Search Results for: purpose

Jessica Chu is an experienced integrated strategic communications professional specializing in social, digital and corporate communications strategies for global brands. Since joining Yum! Brands in 2016, Chu has led initiatives that build and protect corporate reputation through content strategy, media intelligence and issues and crisis management. She has a proven track record in leading complex projects and managing vendor partnerships effectively.

Prior to Yum!, Chu served as an Account Executive at PriceWeber Marketing Communications, where she managed multi-channel campaigns and optimized digital engagement strategies. She holds a B.A. in Integrated Strategic Communication from the University of Kentucky.

Chu is passionate about leveraging data-driven insights to shape narratives that resonate globally and enjoys collaborating across teams to deliver impactful, purpose-driven communications.

Tom Hubbard is a  communications leader at Edelman, where he heads Brand Purpose work across the agency’s largest U.S. client portfolio. With more than a decade of experience at the intersection of brand building, communications, and social impact, Tom helps brands navigate cultural issues with authenticity and design purpose strategies that drive both reputation and growth.

His work spans integrated campaigns, academic research partnerships, and purpose platform development, including collaborations with the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business and award-winning initiatives recognized at Cannes Lions. Passionate about innovation, Tom also leads efforts to integrate AI and emerging technologies into Edelman’s Impact practice to help teams “hustle smarter” in delivering meaningful, values-led communications.

Alana Visconti is an innovative, award-winning digital communications leader with a passion for strategic thinking, creating meaningful partnerships with brands & influencers, and producing engaging content.

As a non-linear content creator and storyteller, with a specialty in purpose-led narratives and consumer engagement programs, Alana currently works as the Director of Corporate Communications at Nasdaq.

Throughout her career, Alana has managed teams who focus on digital content creation— with a passion for mentorship and building careers. She has extensive experience in building systems and frameworks to ensure alignment and a common purpose across teams and verticals.

Alana is also an AI thought leader who helps educate Enterprise teams on how to use AI to scale content creation.

John Allen has spent the past four years as a senior manager on the Employee Communications and Engagement team at ServiceNow, helping lead strategies to engage, inspire, and activate employees around the company’s purpose, priorities, and values. In this role, he oversees the global employee channel ecosystem, editorial planning, and best practices, ensuring content is thoughtful, aligned, and employee-centered. John also leads the “newsroom” process for the larger Global Communications organization, coordinating initiatives across functions to deliver clear, timely communications, partnering with the Employee Storytelling team, among other comms partners. John spent the previous 17 years in a similar role at Cisco. Away from work, he enjoys golfing, playing basketball, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Gerry Rodriguez is a purpose-driven strategist and communications executive with over 15 years of experience advising Boards, C-suite leaders, and global organizations on brand trust, enterprise risk, stakeholder engagement, and public affairs. As U.S. Head of Brand Purpose & Impact at Edelman, he leads the firm’s North American advisory practice, helping clients integrate sustainability, equity, and social impact into business operations. He also serves on Edelman’s U.S. Operating Committee, Global Impact Leadership Team, and leads the agency’s OutFront Taskforce advising clients on LGBTQ+ social issues positioning and inclusive leadership strategies.

Lori Taylor is a dedicated and thoughtful leader who has spent her career making connections that matter. As the Global Head of Internal Communications for Morningstar, Inc., Lori focuses on fostering transparency and alignment across a global team of more than 12,000 employees. Since stepping into this role in 2023, she has worked purposefully to create communication strategies that uplift organizational culture, improve access to resources, and build trust within the workplace.

Before joining Morningstar, Lori brought her talents to Allstate, where she created the company’s first corporate storytelling team and played a pivotal role during times of significant change, helping more than 45,000 employees stay connected and supported. At Discover Financial Services, Lori shaped communications that strengthened client relationships and amplified the brand’s presence with clarity and purpose.

Lori earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Northern Illinois University and has dedicated her career to empowering teams through meaningful and effective communication. She believes in the power of sharing stories to bring people together, inspire collaboration, and create spaces where everyone feels valued and heard.

Abbey Shilling serves as Director of Communications for Land O’Lakes, Inc., where she helps lead enterprise-wide communications strategy and execution across business units and functions. Her work focuses on delivering influential and impactful messaging that enhances brand reputation, drives engagement, and supports business growth for one of the nation’s largest food and agricultural cooperatives.

With over 20 years of experience in strategic communications, Abbey brings deep expertise in executive visibility, messaging, media relations and reputation management. Prior to joining Land O’Lakes, she served on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as a Deputy Chief of Staff, spokesperson, and communications advisor to members of Congress—developing policy messaging, managing press relations, and navigating complex legislative communications.

