Learn how to talk succinctly to the press -- in good times and bad.
Event Details
During this 90-minute seminar, attendees will learn how to write press releases, reach out to the press and talk publicly about their companies. What does off the record mean? Is anything really off the record? When and how should I decline to comment? In addition to practicing these interactions, we'll hear from two veteran communicators: Natalie Bauer Luce, communications and content lead for Uptake, and Leslie Vickrey, founder and CEO of Clear Edge Marketing. Leading the seminar will be Melissa Harris, a former Vice President of Marketing at Origin Investments and Pulitzer Prize-nominated business columnist at the Chicago Tribune.
Speaker Profiles
Melissa Harris (Speaker) '16
Executive in Residence, Polsky Center
As an Executive in Residence at the University of Chicago's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Ms. Harris advises startups on all aspects of marketing and communications. In addition she teaches seminars on the press, content, social media and television. Prior to joining Polsky, she was vice president of marketing at real estate private equity firm Origin Investments, where she helped the firm raise more than $70 million and launch its online investing platform. Prior to that she capped her 15-year journalism career as a Pulitzer Prize-nominated business columnist at the Chicago Tribune. She has been named among the 50 most influential people in Chicago tech on Twitter by both BuiltInChicago and Chicago Inno. She has her MBA from Chicago Booth, master's degree from Johns Hopkins and journalism degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern. She can be reached at mmharris@uchicago.edu.
Natalie Bauer Luce (Speaker)
Communications and Content Lead, Uptake
Natalie Bauer Luce is a seasoned communications and public affairs strategist. At Uptake, Bauer Luce leads external communications and influencer strategy for the fast-growing predictive analytics firm named "hottest startup" of 2015 by Forbes. Previously, Bauer Luce served as a key member of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's senior leadership team. She oversaw the administration's communications and outreach strategy and is credited with raising Madigan's national media profile. Earlier in her career, Bauer Luce counseled corporate executive teams on regulatory and legislative public affairs strategy, crafted messaging for a number of local and statewide political campaigns, and developed award-winning integrated marketing campaigns for leading advocacy and nonprofit organizations, including the National Council of La Raza and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. She started her career as a journalist covering government and politics for dailies including the Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and The Olympian, and as a researcher for CBS-affiliate WBBM's award-winning investigations team.
Leslie Vickery Williams (Speaker)
Founder, CEO, ClearEdge Marketing
Leslie Vickrey, a Chicagoan with a keen entrepreneurial spirit, is focused on creating opportunities, making connections and raising awareness for the next generation of great companies and leaders both in Chicago and nationwide. As CEO of ClearEdge Marketing, an agency specializing in outsourced marketing solutions for high growth technology and talent management companies, she manages a team of more than 30 marketing professionals. Since founding ClearEdge nearly 10 years ago, Leslie and the ClearEdge team have consulted with a range of companies, including Harvey Nash, ShopperTrak, bswift, Fieldglass, Bartech, Corptax, Aon Hewitt, SPR, ICon and TechServe Alliance.
Questions
Melissa Harris, '16
Polsky Center Executive in Residence
312-401-7326