Maria Russo Email & Phone Number

As a seasoned Marketing and Creative Director (voted as a “Must-Follow Marketing Mind” by Forbes) with a rich background in photography, writing, and editing, I bring a unique blend of storytelling prowess and strategic vision to the creative and marketing landscape. With over twenty years of experience traversing the globe, I have documented life in bustling cities, remote jungles, and untouched wilderness. This journey has not only fueled my passion for storytelling but also honed my expertise in creating impactful brand narratives. As the Co-Founder of The Culture-ist, an online magazine and creative agency focused on travel and social impact, I successfully merged my passion for storytelling with marketing and creative direction skills. Our platform not only amplifies stories that matter but also offers bespoke marketing solutions to brands aiming to make a positive impact on the world. Through thoughtful digital marketing strategies, including SEO, SEM, email marketing, social media, and content marketing, we enhance a brand’s online presence and engagement by analyzing performance and market trends to report on ROI, making data-driven decisions to optimize future marketing efforts. Our portfolio at The Culture-ist includes features/syndication partnerships with media such as Architectural Digest, National Geographic, Forbes, BBC America, Google Field Trip, Business Insider and The Huffington Post. Our articles were syndicated to an audience of over 100 million people globally. Our team executed brand journalism collaborations with tourism boards and luxury hotels aimed at highlighting crucial themes such as sustainable travel, community-led development, climate resilience/biodiversity, and gender-responsive economic initiatives.As a columnist for Inc., my articles spotlighted influential female leaders at the forefront of social change. I interviewed Janet Jackson, Walter Cronkite, Christie Brinkley, Sally Field, Martin Sheen, Adrian Grenier, Sharon Osborne, Angela Basset, Shannon Doherty and Glenn Close for People Magazine. Early in my career, I worked in television, print, & broadcast media with industry leaders such as Harper's Bazaar and MTV Networks.I serve as the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Humanity Unified International, a nonprofit organization working in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council for sustainable development and the advancement of women. Our initiatives focus on providing education, food security, and economic opportunities to communities in Rwanda.

Listed skills include Blogging, Journalism, Travel Writing, Magazines, and 22 others.

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  American University

  International Studies