Abbey was recently recognized on PRWeek’s “Women to Watch” 2025 and PRNews Top Women, and serves on Ragan’s Communications Leadership Council.

Abbey holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Indiana University and is passionate about storytelling that connects people to purpose and elevates the voices of those driving innovation and impact in agriculture and food systems.

Sarah Comstock leads employee experience and communications at Ally Financial (NYSE:ALLY), where she has spent more than more than two decades building the culture and trust that have made Ally one of America’s most recognized employers — including a fourth consecutive year on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. She oversees the connective work across employee and executive communications, culture, EVP, listening, recognition and organizational change management, helping ~10,000 employees stay informed, engaged and connected to the company’s purpose.

A believer that reputation is built from the inside out, Sarah is known for pairing systems thinking with genuine humanity — bringing empathy to enterprise strategy and steady counsel through moments of change and crisis. She co-chairs Ally’s Communications Council and is a frequent voice on employee experience, listening and human skills in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Bon Secours Mercy Health is a member of Ragan’s Communications Leadership Council.

Chris Anderson is a seasoned marketing and communications leader with over a decade of experience transforming how organizations connect with their audiences — both internally and externally. Currently serving as Digital Communications Manager at Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH), Chris helps shape the digital communications strategy for one of the nation’s largest health systems, reaching over 60,000 associates and 12,000 healthcare providers. His work largely centers around making data-driven decisions and optimizing and enhancing technology to help communicators reach their audiences with consumer-grade marketing.

Prior to joining BSMH, Chris led digital marketing initiatives in the grocery and automotive industries, where he directed all aspects of their respective digital presences. His background spans consumer marketing, brand development, UX-informed strategy, and performance analytics, and he is recognized for his ability to synthesize data into actionable strategies that drive engagement and impact.

Chris holds an MBA and a BSBA in Marketing Management from Youngstown State University, where he was inducted into both Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. A multiple-time recipient of the Mahoning Valley Young Professionals “25 Under 35” award, Christopher is passionate about elevating voices, growing brands with purpose and mentoring the next generation of marketing leaders. He currently resides in Boardman, Ohio with his wife Sarah, their two children and two rescue dogs. In his free time, Chris serves on the board of several local non-profits and enjoys sports, reading and running.

**Transformational Leader – People Innovator – Global Talent Strategist – Culture, Catalyst & Coach**

Theresita Richard (she/her) is a visionary and purpose-driven leader fiercely committed to expansive liberation, humanity, and possibility. She is on a mission to transform the world of work, cultivating environments where humans can flourish in their fullness. She is the Chief People & Culture Officer and Global Head of Justice & Belonging for Patagonia and brings over 20 years of experience in diversity, equity & inclusion, organizational effectiveness, experience design, operations leadership, and human resources. Previously Theresita led Capital One’s Global Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, where she drove the work to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging across the company. She currently serves on the board of Out & Equal, a global convener, thought leader, and catalyst actively working to embed equity and achieve workplaces of equality and belonging.

Theresita’s career has spanned the consumer goods, retail, and fintech industries and she has positively impacted the full range of organizations from building anew to broad-scale transformation. She is known for propelling organizations forward with a deep focus on talent, culture, and innovation. Theresita is adept at delivering holistic people strategies that ensure businesses are equipped and enabled to achieve their mission while unlocking thriving customer and employee experiences. She sees problems as opportunities and her goal is to always approach with curiosity, creating sustainable solutions for the future and challenging the status quo to solve needs in new and meaningful ways.

Theresita started her career in operations after earning her B.S. in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research from Cornell University. It was there that she discovered her passion for creating experiences around people and went on to pursue her M.A. in Human Resource Development from George Washington University. Over the years, she has worked with various Fortune 500 companies including Procter & Gamble, Target, Home Depot and Starbucks.

On a personal note, she loves great quotes, all things creative, impromptu dance breaks and real live books (there’s nothing like the smell of a new book). Her family is one of the best parts of her and they inspire her to be better every day. She is fueled by coffee and rich conversations (even better when those things come together) and is a lover of movement, color, texture, and depth…cue her deep passion for the arts and finding inspiration all around her.

One of her favorite quotes that she strives to live by is “As you think about your own path to daring leadership, remember Joseph Campbell’s wisdom: ‘The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.’ Own the fear, find the cave, and write a new ending for yourself, for the people you’re meant to serve and support, and for your culture. Choose courage over comfort. Choose whole hearts over armor. And choose the great adventure of being brave and afraid. At the exact same time.” – Brené Brown, Dare to Lead.