2024 Top PR Pros in Tech and Venture Capital You Should Know
The Black Tech PR Society is proud to introduce our inaugural list featuring some of the Top Black PR Professionals in Tech and VC You Should Know – North America Edition.
This is the first comprehensive list highlighting the dynamic PR professionals and leaders who are leading the charge across the below key focus areas in tech and venture capital. Although Black History Month is coming to a close, there is a priority throughout the year to amplify and support the dynamic changemakers and leaders shaping the future of our industry.
Through the BTPRS network, we aim to celebrate the rich history being made in the present - and encourage everyone to mark their calendars for National Black Funding Day (Sept. 30) created by Dr. Rashae Barnes, and National Publicist Day (Oct. 30) created by Jordanna Stephens, both featured on the list.
As we continue to advocate for more visibility, representation, and funding for Black PR businesses to grow – we’re excited to recognize a few key players who are making a significant impact.
Category Breakdown:
PR Leaders at Tech Companies: PR professionals in leadership positions at top tech companies
PR Leaders Impacting VC: PR professionals navigating and supporting clients in the VC space.
PR Leaders Shaping the Tech Start-up Ecosystem: PR leaders supporting start-up culture and founders across the tech ecosystem
PR Founders in Tech: PR professionals in the tech space who have their own agency, consultancy, or is a notable freelancer supporting clients in the tech space.
PR Leaders Building Community in Tech: PR professionals that are at the forefront of community building, audience management and connection
PR Pros Rising to the Top: PR professionals who are in the early stages of their career journey who are making an impact
PR Leaders at Tech Companies
Sade Ayodele – TIDAL,
Head of Global Communications
Named to PR Week's 40 under 40, Sade Ayodele is a Communications professional based, with over a decade of experience creating innovative communications strategies and campaigns for sports, music, and entertainment brands. Currently, she is the Head of Global Communications at TIDAL, where she is responsible for creating compelling product and consumer narratives, communicating the brand's mission and journey to the media, artist community, and the broader public, while creating deeper connections and experiences between artists and their fans. Before TIDAL, Sade spent time at Google, Taylor and Octagon working on everything from P&G, Crown Royal, Hershey’s, Tostitos, Special Olympics, Sony – to Google + , Google Glass and more.
Location: Atlanta, GA
Shavone Charles –TikTok,
Head of Global D&I + Multicultural Communications
SHAVONE. is a multi-hyphenate creative, activist, and force in music, fashion, and tech. She’s internationally known across industries as a renaissance woman who continues to disrupt the norm as a classically-trained musician, FORD model, and change-maker in tech, named on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Marketing & Advertising list.
SHAVONE. is dedicated to disruptive thinking, supporting women in creative fields, and amplifying the stories of underrepresented voices. Whether it’s SHAVONE.’s influence in fashion or her pursuit to break the mold as a millennial who’s trailblazing a new path for future generations of women in tech and entertainment, SHAVONE. is disrupting industries as a champion of creativity and inclusion. Her influence and impact in fashion, tech, and music have been profiled in outlets like Billboard, Coveteur, DAZED, Complex UK, Hypebeast, PAPER, ELLE, and EBONY, noting her history-making moves as the first African-American woman and trailblazer to create roles held at both Twitter, Instagram and now TikTok. As a tastemaker and founder of her creative collectives Future Of Creatives and Magic In Her Melanin, SHAVONE. has collaborated with top brands across industries, ranging from Nike to Google, Spotify, Dapper Dan, Twitter, and Instagram. Based in Los Angeles, she is now a published author with the release of her book BLACK INTERNET EFFECT.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Sabina Dankwa – Morgan Stanley, Global Head of Technology Communications, Marketing & Philanthropy
Sabina is Global Head of Technology Communications, Marketing & Philanthropy at Morgan Stanley – where she is responsible for positioning the Morgan Stanley technology brand and story internally and externally. Previously, she was Vice President/Executive Director at Goldman Sachs where she led the Marketing and Communications function for the Engineering Division. Prior to this role, she was responsible for technology risk governance programs, focused on policies and standards, as well as regulatory and audit controls for the firm’s information and cyber security infrastructure.
