Kiera Kelly
A bit about me
As a new college graduate, the excitement of beginning my unpaid internship with Edelman Public Relations the next morning kept me up all night. I knew in my heart that I would be finding my career and passion. Public relations was the perfect intersection of my skillset of “persuasion” with my love for learning and connecting. Helping my first clients secure top local and national media coverage and meeting their other goals brought me great satisfaction. This experience launched my 25+ years in the industry at top-tier agencies, as an independent consultant, and in corporate public relations. While at Abbott Laboratories, one of my favorite experiences was supporting the international launch of the company’s billion-dollar rheumatoid arthritis drug, Humira, and developing global public relations programs for more than 50+ affiliate countries. My expertise includes media relations, developing healthcare, consumer, and educational campaigns, product launches, and special events with clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to non-profit organizations.
What I’m passionate about at work
I love the process of immersing myself in discovering, mining, and researching everything I can about a client’s business, their priorities, their stories, and areas of expertise. It’s exciting to take this in-depth understanding of a client and their goals and develop a strategic plan or media strategy that connects them with their stakeholders. Additionally, the media has a high barrier to entry that I love to exceed on behalf of my clients. My greatest satisfaction is seeing clients reap the often exciting results that can come from a great PR campaign.
A favorite memory at CS-Effect
I am excited to return to CS after many years (and four children!) I enjoyed promoting what I considered “next level” STEM programs for girls by the Girl Scouts – before the term STEM was widely known or girls were the focus on such programs. It was satisfying to see young girls highlighted embracing robotics and other scientific and engineering endeavors and the Girl Scouts getting credit for being at the forefront.
My favorite things to do outside of work
I enjoy spending time with my four kids and husband, especially family ski trips that keep everyone active and is a rare activity that works for all of our age groups with varying interests! I love to travel internationally - the more culturally different than home, the better. I now enjoy introducing my children to interesting new places.
A quote that inspires me
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
– Jane Goodall
