Erica Topolski Email & Phone Number

I help companies build and strengthen their brand reputation through high impact marketing/communications strategies and tactics. From development to execution, my focus is helping businesses engage and grow their audiences. Current and former clients include leaders and innovators in the insurance, retail, marketing, fintech, healthcare, and IT industries.

• Led a global team responsible for shaping the brand and reputation of IBM’s Internet of Things, Commerce and Education businesses. Drove business performance and strengthened corporate culture during a company-wide.
• Shifted IBM’s reputation from being one of many IoT players in 2016, to the leader in IoT platforms in 2017 (as recognized by IT analysts at Forrester and IDC). Created a strategic PR plan that reached more than 200.
• Raised the social profile of the senior business leader, upping external followers by 25% and improving internal blog views by 40% with a 17% increase in comments/post.
• Increased employee social participation by 40% and quarterly “All Hands Meeting” attendance by 15% with strategic communications plans (including events, digital and social tactics) that created a more engaged and.
• Acted as a trusted advisor to senior executives providing, strategy development, crisis communications counsel, social coaching, speech writing and event support.
• Made complex technology easy to understand through client success stories (eg: IBM and Sesame https://youtu.be/Gj5LZnG01Hs). Regularly assembled and led cross-company teams to tell a unified client story across all.

• I led a team of people responsible for helping to drive culture change at IBM. We used storytelling, digital and social tactics and in-person moments to engage employees in support of IBM's growth initiatives and to.
• Drove a 45% increase in first-line manager engagement with company-wide manager programs that empowered leaders to help their teams navigate change and engage in the company’s transformation.
• Led data analysis on internal communications metrics and revamped the strategy for corporate messages resulting in a 25% increase in global engagement.
• Created and implemented a global storytelling initiative designed to strengthen and shape the IBM brand. Trained 200+ IBMers on effective communications and storytelling methods and regularly acted as a speaker coach.
• Trained 300 Sellers on IBM’s use of our own social and digital tools for employee communications and cultural transformation. Provided client-facing resources and consulted on 25+ engagements with clients.

Greater Boston Area

• As part of an Agile marketing team, I led the development of the industry marketing strategy and branding for IBM mobile enterprise solutions.
• Created IBM’s Mobile Industry storyline to engage clients, employees and external influencers around the value of the MobileFirst brand and the impact of mobile technology on their industry.
• Created an experiential marketing presence using mobile technologies and innovative digital and physical events to help clients, IBM employees and external stakeholders better understand mobile by industry.
• Led a cross-company team and agency partners in the development of branding and identity for a series of new industry-specific Mobile Applications, ensuring proper correlation to IBM Mobile identity and competitive.

• Managed a team of innovative communicators and agency partners to:
• Designed influencer & advocate relations programs that engaged people around the world, built communities of interest and shared IBM's point of view.
• Created external communications strategy and materials including videos, infographics, press releases, social media campaigns and blog posts.
• Placed high impact stories via paid, earned and owned channels,

• Led media outreach for multiple software offerings across IBM's portfolio including Lotus, Information Management and Business Analytics.
• Developed the media strategy and messaging for IBM’s entry into the enterprise social business market.
• Created and implemented a new approach to working with bloggers and emerging influencers that was replicated globally.
• Led communications for multiple acquisitions and divestitures.

Ensured the continuous flow of accurate and timely information tocitizens and key environmental stakeholders during environmentalhearings process.Authored and edited diverse internal and external documentsincluding executive briefings, press releases, employee Intranetarticles, brochures and advertisements.

• Ensured the continued flow of accurate and timely information tothe network of over 200 Community Access Centres, members of thepress and key government stakeholders.
• Developed a province-wide bilingual marketing communicationscampaign including television, print and radio ads, press releases, speeches and special events.
• Developed a successful awards program including the authoringand graphic design of a winning Conference Board of Canadaproposal for best community initiative.
• Worked with Federal and Provincial human resource officers toimplement a youth employment program throughout the NBCommunity Access Centres.
• Coordinated logistical planning and onsite management of majorconferences and training sessions.

Master'S Degree, Mass Communication/Media Studies

Ba, English, Psychology