Location: New York, NY
Tiph (Tiphané Curry) Turpin, Ph.D. – Expedia Group, Global Vice President of Employee Communications
Dr. Tiph Turpin is the Global Vice President of Employee Communications at Expedia Group and a former PRWeek 40 under 40 honoree. Her team’s responsibilities include executive communication, enterprise-wide communication, operating division communication, corporate function communication, corporate brand and visual identity, employee events and experiences, and communications strategic operations and measurement. She also serves as the executive sponsor of the Black Expedia Allied Movement employee resource group. During the past two decades, Dr. Turpin has led award-winning teams spanning internal, external, legislative, community engagement, and investor communications in corporate, consulting, and nonprofit sectors. She graduated from Georgetown University with a double major in English and Sociology before earning an M.A. at the University of Maryland, and a Ph.D. at Howard University. She’s a lifelong traveler and volunteer who enjoys exploring the world with her family. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Global Glimpse and is passionate about this nonprofit’s work to create life-changing travel experiences for students.
Location: Kensington, Maryland
Andrew McCaskill – LinkedIn, Career Expert & Global Communications Executive
Currently at LinkedIn, Andrew is a Career Expert and communications executive – responsible for helping the world understand how LinkedIn creates economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce; and ensuring storytelling is informed by cultural competency and inclusive narratives. Before joining LinkedIn, he led diversity & inclusion strategy for the global sales, marketing & public affairs function at Facebook and U.S. consumer marketing and global communications at Nielsen. While at Nielsen, he led communications for Nielsen China, was named one of PR Week's "Top 40 Under 40 PR Executives," and co-authored the award-winning Diverse Intelligence Series on the economic and cultural impact of multicultural consumers. Called a diversity champion by Fortune magazine, he also served as the global executive sponsor for Nielsen's LGBTQ employee business groups all over the world and was part of the team of professionals who worked with queer advocacy groups to bring LGBTQ audience measurement to fruition.
Location: New York, NY
Kayla Conti – Google,
Head of Black Media Communications
Currently, Kayla is head of Black media at Google – and she is responsible for reaching audiences outside of the traditional tech and business press by telling the tech giant's culturally relevant stories. She started at Google as an intern over 10 years ago and has been there ever since. Throughout her time at Google, she has had several "mini careers" in people operations and executive, internal, and corporate communications. Kayla is a lover of books and runs an online book community through her blog – and can be found on Substack at https://tldrthings.substack.com/ and Instagram @tldrblog. Additionally, Kayla hosts a monthly IRL book club for Black and brown women in Brooklyn, NY as an extension of her blog.
Location: New York, NY
Jarryd Boyd – Hinge,
Senior Director of Global Communications
Jarryd is the Senior Director of Global Communications at the global dating app Hinge and a life coach based in Brooklyn, NY. He drives storytelling moments penetrating the evolving media landscape and manages brand reputation efforts. Before working at Hinge, Jarryd worked on consumer lifestyle, tech, and social impact communications at Edelman, Praytell and Weber Shandwick. He has a degree in Communications from Florida State University and is passionate about community building, media relations and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Suzanne Forte – Comcast,
Director of Public Relations
Suzanne is an accomplished and experienced communications professional with more than 15 years of experience in media relations, government affairs, hospitality and healthcare. Demonstrated and proven success in developing key relationships, securing media placements, developing comprehensive communications plans and exceeding expectations. She is a polished spokesperson and communicator with excellent writing skills that include drafting press releases, white papers, talking points, marketing collaterals and social media content. Professional experience also includes serving as a successful consultant and instablogger for small businesses and conferences seeking public relations guidance, publicity and media exposure.
Darryll Harrison, Jr. – General Motors , Vice President of Global Technology Communications
As the Vice President of Global Technology Communications at General Motors, Darryll has overseen global strategic communications for electric vehicle (EV) and autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, product development and engineering, GM Ventures, and strategic technology partnerships. He is a communications professional with more than 17 years of experience creating compelling corporate narratives and effective strategies for some of the most recognizable and fastest-growing brands. With a proven track record in internal communications, corporate affairs, issues management, product public relations, social media, and lifestyle communications, Darryll has built a solid foundation of expertise gathered through years of managing campaigns in both corporate and agency environments. For more than a decade, he has had the unique opportunity to lead the development of a wide array of communications initiatives for several companies, ranging from start-ups to global Fortune 500 organizations.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
PR Leaders Impacting Venture Capital
Aziza Johnson – American Express, Vice President of Digital Innovation
Aziza is the Vice President of Digital Innovation Communications at American Express, where her charge is to enhance the reputation of the company as a digital innovator — which involves highlighting how Amex uses artificial intelligence/machine learning, invests in promising startups, develops digital products, and governs data, among other things. As a whole, she promotes why Amex is one of a kind at developing products and using technology to do what the company does best — “provide the world’s best customer experience every day.”
