PR's Top Pros Talk

How has the context of leadership changed? Mike Doyle, President and CEO at Ketchum , discusses the shift into more genuine and human communications. He offers advice on increasing and maintaining employee engagement. Mike also shares some ways of developing empathy in the workplace. Learn about careers at Ketchum here . Check out how this interview came to be here .  Doug Simon: dougs@dssimo...

How has the role of communications become more important to the C-suite over the course of the pandemic? Jim O’Leary, Edelman’s U.S. Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Affairs Practice Chair, shares key data from the 2021 Future of Corporate Communications study. Jim also discusses insights on how senior communications leaders are helping CEOs navigate social issues, ESG, activism and employee...

Workplaces have forever changed and the role of HR is now more important than ever as a result of the pandemic. Tina Beaty is the Vice President of Marketing, SHRM , an association that creates better workplaces where employers and employees thrive together. She shares her PR and marketing strategies to change the national dialogue on DEI and workplace culture.  Cause the effect you want to s...

How is communications different from marketing? Amy Bonitatibus shares how she navigates a dual role as the CCO of Chase and CMO of Chase Home Lending . She discusses how creating synergies between both teams amplifies the impact of the message. Amy also emphasizes the increased importance of bringing the earned media voice into paid content. To share your feedback, contact: Doug Simon: dougs@dssi...

As the Founder and Partner at V2 Communications , Maura FitzGerald values frequent communication and feedback from employees when it comes to return-to-work planning. She emphasizes the increased need for CEOs to be more active in internal and external communications. Maura also underscores the importance of being socially conscious in a fast-paced industry. To share your feedback, contact: Doug S...

How is holiday shopping going to be different in 2021? Kathryn Hayman, Vice President of Brand Integration, Bollare Communications , anticipates an early start as a result of supply chain issues and consumers craving an in-person shopping experience. Kathryn also discusses how influencers can bring engaging in-person shopping experiences through social media. Doug Simon: dougs@dssimonmedia.com&nbs...

Fostering meaningful connections with creators is a priority at Pinterest, and what differentiates it from other social media platforms. LeMia Jenkins Thompson, Global Head of Communications at Pinterest , discusses the communications strategy behind the company’s big launch. She also shares how agencies can partner with Pinterest and effectively utilize the platform to engage with their audiences...

Trey Ditto, CEO, Ditto PR , thinks you should be happier at your PR job. In fact, he’s created his entire business model around employee happiness. Trey's desire is to teach anyone willing to listen how they can make their business a better place to work. One person at a time, his goal is to improve the PR industry. To share your feedback, contact: Doug Simon: dougs@dssimonmedia.com  or news@...

Sarah Berman, President, The Berman Group , discusses how real estate companies are trying to bring employees back into the office. She shares examples of creative communications approaches that owners and operators are implementing. Sarah also offers insights into how technology has become the driver for growth in both residential and commercial real estate. To share your feedback, contact: Doug...

Laura Tomasetti, CEO, 360PR+ , shares insights into the shift in storytelling in 2021. She emphasizes the rise in deeper stories and increased usage of brand CEOs to get the message out. Laura also discusses the importance of creating a pathway to attract members of Gen Z to the PR industry. To share your feedback, contact:   Doug Simon: dougs@dssimonmedia.com   or news@dssimonmedia.com...

Monique Kelley, Neuroscience & US Commercial Operations Communications Lead, Takeda Pharmaceuticals , shares insights into her transition from agency to in-house communications. She offers advice on how to avoid setting a glass ceiling for yourself reaching your full potential. Monique also discusses how being a former athlete has helped her succeed in the workplace. To share your feedback, co...

Darlene Hollywood, Principal, Hollywood Agency , shares tips on getting media coverage for local organizations and brands. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on the people when crafting the story. Darlene also discusses the need for building strong relationships when it comes local media.   To share your feedback, contact:   Doug Simon: dougs@dssimonmedia.com   or news@dssimo...

Stephanie Marchesi, President, WE Global Health , shares insights into the significant transformation of the health industry in the last five years. She breaks down the differences between positioning yourself as a health-tech or tech-health company and how to handle regulation challenges. Stephanie also discusses how to communicate the mix of function and purpose.

Michael Roth, Owner and Managing Partner, The Bliss Group , discusses the importance of integrating earned media with paid media. He emphasizes the need to form strategic alliances with practices with relevant expertise. Michael also shares how his experience in law school helped him navigate through PR.

Wendy Lund, CCO, Organon , discusses the challenges of establishing a culture focused on women healthcare. She emphasizes the importance of having a vision to be successful in overcoming those challenges. Wendy also shares key insights from Organon’s research on how to communicate with women about healthcare.

Jonathan Jordan, General Manager, Edelman Southern California, shares key findings from the agency’s Trust Barometer special report, “The Belief-Driven Employee.” He discusses the rise of pandemic-induced burnout, and the ways leaders can effectively reduce it. Jonathan also shares how his background in management consulting has helped him succeed in the PR industry.

Ali Taekman, Partner, BPCM , discusses how brands can effectively integrate celebrities and influencers into their media campaigns. She emphasizes the importance of using both celebrities and influencers to achieve different levels of impact. Ali also shares insights into the agency’s heavy focus on sustainability.

Jennifer Temple, Chief Communications Officer at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, reveals brand strategies she has learned since the company’s split from HP. She discusses how the brand shaped its own narrative, despite consumer association with the former firm, and tactics used to build brand awareness and differentiation. Jennifer also dives into creating a brand image while HPE needed to undergo res...

Alina Diaz, Managing Director of Consumer Practice at MSL Group , speaks on the new means of interactions between communicators and consumers. She emphasizes the absence of physical touch creating new means of internal and external marketing, which has shown to vary between different demographics. Alina also touches on the change in consumer sentiment on virtual communication and responses to it.

Art Stevens, Managing Partner at The Stevens Group , goes deep into the intricacies of mergers and acquisitions. He shares tactics for brands to optimize their firm in order to maximize value for a buyout, for both buyers and sellers. He also touches on the demographic shift in employee tenure at modern companies, and where the next generation is heading with regards to ownership and sale of firms...

Cori McKeever, Global President of Healthcare at Golin , discusses the means in which firms can optimize their campaigns and communications to appeal to the right audiences. She takes it further into her specific industry, healthcare, and how the modern climate on health following COVID can influence the PR tactics brands implement. She emphasizes the distinction in tactics used to reach Pharma cl...

Lisa Rosenberg, Partner + President, Consumer Brands at Allison+Partners , shares insights on the future of brand communications. She speaks about how her experience as a judge at Cannes provided a window into how brands can deploy a compelling narrative to forge meaningful connections in an increasingly fragmented world. Lisa also explains how brands can avoid becoming a “chaser of culture” and m...

Alex Slater, CEO and Founder of Clyde Group , shares findings on where company leaders stand when it comes to DE&I engagement. He offers guidelines for brands on how to get involved to aid healthy conversation and awareness. Alex also discusses the main principles that Clyde Group follows to be best agency to work with and work for.

Michelle Olson, Managing Director at Lambert & Co , talks about the changing roles of communicators in public relations. She emphasizes the importance of the means in which PR departments protect and promote companies through research and tactical positioning. She further discusses the growth prospects of the industry as a whole, and how firms can capitalize on it.

Dallas Lawrence, Head of Communications at Roku Platform Business , dissects the nuances of the streaming world and how communicators can effectively gain leverage in that space. He discusses how the streaming platform has changed advertising, dubbing it a ‘renaissance period’ for ads, with many brands producing more dynamic content to communicate their specific messaging. You can learn more...