Petra Smith, portrait
Marketing & PR Without Borders

I help founders, businesses and agencies get noticed by the world.

I'm Petra Smith — founder of the PR and marketing agency Squirrels & Bears, based in London. I've spent over 18 years in marketing and PR working with clients across the world, and I now bring that experience to Slovak and Czech companies, leaders and agencies too.

The Times The Sunday Times The Financial Times Sifted Yahoo Finance Forbes Entrepreneur Inc. Business Insider The Telegraph Crunchbase Real Deals PE Hub Private Equity International The CEO Magazine Startups Glamour Cosmopolitan Emma Trend EU Startups The European Business Review TechRound Management Today The Times The Sunday Times The Financial Times Sifted Yahoo Finance Forbes Entrepreneur Inc. Business Insider The Telegraph Crunchbase Real Deals PE Hub Private Equity International The CEO Magazine Startups Glamour Cosmopolitan Emma Trend EU Startups The European Business Review TechRound Management Today

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How I help

Who I work with

01

Leaders

For founders who want to be seen and heard personally in international media.

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02

Businesses

For Slovak and Czech companies who want to build credibility and visibility beyond the domestic market.

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03

Agencies

For Slovak and Central European agencies who want to offer international PR without having to build it themselves.

Find out more →
Services

How I Can Help You

01

Leaders

For founders, executives and professionals who want to build their personal profile in international media.

Personal Brand Audit

A mirror on your current visibility — where you stand today, where the gaps are, and where your real opportunities lie.

LinkedIn Training

Tailored 1:1 training — not just on what works in general, but specifically on what's holding you back.

Media Profile Building

Your personal brand in international media — bylined articles, commentary, interviews and speaking opportunities that speak for you.

02

Businesses

For companies with a real product and growth story, but no international media presence yet.

PR Audit

A clear picture of where you stand today — and what's between you and the international stage.

Full-Service PR

From a pure pay-per-result model to a partner-level monthly retainer with priority access — depending on how much certainty and scale you need.

Employee Brand Ambassador Training

We teach your people to talk about your company in a way that rings true — and turn them into your strongest brand ambassadors.

03

Agencies

For Slovak and Central European agencies whose clients are asking for international PR — and who can't yet deliver it themselves.

White-Label PR

We deliver international media placements; you sell them under your own brand — no risk, no building from scratch.

Training

Direct training for your team on international media literacy and building journalist relationships that last.

Mentoring

Hands-on, one-to-one guidance for international expansion — from long-term strategy through to a practical plan for the months ahead.

Petra Smith in London, with Tower Bridge in the background
About me

I'm Petra Smith, founder of Squirrels & Bears

I help ambitious Slovak and Czech companies, leaders and agencies become visible abroad. I draw on more than 18 years of experience in corporate, agency, and global B2B/B2C marketing.

In recent years, I decided to bring that experience closer to home — to Slovak and Czech companies, leaders and agencies who want to build credibility and visibility on the international stage. It's a newer, but deeply personal, part of my work.

Alongside my agency work, I write for Slovak and international media, advise companies and agencies on building their international reputation, and enjoy sharing my experience on stage or in a training room.

Proof, not promises

Case Study

Legal-tech

A legal-tech firm with offices in Bratislava, Prague and San Francisco, combining legal expertise with innovative technology to support high-growth startups and scale-ups — from early-stage ventures to global unicorns — in overcoming complex growth challenges.

Challenge

Positioning a specialist legal-tech firm as a credible international authority beyond regional markets.

Approach

Leveraging the founder and CEO's expertise, and repurposing existing content into targeted thought-leadership aligned with investor and startup media narratives.

Result

Securing multiple print and online features within three months in The Financial Times, EU Startups, Startups, European Business Magazine, The Executive Magazine and The HR Director.

Impact

Strengthened international brand authority and increased visibility among investors and scale-up audiences.

Reaching 28 million readers globally.
What clients say

Client Testimonials

"Petra has a strong strategic understanding of the relationship between marketing and sales. Her thinking is client- and market-focused. She understands global market requirements while still offering flexibility for local and regional needs. Her professionalism and support made her a pleasure to work with."

Simon Brown, Client Director, Imparta

"Your support in improving our marketing efforts has been immense. You helped us build a social community and developed our team's skills and enthusiasm for shaping our online brand. Thank you for everything you do."

Tricia Phillips, Board Director and Head of Consulting, Cadence Innova

"Petra is incredible at what she does. She's highly experienced, professional, and an absolute pleasure to work with."

Jay Lamusica, CEO, Shodement

"Petra helped Xander Prime get off the ground in the early days of our business. She was instrumental in establishing our brand online through press releases that were successfully published in well-known property publications. Working with S&B has been excellent, and I highly recommend them."

Alexander Wall, Founder, Xander Prime

"It has been a genuine pleasure working with Petra. She brings clear thinking and a practical approach to marketing. She focuses on business impact and successfully builds highly effective relationships within the team, ensuring the marketing function never operates in isolation. She's highly intelligent, a great listener, thinks positively, and is altogether great fun to work with."

Graham Scrivener, Managing Director, Aptus Consulting

"Working with Petra is seamless, and she's a pleasure to work with. Her broad awareness and marketing knowledge help keep our work progressive and relevant."

Simon Cartwright, Founder, Acumen Development Consultants
Get in touch

Interested in working together?

Let me know what's on your mind — whether you're a leader building a personal brand, a business with international ambitions, or an agency looking for a partner. I'd love to hear your story, and we'll look together at where I could help take you.

Let's start a conversation.

I work with a small number of clients at any one time. Every engagement is personally overseen by me — senior strategic thinking applied directly to your business.

Email
Location
180 Strand, London WC2R 1EA
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