the work, there is always change and we constantly have to be out there selling our clients to the media and selling our services to potential clients.

What are you excited about right now? 
We’ve got some new projects on the horizon that I can’t talk about just yet, but will be super fun and challenging to work on and I’m up for the task!

Life hack:
Celebrate your wins.  Always encourage and inspire your team to bring out their best work and lead by example.

SALON by NeueHouse