Access Brand Communications

We welcome August, which means…you guessed it! It’s time for PR pros to start prepping for the holiday season. Whether you’re in food, tech, or consumer verticals, we’ve got you covered with our 5 top tips to ensure your holiday season is a success. #HolidaySeason #PrGiftGuide

“Summertime...and the reading is easy.”     Maybe that’s not exactly how the song goes, but we all know that summertime is the perfect season to get lost in a good book. The Access team has been taking advantage of vacations, long and warm nights, and slower weekends to turn a few pages (or scroll or listen!) We asked a few folks to share not only what they are reading but also the key takeaways from their favorite summer reads.   Ashley Kelsey, Account Supervisor:  📖 The Socrates Express  ➡ Takeaway: This book does an excellent job of identifying the life lessons philosophers can teach us in the present day. I especially liked the chapter on “How to Pay Attention like Simone Weil,” which explores the value of attention and how it shapes our lives. The book claims, “Every brilliant scientific discovery, every great work of art, every kind gesture, traces its source to a moment of pure, selfless attention.” While you may assume the opposite of attention is distraction, the book argues it is impatience. So, a tip I would offer is to practice building your patience to elevate your level of attention in life and work.     Ava Klinge, Research & Measurement Specialist:  📖 A Wrinkle in Time  ➡ Takeaway: Embrace your individuality. We may shame ourselves for not always fitting in, but so often, it’s our unique talents that can be most alluring and powerful.    Nancy Blair, Editor-in-Chief:  📖 The Editor  ➡ Takeaway: The tagline says it all: “How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America.”  Fascinating bio of the woman who edited Julia Child and Sylvia Plath and who was instrumental in advocating for Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. She practically invented the literary cookbook genre, leading me to The Edna Lewis Cookbook from 1972. Amazon describes Lewis, who grew up in rural Virginia in a community started by her grandfather and other emancipated slaves, as single-handedly reviving a “forgotten world of refined Southern cooking.” Both books will make you want to cook, eat, read, and live life fully.     Michelle Johnson, Content Director:  📖 Evenings & Weekends  ➡ Takeaway: I loved that this book braided different characters' lives together to share an honest perspective about identity and growth. I learned that there are opportunities to find clarity – and even joy – in moments of life’s messiness.    Access Book Club:  📖 Funny Story  ➡ Takeaway: A summer romantic comedy! Because sometimes reading must just be fun, a form of self-care, and a conduit to relaxation! Still, the book reminds us that it is possible to make lemonade out of lemons and that everything happens for a reason.    What are you currently reading, and what has the book taught you? Feel free to share what’s going on in the pages of your favorite summer reads.  

Research and Analytics are at the heart of our agency's DNA. Led by SVP Katherine Gotts, our Intelligence Team blends cutting-edge tools with human insight for tailored news monitoring, social listening, and analysis. Our customized approach sets us apart, ensuring relevance, accuracy, and alignment with client business goals. Check out our team and some of their favorite projects. #PR #Analytics.

Graduation season is here! Congratulations to all the new graduates stepping into the professional world!   This is an exciting and challenging time for many incoming professionals. If you’re aspiring to have a career in PR, our team members have experienced it all and gained invaluable knowledge along the way. To help you on your journey, we’ve gathered advice from team members at different stages of their career paths - from VP to Intern. Here’s what they have to say:   💡Ask to do informational interviews at the agencies you’re interested in working for. More often than not, people in PR will be happy to talk to you about what they do, how they got there and give advice if you want it. And most importantly, be open to things you never envisioned for yourself. Your career is not going to be a straight line, enjoy the journey! -- Ashley Barrett, Vice President, Group Manager 💡After abandoning my dream of becoming the next Miranda Priestly, I stumbled upon PR through an internship, where I learned it combined my passions for writing, event planning and connecting with people. In the 11+ years since, I have gotten experience in various parts of the industry, from social media and influencer to media relations and content partnerships – all to say that experimenting is key to figuring out what you like, don’t like, and may not even know yet about the career you’re creating! Getting experience and experimenting with all the various parts of the PR industry is key to figuring out what you like, don’t like, and may not even know yet about the career you’re creating! -- Anna Dietchweiler, Account Director 💡Don’t be scared to ask questions! I was told very early on in my career that the smartest person in the room doesn’t know everything; they know who to ask. I’ve stuck with that advice since. The fast-paced nature of PR can be intimidating, but getting support from colleagues and managers helps you learn and develop stronger time management and organizational skills. -- Leia Pequignet, Account Executive   💡Embrace your ambitions fully and approach every opportunity with determination and a willingness to learn. In PR, you can make waves when you combine passion with strategic insight! -- Caitlin Hill, Intern #Graduation2024 #PRAdvice #CareerTips

