One of the benefits of being a consultant is that you get the opportunity to work with many different organizations, each of which has its own needs, vibe, and mission. That diversity was one of the things that appealed to me about going freelance, but I’ve found that I can’t quite shake working for nonprofits.…
This election has been a very difficult time for me. I was ready and looking forward to electing the first woman president. As I told many people leading up to the election, “it’s our time. It’s past time.” I wore white for the suffragettes when I went to cast my vote for the first female…
What happens when your communication director goes on maternity leave? Well, you hire a freelance consultant, of course! At least that what’s the Primary Care Patient-Centered Collaborative did when they brought me on board. It’s a win-win. They get part-time communication coverage while their co-worker gets to spend that all important recovery and bonding time…
In September, I decided to download Bumble, a dating app which requires women to make first contact in heterosexual matches. Yes, I am way behind the curve as Bumble was initially released back in December 2014 but after a brief unsuccessful stint with Tinder and Hinge prior to my last relationship, I wasn’t super eager…
Fear of public speaking is one of the most common phobias, with estimates that up to 75% of people experience anxiety, albeit at different levels. If you’re uncomfortable with addressing an audience, you certainly aren’t alone. But it’s a necessary skill for the vast majority of people, especially when you want to increase the visibility…
In my last full-time job before going freelance, I had the opportunity to be the communication director for the organization that runs three of the top science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) competitions for students: the Science Talent Search, Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and Broadcom MASTERS. All three bring together talented young scientists…
Short answer: YES As a communication professional, I’ve written and reviewed many press releases. Almost invariably, individuals without a communication background want to include more information than I recommend. It’s understandable – they’ve worked hard on creating a new product, launching a new program, hosting a competition, earning a big contract, etc. Whatever their big…
Gardasil, the first vaccine for the human papillomavirus (HPV), was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June 2006. Merck introduced Gardasil with its “Tell Someone” campaign, which segued into the “One Less” advertising campaign for the vaccine, which began airing in November 2006. The campaign announcing Gardasil wasn’t your typical pharmaceutical advertising, in…
According to a study released in October 2015, more than 1/3 (or approximately 54 million) of the U.S. population are freelancers. Trend pieces continue to be written about the rising prevalence of the “gig economy,” where freelance workers across a wide spectrum of industries and skill sets work on an ad-hoc basis for multiple employers. But how…
