
“Take your work seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously.” Diala Homaidan’s guiding principle is one that has led her to continuously learn and develop as a Public Relations professional – allow yourself to be a beginner at something every now and then because excellence comes with practice, effort and learning. This guiding principle has helped Diala progress since her beginnings at university, all the way to her current role as senior communications coordinator for the City of Toronto. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s University, Diala’s journey led her to a full-time position at a city-run kids’ computer scholarship program. It was there that she experienced the development of public outreach and corporate sponsorship and ignited her passion for marketing and communications. She went on to complete a post-graduate diploma in Public Relations from the University of Victoria, which served as the backdrop for her interaction with the Torchia Scholarship in bilingual Public Relations. The scholarship assisted her in the tuition and funding of school materials, which she used to build a solid foundation as a PR professional. Diala’s approach to the practice of Public Relations is one of continuous development. Whether through theory, innovations in social communication, networking and professional connections or techniques in writing, Diala continuously strives for excellence by making the best out of all roles she is entrusted with. Throughout her career, Diala has sought to harness the maximum potential out of each opportunity she’s given, whether professional or personal. In her decision-making and opportunities for providing counsel, she has emphasized the importance of ethics, honesty and transparency. Diala believes this is the best way to develop meaningful connections. Attitude and mindset have been instrumental in her success. As Diala would say, life is too short to fear rejection and, if faced with disappointment of insurmountable odds, Diala uses these as fuel for her next endeavour. For anyone pursuing a career in Public Relations, Diala advises them to look for internships or part-time opportunities to complement their education. It is surprising to most at how rewarding the experience can be. Reaching out to potential mentors whenever possible is also very helpful in receiving guidance. Diala also emphasizes persistence in capitalizing on opportunities. If something doesn’t go according to plan, keep applying persistence and don’t give us. Lastly, at the heart of it, Public Relations is about good storytelling – and the world will always need good storytellers. “Be kind, even on your worst days.” – Diala Homaidan