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What has your journey into Edelman looked like and how did you get into the communications industry?

I studied Politics at University and was considering going into the civil service or qualifying as a solicitor. After an internship at a PR agency, I realised that this profession allows me to use the skills from my degree – critical thinking, argumentation and communication – while working with some of the world’s biggest brands and corporations.

What prompted you to specialise in issues and crisis communications?

I love dealing with business-critical issues for clients and anticipating and responding to current affairs, cultural moments and politics.

What do you think makes a good specialist in this field?

Ultimately, we are a client-service driven business. As well as skills around understanding and advising on issues, as a consultant, you need to thrive in a fast-paced environment and be motivated by client satisfaction.

What do you find most rewarding about the job?

It’s very satisfying to take a complex reputational issue or business challenge and to interrogate it using data and risk-analysis to help clients move towards a resolution.

What’s one achievement you are most proud of during your time at Edelman?

It’s more an achievement of us as a global team but I’m proud to work with really smart and motivated colleagues from all corners of the globe who come together to provide globally relevant and locally-nuanced perspectives on client challenges.

What is a challenge you have overcome?

I’ve needed to develop flexibility and adaptability. The variety of issues we deal with is both challenging and rewarding. A typical day can involve developing new crisis communications protocols, delivering training on operational issues through crisis drills and helping prepare for challenging business announcements.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone considering a role in the Issues & Crisis team, what would it be?

Be news-hungry and curious. It’s crucial to stay on top of news and current affairs to anticipate how the latest developments will affect clients and could lead to issues. But to get ahead of trends, it’s also important to be curious about the latest social and cultural conversation outside of mainstream media – for example through podcasts and following change-makers on social media.

This year’s IWD theme is about Embracing Equity and forging equity isn’t limited to women solely fighting for change, allies play an important role in change. Who have you identified as allies throughout your career?

I have been fortunate enough to benefit from many work-based allies, from my editor at the publication I started with when I left university to the wonderful leaders I’ve been supported by at Edelman. I also don’t take it for granted that I have an amazing support system in my male family and friends who have always enabled and encouraged me to seek out new career experiences. My husband and I took shared parental leave after the recent birth of our daughter, which helped us to delegate work and home responsibilities more fairly from the outset. More broadly, I think the shift to viewing any gender as equally likely to take time off to have a baby is absolutely fundamental in addressing issues like the gender pay gap and some of the persistent drivers of inequality experienced by many women who have had a baby.

In your opinion, how do our individual actions, conversations, behaviours and mindsets have an impact on our larger society?

Everything ladders up: how we conduct ourselves as individuals undoubtedly impacts society at large. I find that my attitudes and actions shape my experience of the world, too, and I’m not surprised by research that suggests positivity and resilience help people to make better decisions about health and life.

What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of women?

The UNDP’s Human Development Index - which measures how long and well people live, whether they have access to education, and what’s their standard of living - had been on an upward trajectory since 1990, but that changed a few years ago. COVID-19 and war have taken an obviously major toll on the global economy, but so has climate change and its impacts will only worsen unless drastic action is taken. We saw during the pandemic that women carried a disproportionate burden, including job losses and taking on additional caring and domestic responsibilities. So, a challenge for the next generation in totality will be to navigate the upending of a long-term trend for increasing prosperity and social mobility, but more specifically to ensure that the impacts of climate change don’t disproportionately impact women.

In your opinion what does it look like to elevate women forging change via technology and sustainability in communities, workplaces and beyond?

The implications of an extremely connected, automated, and technology-driven society are complex, relevant, and both compelling and challenging. We’re both more available and more isolated, and I personally think that building a robust network of people who will help to create new opportunities for you and back you in the ones you create for yourself, whatever the context, is absolutely essential.

ABOUT ELEANOR BEST

Eleanor Best is a Director in the Sustainability, Social Impact and Brand Purpose team.

This Women's History Month, we're sharing insights from some of the exceptional women at Edelman: their stories, opinions and vision for the path forward to a better, and more equitable future.