In honor of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we celebrate Lynne Choi Uyeda, the founder of the first female and Asian-owned PR agency in the U.S., and whose career was built on three key lessons:   1️⃣ “Go with your gut” about where we need more kinds (and different kinds) of communication. 2️⃣ Look beyond words to tell a story and gain inspiration from native languages, cultures, and behavioral norms of the target audience. 3️⃣ Broadening perspectives to create societal change requires a dedication to educating all constituencies about why they/we need to care.  These lessons have never been timelier, as a recent survey of more than 6,200 people above the age of 16 across the U.S. by the nonprofit Asian American Foundation, found that most respondents, 52%, could not think of any famous Asian Americans.  ◾ Nine percent named Jackie Chan, who is from Hong Kong. (The fourth year in a row the actor has topped the list.)  ◾ Five percent named actor Bruce Lee, who is Asian American but who died in 1973.  ◾ Just 2% named Vice President Kamala Harris, who is of Asian descent. In the words of one of the great comms pros of all time, Guy Kawasaki, “Want to change the world? Upset the status quo? You need to make people dream the same dream that you do.” This is exactly the work that Lynne Choi Uyeda called out in her three lessons, and the work we all still need to do to elevate the influence and voices of the AANHPI community.  At Access, we are honored to work with organizations that are committed to supporting the AANHPI community. #AANHPI #AANHPIMonth

Join our growing team of diverse newsmakers and storytellers! Anchored in San Francisco and New York City, Access is an earned-first agency that’s focused on building lasting connections rooted in culture.  See our current openings on both coasts: 🔸Senior Vice President, Consumer 🔸Vice President, Technology 🔸Account Supervisor/Account Director, Technology 🔸Senior Account Executive, Technology 🔸Account Executive, Technology 🔸Creator Strategist, Influencer Marketing We offer a collaborative and flexible work environment, competitive salaries, and excellent growth opportunities. Check out our careers page to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gzWjfNgi

The AI news cycle is noisy, ongoing, and ever-changing. And it’s a great time for brands to get in on the conversation. Read more about the opportunity from our Executive Vice President Lindsay Scalisi.

In 2020, Access engaged Dr. Bentley Gibson, founder of The Bias Adjuster, as a DEI consultant to help us improve the cultural climate at Access. This partnership has included annually assessing the state of DEI in our organization and the development of customized learnings that help address the ways in which we can improve.  In this article, “Dr. G,” as we call her, dives into our journey.

"The power of one, if fearless and focused, is formidable; but the power of many working together is better.” – Gloria Macapagal Arroyo    Everything is better in twos! We’re thrilled to share a few words about two of our recent Employees of the Quarter: Account Executive Megan Cheung and Creator Strategist Jorgan Oseth. Gearing up for 2024, these remarkable team members went above and beyond, exemplifying what it means to be a “what else-er.”    Megan is a powerhouse across her teams – spearheading speaking events, delivering quality media results and supporting announcements, she is a force to be reckoned with. VP Clare Nordstrom says “Megan is always exhibiting a positive attitude, raising her hand to help whenever something comes in from the client and is an awesome colleague to her teammates.” Megan is also known to be a trusted and valuable resource for her clients, with a Professional Friends Forever (PFF) mentality that does not go unnoticed!"   Alongside Megan, Jorgan has demonstrated amazing proactivity and forward-thinking within the influencer team, ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the forefront of their campaigns. “Jorgan’s strategic vision has become more laser-focused, leading to intentional suggestions for enhancing existing plans and innovative ideas for collaborating with creators,” said Kayla Fortin, VP. Displaying unwavering confidence and successfully securing incremental funding from her clients, Jorgan is making waves and gaining tangible results for her team.    “The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” – Amelia Earhart    And they’ll do it again! Congratulations to Megan and Jorgan on this awesome achievement. Access is lucky to have you both and we’re so excited for what’s to come.     #EmployeeOfTheQuarter #AccessPR #PublicRelations #Influencer 

Our amazing Influencer Team has caught the attention of the Shorty Awards for their stellar client work this year, bringing a more emotional connection to the brands and their products. In one campaign, the team strategically engaged influencer Rachel Sullivan and her husband Tom, providing a front-row view of their family journey as they embrace – and add a little luxury – to the everyday mundane tasks that are deeply meaningful moments for parents. The team created another campaign centered around authenticity to help their client break through conventional influencer-brand partnerships. Influencer Daren Girdner brought this storytelling to life, showcasing how our client’s male grooming products have become his greatest companion in his bustling New York lifestyle. Both campaigns have been nominated as finalists at the 16th annual Shorty Awards for the Best Product Feature Video, with the chance to win the Audience Honor. Please help us spread the word and vote for our campaigns before April 30th. Congrats to our amazing dream team! Vote for the Parenting Influencer Campaign and the Male Grooming Influencer Campaign here: https://lnkd.in/eCzSzRJF #shortyawards #shortyawardsfinalist #teamappreciation