From Vision to Venture: Patricia Mae Olson’s Entrepreneurial Journey

When Patricia Mae Olson, née Maristch, graduated from Immaculata University in 2012, she knew one thing for certain: she wanted to build something of her own.

Recently named a 2026 Next Gen Superstar by VISTA Today, Olson has transformed her lifelong passion for fashion and communication into an entrepreneurial career spanning public relations, podcasting and experiential events. She is the founder of Piqued PR in Chester County, Pennsylvania, host of the six-year-old “Preppy Podcast” and the creator of “Camp Preppy”—a series of national, immersive events for women.

Growing up nearby in Unionville, PA, Olson was drawn to the intersection of fashion and communications. Finding a college that offered both, however, proved to be a challenge.

Her decision to attend Immaculata came after reading an article about Tina Carrado, an Immaculata alumna and owner of Posh Collections in Malvern. Carrado’s success showed Olson that Immaculata could connect her interests in fashion and communications with a real-world career. Inspired, Olson walked into the boutique to introduce herself and learn more about Carrado’s experience at the University. That bold introduction led to a college job on the sales floor and, eventually, a lifelong professional relationship. Today, Olson still handles PR and events for the store.

That willingness to put herself out there became a hallmark of Olson’s time at Immaculata. She made the most of every opportunity to build her portfolio, maintaining a blog hosted by The Daily Local, writing a fashion section for The Immaculatan (Immaculata’s student newspaper), working in the University writing center, cheerleading, working at two local boutiques and completing multiple public relations and marketing internships.

“I think you really need to use that time to your advantage and try to get involved as much as you can because it’s your portfolio,” Olson advised. “That’s what put me ahead of other people.”

After graduation, a tight economy pushed Olson toward freelancing, where she secured a position as a public relations coordinator for a local Senate race and managed social media for independent brands. She soon parlayed those experiences into a full-time agency position in Philadelphia. Crucially, she negotiated a contract clause that allowed her to continue freelancing on the side.

Her schedule was grueling. Olson took the train from Malvern to Philadelphia, working on freelance projects during her commute, squeezing in client work during lunch breaks in city cafeterias and continuing late into the night.

Within two years, she had built a solid savings cushion and a growing list of clients. Then, she made the leap: Olson left the agency and launched Piqued PR.

“I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I wasn’t going out and having the craziest social life right after college because I was focused on building something [and] being young, you have less to lose… you just have this confidence and this blindness, and you don’t have something holding you back as much as you might when you’re older.”

Building a business, however, meant being ready to change with it. Over the past decade, Olson has watched the public relations industry evolve from traditional magazine placements to influencer marketing and, increasingly, experiential events.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in spring 2020, boutique clients suddenly faced canceled wholesale orders and excess inventory. Olson saw an opportunity to help. She launched “The Preppy Podcast,” a business podcast featuring the stories of these brands and their founders while encouraging listeners to support them.

The podcast opened the door to something bigger. As listeners asked for opportunities to connect in person, Olson began hosting live podcast panels with major retailers such as Dillard’s in Dallas, Texas, Charlotte, North Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.

Those gatherings eventually led to “Camp Preppy,” an adult summer camp experience that brings women from across the country together around shared hobbies such as needlepoint and mahjong. The events have taken place in destinations including the Berkshires, Massachusetts, Beaver Creek, Colorado, The Hamptons, New York and Kennebunkport, Maine.

“It’s important to have diversification for your business,” Olson explained. “That way you can essentially pull a lever if one revenue stream isn’t doing as well and pivot to what’s working well.”

Looking back on the experiences and opportunities at Immaculata that laid the foundation for her career, Olson emphasizes the value of building a strong portfolio while in school, getting involved on campus, making connections and, perhaps most importantly, saying yes.

“When you’re starting your career, you should be grinding at it,” she said. “I love my job, and I love my clients. I’m so passionate about it that it doesn’t feel like work. You have to say yes to things and figure it out later. You’re not going to get anywhere if you say no.”