This year’s IWD theme is about Embracing Equity and forging equity isn’t limited to women solely fighting for change, allies play an important role in change. Who have you identified as allies throughout your career?

It’s definitely a mix of people. Both male and female friends and colleagues who positively embrace change and openly champion and support women at work. From my male peers who are mentoring and nurturing future female talent to the women I get to work with who are using their voice and their network to show the world what women are made of. I am constantly in awe of those around me who are speaking out, advocating and challenging gender stereotypes.

In your opinion, how do our individual actions, conversations, behaviours and mindsets have an impact on our larger society?

Our actions or behaviours can create new or reinforce existing norms. Perhaps this is more pertinent now as we think about International Women's Day - what norms do we want to influence and how can we encourage and support others in this change? It is our individual and collective action which can inform and incite change and we should be conscious that we never truly understand the power of our influence on other people, or the impact of our words and actions. Acknowledging this is our superpower as women.

What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of women?

I heard on the radio yesterday that according to a recent study, women starting work today at the age of 18 will not see pay equality in their lifetime. Which made me think that although we are making huge, positive strides in gender parity, there are still decades of work to be done. So, for me, the challenge is going to be keeping the momentum going. Keeping the conversation relevant and ensuring female voices continue to be heard. Women still face systemic barriers and discrimination in many aspects of life: sadly the next generation are going to be handed a fight - albeit one with its own nuances. The balance of work and family will continue to be a battle for the next generation of women…tomorrow's battles depend on today’s progress!

What’s the role for brands in driving equity and gender parity?

Get the tone right and don’t market to female stereotypes. Be inclusive but remember women aren’t one dimensional. Hire women who are leading the change and bring different perspectives to not only the C-Suite but throughout the organisation. And collaborate with women who have a positive influence in culture and are making an impact in society, paving the way for change. Ensure that the conversations that matter to your customers and audiences resonate through your internal and external comms.

ABOUT SUZY SOCKER

Suzy Socker is Senior Director and Head of Operations in the London Brand team .

This Women's History Month, we're sharing insights from some of the exceptional women at Edelman: their stories, opinions and vision for the path forward to a better, and more equitable future.

This year’s IWD theme is about Embracing Equity and forging equity isn’t limited to women solely fighting for change, allies play an important role in change. Who have you identified as allies throughout your career?

Whilst his influence spans much further than just within my career, my dad has been a hugely influential figure for me from a career perspective. As a father of three daughters (poor man) he has always been a champion for us personally - coaching, mentoring and offering words of advice when it comes to navigating complex issues within the workplace. He taught us that gender was negligent when compared to intelligence, empathy and hard work - and that you should be recognised for your performance as opposed to your sex. I am also aware that having daughters has certainly changed the way in which he builds teams and makes decisions within his own organisation. A true ally from my perspective.

In your opinion, how do our individual actions, conversations, behaviours and mindsets have an impact on our larger society?

As a leader, every corridor conversation, piece of constructive feedback or action you take has an impact. But it isn’t just confined to leadership – everybody - regardless of their level, gender, race or sexuality has a role to play when it comes to embracing equity. Embracing equity is about championing it within your sphere of influencer, but also calling it out when you can see that it isn’t happening, which takes courage.

What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of women?

Whilst this feels like an acutely UK specific issue, from my perspective the lack of affordable childcare within the UK is going to significantly affect the next few generations to come. Recent data from PWC shows that the gender pay gap is widening four times faster in the UK than the average for the OECD, primarily due to the financial penalty from motherhood - and the gap is continuing to grow. Women in the UK are being failed by the government - and both businesses and the wider economy are suffering as a result. Edelman’s competitive pay, benefits and flexible working policies go some way to fixing these issues, unless the government implements significant change, the workplace of the future will be significantly impacted.

What does elevating and advancing gender parity in technology and celebrating the women forging innovation look like to you?

