PR’s Top Pros Talk…COVID – Alyssa Garnick



Alyssa Garnick, Founder of Agean Public Relations, discusses how consumer brands are increasingly propelling positivity and optimism, even during Coronavirus. She provides examples of passion brands and commodity brands who had gained permission to play in the current environment, sparking creativity, brand love and engagement and sales.

Alyssa also shares her thoughts on if there is any place for stunts from consumer brands right now. Lastly, Alyssa tells us what it’s been like to start an agency amid COVID and today’s churning business dynamics.

PR’s Top Pros Talk…COVID – Kym White



Kym White, SVP & Chief Communications Officer at CVS Health, discusses the challenges of integrating communications for multiple businesses under one cohesive brand. Kym also shares with us her experience of taking on a new leadership role amid the ongoing pandemic.

Having been on both the agency side at Edelman and now the client side at CVS Health, Kym gives tips on building successful relationships between the two.

PR’s Top Pros Talk…COVID & Social Justice – Damon Jones



Damon Jones gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the communications strategy at the company as the COVID pandemic unfolded. He discusses the film “The Choice” which Procter & Gamble created as a way to help people have the necessary and often uncomfortable conversations about race.

Damon is the first person of color to ever be ranked #1 on PRWeek’s Power List. He addresses some of the different things a person of color might need to do to achieve the level of success that he’s had.

PR’s Top Pros Talk COVID – Gil Bashe



Transparency + Timeliness = Trust. This equation is crucial for businesses and communicators as they transform due to the accelerated change brought on by COVID. Will these changes be permanent? Gil shares his take for communicators and shares insight into the tidal wave of change within our healthcare system.

He also addresses the importance of getting your leadership communicating effectively through the media during these troubled times.

PR’s Top Pros Talk COVID – Lisa Ross

Lisa emphasizes the importance of taking action in this moment – especially regarding the dramatic effects of COVID-19 on historically-marginalized communities. She notes the responsibility for brands to be serving and solving, rather than selling. And she notes that, despite low marks for all four institutions studied in Edelman’s Trust Barometer in January, the pandemic offers government, business, nonprofits and the media a chance to rebuild trust with their actions.

Check out Lisa’s most recent research piece.