Location: Clifton, New Jersey
Dr. Rashae Barnes – National Black Funding Day, Founder & Entreprenuer
Dr. Rashae Barnes is a renowned figure in the entrepreneurial and funding industries, known for her impactful contributions and advocacy for minority business owners. She is the visionary behind the inception of National Black Funding Day, which she established on September 30, 2023. This significant nationwide holiday is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of black entrepreneurs in the funding sector across the United States. Its core mission is to elevate public consciousness about the prevalent disparities in funding opportunities available to minority-owned enterprises. The initiative focuses on highlighting the challenges in securing venture capital, grants, and educational resources, thereby advocating for the empowerment of underserved communities. It also aims to address the longstanding issue of historical underfunding faced by black entrepreneurs. In addition to her pioneering role in National Black Funding Day, Dr. Barnes serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Evals Equity. Under her leadership, Evals Equity has become a beacon for promoting equitable funding opportunities, particularly for women of color. Her work here is a testament to her unwavering commitment to bridging the economic gap in funding, fostering an environment where accessible capital opportunities are a reality for marginalized groups.
Dr. Barnes' expertise is not limited to funding and entrepreneurship. She is widely recognized as a brand enthusiast, public relations expert, and a serial entrepreneur with a keen eye for investment opportunities, particularly in the realm of angel investing. Her dynamic approach and innovative strategies have positioned her as a key influencer in these fields. Her recent engagements as a speaker at a TED Talk and her feature on Fox National News are noteworthy milestones in her career. On these platforms, Dr. Barnes eloquently highlighted the significance of National Black Funding Day and delved into the objectives of Evals Equity. Her appearance on Fox National News was particularly instrumental in drawing national attention to the importance of National Black Funding Day, underscoring her commitment to fostering economic equity and empowerment for women of color. Dr. Rashae Barnes' multifaceted career and her dedication to social and economic justice make her a distinguished figure in her field, and her ongoing efforts continue to inspire and effect meaningful change in the business world.
Location: Atlanta, GA
Rakia Reynolds – Skai Media Group, Founder
Learn More
One of the most sought-after minds in strategic communications, Rakia Reynolds, is a thought leader, tastemaker, branding expert, and advisor and amplifier of people, products, and places at the award-winning strategic communications agency, Skai Blue Media. Her guiding principles as an adept storyteller with a bullish approach to equitable communications, her proven ability to navigate the ever-increasing complex cultural and social media landscapes, along with her dedication to building brands in both Web2 and Web3, are only some of the reasons Rakia has successfully created her own distinct brand of authenticity and expertise for over 15 years. Rakia has been named by Inc. Magazine as one of the 27 Business Leaders Aiming to Change the World, was listed as one of the 25 Most Socially Influential Tastemakers on Dell’s “Inspire 100” list, and recently was also profiled by Forbes on their “Next 1000” list.
Rakia serves as Founder and Executive Officer of Skai Blue Media (SBM), a non-traditional communications agency that proudly hosts an eclectic group of storytellers, brand experts, and strategists. Rakia continues to be a key influencer in the creative business industry as she works with her team to launch, brand, re-brand, and revitalize lifestyle, technology, non-profit and entrepreneurial clients. This list includes Airbnb, Nasdaq, Comcast/Xfinity, Dell, Serena Williams, Morgan Stanley, Jill Scott, and more. Rakia’s portfolio includes #FanofYourBrand(tactical business tools), clothing brand EVRYDAY Jane, and an ethical intelligence platform launching in 2023.
As a thought leader and proven authority in marketing, creative strategy, and business development Rakia is a member of the Fast Company Impact Council and regularly contributes her expertise to the pages of Forbes, Inc.com, HuffPost, Fast Company, and more. Onstage, she captivates audiences across many industries as her talks span branding, media, multicultural business, economic development, and the entrepreneurial journey, all of which are more than relevant to the recent challenging and changing times. Rakia is recognized for her innovative approach and commitment to authenticity and has spoken at TEDx, SXSW, Inbound, and others. More than a keynote speaker, Rakia is often called upon to moderate panel discussions due to her in-depth knowledge of an extensive range of topics affecting the business community.