Whilst the technology industry has come a long way in terms of advancing gender parity, there is still work to be done, which starts at the grass roots level. It’s vital that women are encouraged to study STEM subjects at school, and take technology focused degrees. However, there are more role models for women entering the industry than ever before, and it’s our job as communicators to raise awareness of these female success stories in the technology industry so young women entering the industry have relevant role models. One example here is Nicola Mendelsohn, VP Global Business Group at Meta, who is using her platform to inspire, and act as a role model, for the next generation of women in technology and entrepreneurship.

ABOUT ABIGAIL LLOYD-PRESCOTT

Abigail Lloyd-Prescott is a Director in the London Technology team.

I've been in the healthcare communications industry for 16 years and this summer I celebrated my five-year Edelman anniversary. This milestone prompted some reflection and what struck me most was how much our industry has evolved in recent years and how much the type of work we do has changed.

Back in 2005 when I was starting out, healthcare communications was still mostly focused on 'traditional' PR - press releases, media coverage and press briefings. In the following years, social media started to bloom and we began to see more integration of digital into our clients' plans even if that were just a few tweets. Health communications has since developed into a much broader and more nuanced specialism that requires the full integration of the communications and marketing mix to meet our clients' business challenges. Just as the kind of work we do has advanced, so has the belief in healthcare communications as a discipline. Our clients expect more from us and as digital communications solutions continue to evolve at pace, our counsel is sought now more than ever.

The best campaigns today tell a really compelling story using visual and digital elements rooted in a clear strategic direction with a measurable call to action. We must show how we've changed the way a particular audience thinks about a given health issue, how they feel about that issue, and ultimately what they do differently as a result of engaging with our campaign.

This has long been Edelman's approach and the root of our success. Take for example the AstraZeneca Break Over-Reliance campaign which was a finalist at this year's Communiqué awards. The goal of this global campaign was to prevent asthma attacks by informing, educating and encouraging action among patients, healthcare professionals and policymakers to question deeply rooted behaviours, perceptions, and even policies, related to asthma treatment and in particular, the risks of Short-Acting-Beta-2 agonist (SABA) over-reliance. We partnered with our planning team from the very beginning so that our recommendations were rooted in sound strategic insights. A carefully planned digital strategy was at the heart of the campaign ensuring all activations laddered-up to one very clear call to action: to encourage people with asthma to take an online test to measure their SABA over-reliance.

We partnered with our creative team in Berlin to produce a campaign highlights video which was so moving the clients said it gave them goosebumps. Knowing that we've been part of a piece of work that contributes to making a meaningful difference to the millions of people living with asthma worldwide is a hugely satisfying feeling.

Whilst we don't work frontline with patients, I think my biggest motivator has always been the fact that the work we do on behalf of our clients does shape people's daily lives and we can be really proud of that. A career-defining moment was having the privilege to support clients on a global COVID-19 communications campaign this year. Being part of a team responsible for delivering such critically important, agenda-shaping global health communications was hugely rewarding.

I’m lucky that I’ve had the chance to work with some fantastic clients and colleagues at Edelman. And one of the many reasons why I love working here is that I'm constantly inspired, challenged and always learning as Edelman remains at the epicentre of what's cutting edge in communications and on top of the socio-political agenda with IP such as The Trust Barometer. With the support of so many brilliant, caring, fun and smart brains within our business, I can be confident that our integrated teams are delivering the best thinking for clients.

The pandemic has put the need for clear, trustworthy healthcare information into sharp focus and further crystallised my passion for working in the industry. With such amazing breakthrough science continuing to emerge across many therapy areas I am really looking forward to being part of what the future holds for healthcare communications. And as our approach to telling health stories to the world continues to evolve it's an exciting time for sure!

For anyone interested in learning the craft of healthcare communications here are my top five tips:

I strongly believe that listening is one of the most important communications skills not least because the landscape around us is changing all the time. Being constantly curious about the cultural, societal and political landscape we operate in helps us ensure we're delivering the best for our clients.
Building strong relationships with your colleagues, clients, and peers is essential. Your career is defined by those relationships and the trust you build over time.
Remember that new business is everyone's business. Though it's important to have an efficient and streamlined approach for a pitch, everyone on the team has a role to play in the wider effort of being ahead of the curve with ideas generation, spotting new industry trends, or networking.
Be bold and brave. My number one motto is to “feel the fear and do it anyway”.
Finally, work hard to deliver the best possible work for clients but have fun along the way as with this job I can guarantee you’ll work with some people that become friends for life.

