At SPS, Stephanie...
- Transitioned from brand communications to social change
- Designed effective communication strategies
- Became fluent with the newest digital media tools
- Leveraged her degree to qualify for a new role…
You have an impressive background in corporate communications. What brought you to SPS?
I wanted to stay fresh with all the new tools that are changing communications. I had worked in brand marketing for 20 years, and I felt that it was time to make a career shift—to add my voice to a social issue that really matters.
How did your effort in the program impact your career?
Coming out of it, I made a checklist of what I wanted in my next role. That included a seat at the executive table. I wanted to contribute to something important. In my current position, I report to the COO and am part of the executive team. I am building a program and a department with a significant communications challenge…changing public opinion and the stigma attached to mental health.
Describe your new career.
I joined the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. With my background in brand marketing and newly acquired skills from the SPS program, I now serve as the Vice President of Communications and Marketing. For National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September of 2015, my team kicked off The Fight to Stop Suicide campaign. We took our message to social media, creating sharable graphics and showing how to recognize the risks and warning signs. We also addressed how to talk to a family member that may be struggling. The campaign was a milestone for me and was profiled in PR Week. It’s something I’m quite proud of. At the end of the day, I feel like I’ve contributed something much greater than myself.