Location: New York, NY
Vondell Burns – Atento Capital, Director of Marketing & Communications
Vondell is a marketing and communications leader with over 10 years of experience in driving strategic and impactful campaigns for global and innovative companies. As the Director of Marketing and Communications at Atento Capital, she executes on a mission-aligned marketing strategy that supports the growth and impact of the venture capital firm that invests in underinvested founders and ecosystems. She manages the relationships with key communication partners, PR agencies, and marketing consultants, and oversees the digital marketing, events, and community engagement teams. She is also the founder and CEO of Thankless Production LLC and Let's Launch, a virtual accelerator for creative entrepreneurs. She is passionate about empowering and inspiring others to pursue their dreams and create positive change in the world.
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Vanessa Misoon – Lightship Foundation,
Director of Communications
At Lightship Foundation, Vanessa guides tech startups to investment and brand recognition. Lightship Foundation is an impact-driven organization with a focus on entrepreneurship within the minority innovation economy. Here I manage brand messaging and create thought leadership in the area of equitable allocation of government allotted funds and venture capital to founders of color and all underserved entrepreneurs. Furthermore, the Lighshop Foundation brought Black Tech Week to Ohio several years ago – and Vanessa also supports communications for this event. Black Tech Week is a culture-driven experience empowered by community and corporate collaboration to connect investors, entrepreneurs, tech professionals, and creatives across several days of curated content, social events, and incredible energy.
Location: Nashville, TN
PR Founders in Tech
Jordanna Stephen – National Publicist Day,
Founder
Jordanna Stephen has over 15 years of combined experience in public relations, event planning and management, social media consulting, and journalism. As owner and principal of Just Good PR, Jordanna founded National Publicist Day™ on October 30, 2015 – recognizing publicists and their achievements in the industry.
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Regina Carswell Russo – RRight Now Communications,
Founder
Regina is the Founder and Chief Communications Strategist at RRight Now Communications – a communications consultancy with a proven track record of elevating brand awareness and reputation
Last year during Black Tech Week, she was a featured speaker – where she provided best practices to avoid and navigate a public relations crisis. She shared essential information for start-ups and tech companies to move fast and get ahead of the story to keep their message on track. In 2022, she was honored with a Ragan & PR Daily's Communicators of the Year Award.
Last year, Regina and the team worked with a start-up called- MIVIE, a national social impact certification. It's an online survey system that scores companies in nine categories and ranks how well they measure up with social impact initiatives from recruitment to procurement and how they impact the communities where the companies are based. Additionally, she worked with the CEO of Michelman. The CEO is a scientist and his new role required executive communications coaching – to help him communicate the work of Michelman with impact internally and externally. The team brought out the natural storyteller in him to inspire and motivate his global teams and stakeholders. Furthermore, Regina consults with tech start-ups and start-ups across industries, helping them translate their messaging that connects to their desired audience. She also coaches them on crisis communications – understanding that a PR crisis is deadly for funding and brand reputation when you are just launching your company. Regina provides best practices to keep clients out of bad press and amplify positive moments.
Location: Cincinatti, Ohio
Brennan Nevada Johnson – Brennan Nevada Inc., Founder
Brennan is the founder of tech PR firm, Brennan Nevada Inc. , headquartered in New York – where they partner with the world's fastest-growing startups across all verticals. She is a magnetic force in media, PR and communications with over a decade of experience in building brand awareness for tech companies through strategic PR and earned media initiatives.
She is a published journalist across top-tier outlets like Fast Company, Teen Vogue, Newsweek, NBC News, InStyle, Bustle, Essence, The Daily Beast, Built In, and The Amsterdam News. She brings a unique energetic results-driven approach to driving press coverage, building executive thought leadership, and securing earned speaking engagements and awards for companies that may or may not have a public presence to begin with.
Location: New York, NY
Brandy Star Merriweather – BStarPR,
Senior Public Relations Executive and Founder
Brandy Star Merriweather, known as @TheGenZPublicist and founder of @BStarPR, is a 25-year-old entrepreneur and a prominent GenZ business leader. While pursuing her degree in International Business and ESports, she has established herself as a top-tier professional by spearheading publicity campaigns for tech startups, digital creators, and brands such as HBCU ESports League, Blacks In Technology Foundation, TikTok Star Queen Keke, Ms JackyOh, Marquay Collins, Queen Khamyra, ESSENCE Girl’s United, Rap Snacks, Fanbase, Hallmark Mahogany, Microsoft and more. BStarPR is an innovative PR firm with a mission to amplify the new, now, and next. She maximizes GenZ voices and achievements, specializing in enhancing client branding, cultivating authentic relationships, and curating unique experiences. Recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Atlanta Honoree, 25 Under 25, and featured in publications like RollingOut, Essence and Black Enterprise, Brandy's advocacy for HBCUs and BIPOC creators has earned her a well-deserved place among the top PR professionals in the industry according to Business Insider.