Emma Coughlan is Associate Director in the Health team.

The 6-week Edelman x 10,000 Black Interns internship has been an eye-opening experience for all of us so Damian Alvarez and I thought we'd share some of our initial intern thoughts from this brief period. Here are five first impressions we gained from our experiences at Edelman London.

1. IT’S VERY CORPORATE – NOT!

This is only partially true. The company has many elements to it outside of the ‘corporate’ dimension, so it feels more like an amalgamation of different operating styles. Sure, there are corporate sides to the business, but this only forms one part of the Edelman puzzle, with a variety of other teams, such as Health and Brand, making up the missing pieces.

2. A VERY SUPPORTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT.

Following on from the first point, if you mistook the business to be very corporate facing, that might lead you to assume that working here feels ‘uptight’ or ‘cold’. That is completely not the case. Edelman is very inclusive and supportive of its employees; if you’re ever stuck you can easily ask anyone for help.

3. EACH DAY IS UNPREDICTABLE.

“I work for Edelman” doesn’t give much insight into your day-to-day schedule. Crisis, media, new business, product launches, in-house functions, client calls, integrated projects, and more. We always filled each day with something different (except maybe doing our timesheets daily).

4. YOU HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO MORE AND BECOME MORE.

There are many learning and personal development opportunities available. Do you have a particular skill set? Are you interested in a specific type of work or client? There’s potential at Edelman to put yourself forward for a variety of opportunities. Edelman’s global reach creates further possibilities. Not to mention over 400 courses on ELI, the company's internal L&D platform.

5. IT’S INNOVATIVE.

Edelman seeks to make significant headroom in business to consumer (B2C) relations, putting trusting and productive relationships first and foremost. With this, the company has made significant contributions in ensuring its workplace becomes more diverse. Edelman places a strong emphasis on its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), showing this through its partnership with the recently created 10,000 Black Interns programme, encouraging and innovating their workspace to become ever-more creative and productive.

Explore the latest careers at edelman.

I usually like to think that I don’t get nervous in new situations. But I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t stall walking into the office on the first day of my 6-week internship. After a deep breath and a dose of liquid courage (a single espresso), I finally walked in and was grateful to be greeted by kind faces and smiles.

Tamara, Sorcha and Thom met us and, within the morning, introduced us to the company. By the midday break, the nerves had disappeared, and I was chatting to the other interns as if I’d known them for years. During our tour of the office, I noticed the culture at Edelman was not what I had feared. People spoke to each other, laughed, joked all while doing meaningful work. Looking at the other interns, we all had the similar facial expression of “this place is great!”

By the first afternoon, we all broke out into our individual teams. My first line manager and buddy (Jess and Sophie) picked me up from the meeting room with wide smiles and introduced me to the rest of the team. If there is one thing that struck me very early at Edelman is the friendly working culture. No one was too busy to say hello and introduce themselves, and people took time out of their busy schedules to chat and get to know us.

We took part in workshops throughout, each introducing us to different aspects of the firm. I’ll admit, my view of PR before working at Edelman was very narrow, but I quickly learnt that it encompasses a range of different disciplines. Sophie asked me what I wanted to get out of the internship, so I mentioned that I enjoyed design - Jess gave me a design task within the first week. I wanted to try my hand at copywriting, so had an opportunity to work with the editorial team. I was intrigued to know how DxI worked, so I had an insightful one-to-one with Matthew. I had the freedom to make what I wanted of the experience.

From the workshops to the team collaboration, my time at Edelman has been enjoyable and enriching. I have learnt a lot in a small period, and every day has been a new experience. I want to extend my thanks to everyone at Edelman for their support, and for helping me make the most of this opportunity.

Jaden Haynes is currently one of ten young professionals interning at Edelman UK through the 10,000 Black Interns initiative.

