Founder and CEO of a strategic communications consultancy and creative services agency. THE COLLECTIVE is your brand's storyteller and reputation manager. We are the narrative architects, crafting stories that resonate and endure. It’s more than a brand just looking good; we understand the right blend of communication and reputation. With excellent communications strategy and exceptional execution, our clients are empowered to break through the noise with a meaningful and measurable narrative that is a story their stakeholders want to hear.THE COLLECTIVE provides services and consulting for individuals and businesses by bringing together the power of DEIB, communications, creativity and coaching through three brands: THE COLLECTIVE AGENCY: Catered to all clients seeking custom communications strategy, services and creative production.THE COLLECTIVE LABS: Designed to provide virtual and in-person training and education through cohorts and online learning opportunities for small businesses and nonprofits.THE COLLECTIVE CREATORS: Purposed to equip small businesses and nonprofits with limited time, with ready-to-customize communications templates, guides, processes, assets, and frameworks to help amplify clients’ stories in a self-sustaining way.

Reporting to the Chief Legal & Corporate Affairs Officer (General Counsel), I was promoted to create and lead the global corporate communications organization of 30 brilliant storytellers, responsible for building, leading, and executing the global communications strategy aligned with our enterprise growth plans. - Created and started the Company’s first centralized, global, internal, and external Corporate Communications organization, which I structured based on my research of best practices across Fortune 500 companies- Created the strategy and led the execution of the company’s corporate reputation, public relations, crisis communications, and internal communication- Serve as the CEO’s communications partner and advisor, increased his engagement with employees by 400%, and created his external presence- Created the organizational standard for Communications Partners to act as a C-Suite advisor- Led Global Events, executing 6-8 internal and external events and tradeshows per year, while implementing events policies and contract negotiation standards that have generated over $1.5M of cost savings per year- Increased our Public Relations impact and top-tier placements by 3X- Introduced and successfully launched a best-in-class internal communications platform (web/app) with over 50% employee adoption in the first two months

Leading a dynamic global team, charged with building, leading, and executing the global internal communications strategy aligned to our enterprise growth plans, enabling our employees to “experience the strategy” by creating engaging channels for communication - helping drive the evolution of our culture and implementation of our company strategy.- Created and executed a global internal communications strategy- Built a global internal communications team- Created a standard for executive communications and visibility - directly advising senior executives, including the CEO- Created the CEO’s communications channels and increased his reach to employees by 200%- Rebuilt the internal events strategy and successfully executed 4-6 internal enterprise events per year- Established a strategy for global in-person and digital channels- Created a partnership with external and internal communication groups for high-performing collaboration- Created a new tone of voice for the Company that is still used as the current standard

Served as the first Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Leader for Takeda Pharmaceuticals, where I created and led the DEIB education strategy, developed the DEIB training curriculum, and successfully created and launched Takeda’s first Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) while providing leadership over the global expansion of the ERGs.- Provided overall leadership and management to 6 Employee Resource Groups (ERG)- Recruited and led a group of 14 ERG leaders and 6 Executive Sponsors- Created the financial model for the ERGs and successfully designed the business case to increase their budgets by 3X- Created and implemented the ERG strategy model and assessment matrix, providing a sustainable measurement for continued funding, support, and expansion- Created a strategy and led the effort to grow and sustain ERG membership to over 50% participation at two company locations - exceeding the then-Catalyst benchmark of 10% participation- Created Takeda’s first DEIB strategy- Developed and hosted Takeda’s first inaugural Diversity Week, procuring speakers, and facilitators, and producing a week-long series of live educational events at their three main U.S. sites- Developed and wrote a DEIB education curriculum, and created DEIB training tools - Created an ERG Toolkit Guide to help assist in the global roll-out of ERGs and onboarding for new leaders- Co-created the communications strategy in partnership with Corporate and HR Communications functions- Co-led the first, cross-functional DEIB Council- Successfully negotiated equitable ethics and compliance with global policies- Co-created a new Corporate Giving policy that aligns with ERG priorities- Created a roadmap for ERGs to transition to Business Resource Groups, having secured partnerships across the business for the ERGs to consult in Marketing strategies and patient trial criteria

Managed and led communications for the company’s U.S. commercial organization of 3,500 employees, of which 3,000 employees were field-based.- Communications advisor and partner to Commercial SVPs and VPs- Created and launched Takeda’s first custom mobile app for the iPad called, The Stream, which is still in use to date- Served as Sales Communications lead on the Commercial Launch Teams for five product launches, including The Nesina Family, Brintellix (Trintellix), Entyvio, Contrave, and Colcrys Authorized Generic- Managed pharmaceutical product and platform launch communications- Executive communications and speech writing- Executive-produced videos - Led communications for all Sales Force national, regional, and district events- Created Takeda’s Commercial strategic messaging strategy and platform- Communications partner to GenMed, Specialty, Marketing, and Managed Markets Commercial functions

Directed marketing, communications, brand initiatives, and professional development for a global, multi-site radiant heating company, while leading and directly managing a team of high-performance individuals in a collaborative environment.- Led and implemented advertising and marketing strategies and concepts- Led the company’s rebrand- Expanded the website’s content development; print content and development; public/media relations- Established best practices and standards for SEO web traffic for WarmlyYours.com and increased web presence by 2X- Increased online marketing and social media engagement by 75%- Custom-developed a B2C and B2B customer nurture and prospect development process, still in use to date- Established the company’s human resource and leadership development program- Developed strengths-based training and curriculum for employee development- Established WarmlyYours as a StrengthsFinder, a strengths-based company, which included individually designed coaching

Worked as the lead communicator for all undergraduate and graduate external outreach, while also serving as a graphic designer and client-relations manager for the senior executive team of the university.- Pioneered and directed the University’s global social media initiatives- Started the University’s social media accounts and created a social media strategy and content plan- Expanded public relations practice and advertising strategy - Managed a media budget and created and executed a strategy for media buying and planning- Negotiated premier advertising placement in top-tier publications- Successfully advocated to promote the University’s diverse student population in promotional materials- Website content development and sitemap creation- Managed/created print & web content- Set the standard for sustainable print solutions for all university viewbooks and printed materials- Created and executive produced the first video-based undergraduate viewbook- Wrote on behalf of the University President and Executive Vice President/Provost- Created and started the University President’s first blog platform- Successfully created and launched an internal employee communications platform called, Today@TIU to centralize employee communications and increase employee engagement

Served as the Editor-in-Chief of the University newspaper.- Managed a staff of 30+ writers and 5 editors- Launched and directed a complete redesign of the paper- Directed logistics and strategy for publication operations- Increased campus readership- Introduced business development editor role to the leadership team, increasing advertising revenue by 4X

Played a key role in the grassroots operation of the reelection campaign for Rep. Mark S. Kirk.- Created a new set of letters to the editor and call scripts for local supporters and staffers to use for outreach- Recruited and solicited District 10 residents’ financial support and encouraged their attendance at local events- Advance planning, strategy, and preparation for campaign events, festivals, and parades- Assisted with campaign finance and donor mailings

Contracted as a freelance journalist for a well-respected local newspaper in the Greater Chicago area.- Researched and reported on leads assigned by the Editor- Wrote feature articles for the Neighbor section - one of the articles I reported and wrote was placed on the front-page, and published on Tuesday, December 13, 2005