Location: Atlanta, GA
Keisha Brewer – PRocon + PR Alliance, Founder
Keisha is a Strategic Communications Expert and the CEO of The PR Alliance LLC, a full-service public relations agency. Keisha has served as a News Writer and Reporter for the Daily Times Delmarva Media Group, an Advertising Specialist for Sinclair Broadcast Group - supporting FOX News and MYTV, a Communications Specialist and Event Planner for Fortune 500 companies, and a Social Media Strategist for government agencies.
In 2014, Keisha founded The PR Alliance LLC to bring an innovative approach to traditional public relations methods to make their clientele stand out in their market. Recently featured on TEDx Talk highlighting how strategic communications is the key to getting what you want out of life, Keisha has been awarded one of D.C.’s most influential entrepreneurs and has a passion for helping her clients reach their goals by communicating their value through compelling brand stories. PROCON is powered by The PR Alliance. The PR Alliance is a full-service public relations agency that specializes in bringing an innovative approach to increasing clientele reach and audience engagement while building internal and external alliances/relationships that work together for the growth of its clients.
PR Leaders Shaping the Tech Start-Up Ecosystem
Erica Billups -Johnson – Archetype, Senior Vice President
Erica is a communications strategist with more than 17 years of experience helping tech companies and other brands amplify their stories and impact. She is currently a Senior Vice President at global PR firm, Archetype, and co-founder of Archetype Ascend, a division within the agency focused on providing comms strategy and support to Black and Brown founders, executives, and VCs. In addition to supporting clients, Erica also manages the division's growth, P&L, accounts, and talent development. Before joining Archetype, she served as a Vice President at Outcast. She has worked with companies across a wide range of industries, including DocuSign, HBO, SoFi, Pinterest, Box, GitHub, Amazon, VMware, Kapor Capital, The Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, and many more. Over the past several years, she has also focused on internal brand-building and operations, leading staffing and resourcing, DEI, and internal communications functions.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Claudine Moore – Allison Worldwide, Managing Director
Claudine is an international public relations and communications leader with experience in US, UK & African and Caribbean markets. Her global work has led to top international business awards recently being named the Best Leader in Public Relations and Communications at the 2021 Davos Communications Awards. In 2020, she was listed in the PRovoke Media top 25 PR and communications innovators in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Previous awards include listen on The Network Journal’s 40 under Forty’ list of US High Achievers and listed on The UK PowerList: Britain’s Top 100 Most Influential Black People. In 2022, C. Moore Media International Public Relations, a PR firm with a strong focus on African tech startups, was acquired by Allison+Partners, a global marketing and communications agency with operations in 34 markets worldwide. With this acquisition, Claudine Moore, the founder of C.Moore Media, joined Allison+Partners in a newly created role as the managing director for the African region.
On Africa Day 2020, she and her team launched the inaugural edition of The Future is Female Mentorship Program, a complementary Public Relations (PR) and communications program dedicated exclusively to the business development needs of African female tech founders. African female tech founders are often unsupported and overlooked in the male-dominated tech world, and she wanted to empower and support this group. The Future is Female Mentorship Program provides early-stage African female tech founders with insights into PR and communications fundamentals, including creating a communications plan, business storytelling, media relations, and more. The ultimate goal is for PR and communications to support these women in raising the visibility of their startups with multiple stakeholders leading to increased customers, audiences, media coverage, partners, and, of course, direct investment.
Location: New York, NY
PR Leaders Building Community in Tech
Adrianne Smith – Cannes Can: Diversity Collective, Founder
Adrianne is the founder of the non-profit Cannes Can: Diversity Collective - created in 2018 due to the lack of diversity in the advertising, marketing, communications and creative industries. For decades, there have been a plethora of industry leaders that have expressed concern regarding this issue. CC:DC has moved beyond concern to action, increasing the representation of talented people of color at some of the largest marketing events in the world, most notably, but not exclusively, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. In January 2024, Adrianne took the Can: Diversity Collective, to Davos during the World Economic Forum to launch the Davos Can: Diversity Collective's Inkwell Beach - Davos Thought Leadership Series. Since their mission is to become the Global Voice of Inclusion, they go to the places that to date have seemed exclusive and make them more inclusive.