Check out the latest roles at Edelman.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon announced Tuesday that the retailer would stop selling ammunition for assault-style rifles. He also pledged that customers would be discouraged from carrying guns in stores even in states where it is legal. The company said that it would ask Congress to tighten background checks and reimpose a ban on assault weapons. This singular act of corporate responsibility comes less than a month after a shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, which claimed the lives of 22 innocent people.

Edelman has pledged to donate its services to the Gun Safety Alliance, a consortium of NGOs and companies aiming to reduce gun violence through proper storage of weapons and background checks. As part of our campaign, we have conducted a nationally representative survey of 1,000 Americans 18+ during the week of August 22-26. Here are the key findings:

CEO Advocacy of Gun Safety Increases Favorability Toward Company—More than two-thirds of respondents said that they would be more favorable about a company if the CEO pushes for background checks of gun purchases at gun shows (68 percent) and universal background checks for all gun buyers (68 percent). And there is broad support for increased funding for education on safe use/storage of guns (63 percent) and requiring individuals to obtain a license before being able to buy a gun (63 percent). There is much less support for banning sales of guns and ammunition (32 percent) and allowing teachers to carry guns in classrooms (35 percent).
Majority of Republicans Have Increased Favorability Toward Company Endorsing Anti-Gun Violence Initiatives—Fifty-seven percent of Republicans and 65 percent of gun owners are more favorable towards a company whose CEO advocates for background checks. Eighty-one percent of Democrats and 65 percent of Independents are more favorable to companies when the CEO takes that position.
Low Support for Isolating Gun Makers or Retailers—Under 40 percent of respondents said that they would be more favorable to companies that no longer do business with gun retailers or manufacturers. Forty percent would be more favorable to retailers that no longer offer discounts to members of the National Rifle Association.
Big Endorsement of Walmart Action—Three-quarters of respondents said that they would feel more favorable toward a retailer that requires background checks for all gun purchases, 63 percent if it no longer offers semi-automatic rifles, and 60 percent if it no longer sold high-capacity ammunition clips. But only 38 percent of respondents said they would view favorably the exit of a retailer from the sale of any guns or accessories.
Customers More Likely to Buy from Company If CEO Takes Action to Cut Gun Violence—By a four-to-one margin (45 percent to 11 percent), consumers are more likely to purchase a company’s products or services if the CEO has addressed gun violence. This is true of Republicans (29 percent more likely to purchase, 19 percent less likely to purchase), Democrats (62 percent more likely to purchase, 6 percent less likely) and Independents (46 percent more likely to purchase, 17 percent less likely). Gun owners are more inclined by a two-to-one margin to buy products from companies whose CEOs have stepped up on gun violence (38 percent to 17 percent).

Our study should embolden more CEOs to be involved in this vital issue. You will recall the 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer finding that 76 percent of respondents want CEOs to speak up on issues of the day and not wait for government, an 11-point increase from 2018. There has never been a more important moment to be heard, to use the CEO’s bully pulpit to push for tangible action in your home community and to use your leverage with elected officials. You have the public’s permission to endorse any one of a number of initiatives, from red flag laws to increased spending on mental health.

Aristotle had a wonderful line that should guide your thinking as a CCO advising the CEO: “There is only one way to avoid criticism. Do nothing. Say nothing. And be nothing.” Let’s follow Doug’s lead, recognizing that everyone wins when business takes a stand on gun violence.

Richard Edelman is president and CEO.

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지난 8월 21일(수) 에델만 디지털 · 브랜드 사업 부문은 하반기 리빙인컬러 활동으로 첫 운동회 ‘에델림픽(Edelympic)을 개최했다.

에델만 리빙인컬러는 매 분기 진행되고 있는 부서별 활동으로 사무실에서 벗어나 직원들 간 친목을 도모하고 다양한 경험을 쌓을 수 있도록 독려하는 프로그램이다.

이번 에델림픽은 림보, 이어달리기, 신발 양궁, 피구, 허벅지 씨름, 줄다리기 등 다양한 종목으로 구성되어 즐거운 분위기 속에서 멤버 간 협동심과 체력을 함양하는 것은 물론 좋은 추억을 만드는 시간이 됐다.

에델만은 전 세계 67개 오피스에서 7,300여 명의 직원들이 근무하고 있으며, 모든 직원들이 더 많이 보고, 경험하고, 즐기며 회사 생활을 잘 해나갈 수 있도록 다양한 프로그램을 지원하고 있다.

에델만 멜버른 오피스의 Senior Account Executive인 Sophie Cressall이 3월 25일부터 약 한 달 동안 ‘DNA Explorer’ 프로그램을 통해 에델만 코리아에서 근무할 예정이다.

Sophie Cressall은 한국에서 근무하는 동안 삼성 관련 업무를 지원할 예정이다. 오는 6월에는 에델만 코리아의 허인정 과장이 에델만 북경 오피스에서 근무하게 된다.

에델만은 매년 일정 요건을 갖춘 직원을 대상으로 글로벌 오피스 간 직원 교류 프로그램 ‘DNA Explorer’을 실시하고 있다.

이 프로그램을 통해 에델만 직원들은 전 세계 65개 오피스 중 한 곳에 파견 근무하며 글로벌한 감각을 습득하고 다양한 문화를 체험하는 기회를 갖게 된다.

25 Years of Trust

Meet the Makers: Jennifer Giff, Director, Issues & Crisis

What has your journey into Edelman looked like and how did you get into the communications industry?

What prompted you to specialise in issues and crisis communications?

What do you think makes a good specialist in this field?

What do you find most rewarding about the job?

What’s one achievement you are most proud of during your time at Edelman?

What is a challenge you have overcome?

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone considering a role in the Issues & Crisis team, what would it be?

Women's History Month: #EmbracingEquity | Eleanor Best

This year’s IWD theme is about Embracing Equity and forging equity isn’t limited to women solely fighting for change, allies play an important role in change. Who have you identified as allies throughout your career?

In your opinion, how do our individual actions, conversations, behaviours and mindsets have an impact on our larger society?

What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of women?

In your opinion what does it look like to elevate women forging change via technology and sustainability in communities, workplaces and beyond?

ABOUT ELEANOR BEST

Women's History Month: #EmbracingEquity | Suzy Socker

This year’s IWD theme is about Embracing Equity and forging equity isn’t limited to women solely fighting for change, allies play an important role in change. Who have you identified as allies throughout your career?

In your opinion, how do our individual actions, conversations, behaviours and mindsets have an impact on our larger society?

What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of women?

What’s the role for brands in driving equity and gender parity?

ABOUT SUZY SOCKER

Women's History Month: #EmbracingEquity | Abigail Lloyd-Prescott

This year’s IWD theme is about Embracing Equity and forging equity isn’t limited to women solely fighting for change, allies play an important role in change. Who have you identified as allies throughout your career?

In your opinion, how do our individual actions, conversations, behaviours and mindsets have an impact on our larger society?

What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of women?

What does elevating and advancing gender parity in technology and celebrating the women forging innovation look like to you?

ABOUT ABIGAIL LLOYD-PRESCOTT

Celebrating Her Five Year “Edel-Versary”, Associate Director, Emma Coughlan Reflects on the Evolution of the Work We Do in Health

For anyone interested in learning the craft of healthcare communications here are my top five tips:

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Five First Impressions about Edelman – Intern Edition

1. IT’S VERY CORPORATE – NOT!

2. A VERY SUPPORTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT.

3. EACH DAY IS UNPREDICTABLE.

4. YOU HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO MORE AND BECOME MORE.

5. IT’S INNOVATIVE.

Explore the latest careers at edelman.

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Ask and you shall receive: my internship at Edelman

Check out the latest roles at Edelman.

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The CEO Mandate on Gun Violence

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더위를 날려버린 열정, ‘에델림픽’ 그 뜨거운 현장 속으로!

에델만 멜버른 오피스의 Sophie Cressall, ‘DNA Explorer’ 프로그램으로 한 달간 서울 근무 시작