Adrianne is also SVP & Senior Partner, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at FleishmanHillard.
Location: New York, NY
Emily Hawkins – Black Tech Collective, Founder
Emily leads diversity, equity, and inclusion external communications at Google. Previously at Amazon, she managed strategic external communications and community relations for the company's DC, Maryland, and Virginia operations. In 2022, Emily founded the Black Tech Collective – a safe haven and progressive community for Black-identifying technology professionals. The organization creates supported spaces for Blacks in tech to gather, commune, and elevate. The Collective advocates for increased representation, visibility, and recognition for Blacks in the technology sector.
Location: New York, NY
Ramel Wallace – BAM, Senior Community Manager
Ramel is the Senior Community Manager at BAM. He is responsible for research, development, and manages BAM events in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders. Ramel is the CEO & Founder of The Holyfield and an active participant in bridging the gap between art, tech, and creativity. His roots in Hip Hop have allowed him to turn his ability to control a crowd into an ability to run an office and lead a community.
He is currently on the Board at the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art and an active community member and contributor. His mission to represent the unspoken has led him to speak at BAM, Creative Mornings, USD, UCSD, SDSU, A Reason to Survive (ARTS), David's Harp Foundation, and other institutions on how to use art as a form of social activism and therapy.
Location: San Diego, California
Angelina Gordon, MA, PMD – The Executive Leadership Council, Senior Director of Communications
The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) is an independent non-profit founded in 1986 that opens channels of opportunity for the development of Black executives to positively impact business and our communities. Prior to this role, Angelina was the Director of Communications for ELC and she will continue to lead the internal and external communications strategies that support the ELC’s network of brand partnerships and corporate Black executives to include those in the tech space - while driving innovative systems that support critical member engagement initiatives.
Location: Washington, DC
PR Pros Rising to the Top
Nichole Rondon – DKC News, Senior PR Account Executive
Nichole is a dynamic and results-driven Senior PR Account Executive at DKC News. With over five years of experience working with a diverse range of clients, including C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, ad agencies, and tech start-ups, Nichole brings an unparalleled wealth of knowledge and expertise to every project she undertakes. At DKC, Nichole leads media relations and marketing strategy for an impressive roster of clients – and has worked with brands like CashApp, Airbnb, and TikTok. Nichole consistently secures high-impact placements in prominent news publications, ensuring her clients stay at the forefront of their respective industries. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Nichole is also a passionate mentor and community advocate. As a volunteer mentor at Minds Matter, she provides invaluable resources and guidance to high school students seeking admission to, enrollment in, and graduation from top four-year colleges.
Location: New York, NY
Da’Marcus Snipes – PwC,
Senior Associate – Strategy & Transformation, Change Management
You can find Da'Marcus at the forefront of public health issues in the metro-Atlanta area or advocating for DEI in tech spaces. As a Senior Associate at PwC, he has successfully planned, organized, and budgeted several major initiatives – and interacted with executives of leading tech companies.
These experiences have afforded him opportunities to participate in fellowships in Silicon Valley, and advocate for collegiate student perspectives of DE&I in tech, and communication impacts during Covid-19 for small business owners through research.
Location: Atlanta, GA
Damaryan Benton – Edelman, Assistant Account Executive
Damaryan is an AAE specializing in brand communications at Edelman and serves on the DEI sub-committee. In his spare time, Damaryan pursues passion projects that aim to enhance visibility for BIPOC professionals in the public relations field and improve tech access in underserved communities. One of his recent side projects includes "Black in PR," a podcast where he conducted insightful interviews with Black agency leaders. He is also a mentor for students navigating the job search process and was named on the 2023 Top 100 Interns list powered by WayUp – from his work at Highwire PR.
Location: Chicago
Olúwatọ̀nà (Tona) Campbell – Edelman, Associate Account Executive
In BerlinRosen’s Tech and Innovation practice, he advises clients in clean tech industries – coordinating media outreach, developing messaging strategies, and crafting pitches; press releases, and op-eds. He is a 2020 Truman Scholar and an alum of New York University’s Gallatin School, where he studied politics & technology.
Location: New York, NY
