Résumé & Skills

15+ years of experience developing and implementing comprehensive communication strategies.
Seasoned leader of cross-functional teams that build and execute successful integrated marketing campaigns.
Passionate about leveraging strategic storytelling to engage audiences and drive business growth.
Proven track record of driving brand awareness, managing crisis communication, and fostering media relations.

Professional Experience

Wanderu

Wanderu is the leading ground travel metasearch engine in North America and Europe. Wanderu helps travelers find, compare and book the best deals on bus and train travel through its website and mobile app.

Director of Communications

Remote (USA) • July 2021 - present

Responsibilities & accomplishments

Content & Communications team leadership
Lead a cross-functional team of marketers, engineers, and external agencies to build and execute a robust proactive roadmap of communication activities for Wanderu’s core product, fostering consumer engagement across multiple channels, including PR, OOH, email, and social media.
PR strategy & execution
Plan, develop and execute strategic PR campaigns to generate news coverage in top-tier media outlets through unique angles and creative hooks, resulting in consistent inbound traffic growth of 30% year over year.
Lifecycle marketing strategy & growth
Implemented and scaled Wanderu’s lifecycle marketing strategy, growing email into the company’s second biggest marketing channel with a yearly net revenue growth of 150%+.
Quarterly planning & project prioritization
Collaborate with other team leaders to establish quarterly growth objectives, leading to a consistent reduction in operational costs by 20%+ and a 50% increase in customer satisfaction ratings.
Budget management & forecast
Oversee and optimize marketing budget allocation to meet annual objectives, leveraging available resources and projected ROI.

Public Relations Manager

Boston, MA • May 2015 - July 2021

Responsibilities & accomplishments

PR program development & media management
Created, managed and scaled in-house PR program, fostering relationships with key journalists and securing ongoing coverage in leading news, lifestyle and industry outlets. Results included front cover feature of Wanderu’s CEO in Inc. Magazine, as well as feature stories in The NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, Forbes, Travel+Leisure, and many others.
Content strategy implementation & growth
Built and implemented content marketing strategy, yielding 100+ mentions and inbound ‘follow’ links from local, national and international media outlets per calendar year.
Integrated marketing campaign development
Ideated and developed marketing campaigns via both traditional (OOH, broadcast, print) and digital (SEM, social, affiliate) channels, managing design, copywriting and distribution.

Educational Advancement

From August 2013 to May 2015, I earned a master’s degree in Strategic Public Relations at the University of Southern California. During this time, I completed four internships with top-tier marketing and PR firms in LA and London, gaining invaluable experience in the field.

ID Public Relations

Los Angeles, CA • January 2015 - May 2015

Allied Integrated Marketing

Los Angeles, CA • September 2014 - December 2014

Premier PR

London, UK • May 2014 - August 2014

MPRM Communications

Los Angeles, CA • January 2014 - May 2014

ZBS Group

ZBS was a British-Bulgarian company specializing in fashion retail and retail real estate, managing projects and franchises for brands such as French Connection, Mexx, Oasis, Warehouse, OVS, Peacocks London, and Labels for Less.

Marketing & PR Manager

September 2011 - July 2013

Responsibilities & accomplishments

In-house marketing agency leadership
Ran full service in-house marketing agency for 10+ fashion retail brands across OOH, broadcast & print advertising, PR, CRM, SEO, paid & organic social, direct mail, guerilla, and remarketing channels.
Event management & brand representation
Organized and moderated press conferences and media events, acting as official brand spokesperson.
Revenue Attribution & ROAS Optimization
Drove cross-channel revenue attribution, incorporating LTV into spend decisions to lift overall ROAS.

Polina Fashion

Polina Fashion was a boutique, yet dynamic, NYC-based agency, blending public relations and event management to elevate fashion, retail, and lifestyle brands.

Assistant Publicist

May 2009 - August 2011

Responsibilities & accomplishments

Effective campaign execution
Assisted in developing and executing strategic communication campaigns for high-end fashion and lifestyle brands.
Event planning & coordination
Planned and produced special promotional events, and provided on-site event coordination.
Media coverage & product placement
Secured coverage and product placement in leading media outlets and programs, including ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” NBC’s “Today,” Vogue, InStyle, The NY Post, and many others.

Education

University of Southern California

Annenberg School for Communication

Los Angeles, CA

Master of Arts

Strategic Public Relations

2013 - 2015

Adelphi University

Honors College

Garden City, NY

Bachelor of Arts

Communications / Journalism

Minor: English

2006 - 2010

Areas of Expertise

Public Relations

I’m an expert in crafting and executing PR strategies that amplify brand narratives and foster strong media relationships.

I’m skilled in securing high-impact coverage across top-tier media outlets, enhancing brand visibility and reputation.

Crisis Communication

I have a proven track record in managing high-stakes situations with precision and poise.

I’m adept at developing and implementing crisis communication plans that mitigate risks, protect brand integrity, and restore public trust.

Corporate Communication

I have years of experience in strategically managing internal and external communications to align with corporate goals and enhance stakeholder engagement.

I deliver clear, consistent messaging that strengthens company culture and brand perception.

Brand Marketing

I’m used to driving brand growth through innovative marketing strategies that resonate with target audiences.

My expertise lies in creating and executing campaigns that build brand equity, increase market share, and deliver measurable ROI.

Creative Direction

I thoroughly enjoy leading the creative vision from concept to execution, ensuring brand consistency across all touch points.

I’m skilled in guiding multidisciplinary teams to produce compelling content and experiences that captivate and engage audiences.

Performance Marketing

I’m an expert in driving measurable results through data-driven performance marketing strategies.

I’m skilled in optimizing campaigns across multiple channels to maximize ROI and achieve business objectives.

Email Marketing

I’ve become a specialist in crafting targeted email campaigns that drive engagement and conversions.

I’m proficient in segmentation, automation, and personalization to deliver compelling messages that resonate with audiences.

SEO & SEM

I’m proficient in optimizing organic and paid search strategies to enhance visibility and drive traffic.

My expertise in keyword research, on-page optimization, and bidding strategies leads to achieving top search rankings and high ROI.

Content Marketing

I’m a strategic thinker with expertise in developing content that educates, engages, and converts.

I have over a decade of experience in creating content calendars, managing production, and optimizing distribution to align with business goals.

OKR Planning & Development

I’m an expert in OKR (Objectives and Key Results) planning and development, aligning team efforts with organizational goals.

I pride myself on setting ambitious, yet realistic, targets and driving accountability to achieve measurable success.

Social Media & Influencer Marketing

I’m able to effectively leverage social platforms and influencer partnerships to amplify brand reach and engagement.

I have vast experience in creating and executing campaigns that drive brand awareness, loyalty, and conversion.

Research & A/B Testing

I take a data-driven approach to improving marketing performance through rigorous research and A/B testing.

I’m skilled in designing experiments, analyzing results, and implementing insights to enhance campaign effectiveness.

Data Analysis & BI

I’m adept at transforming complex data into actionable insights through advanced data analysis and business intelligence techniques.

My experience with data allows me to drive strategic decision-making and optimize marketing outcomes.

Copywriting

I’m proficient in crafting persuasive and engaging copy that captures brand voice and drives action.

I have experience writing across multiple formats, including web, email, social media, and print.

Graphic & Web Design

I’m a creative professional with a strong eye for design, skilled in creating visually appealing graphics and user-friendly web designs.

I’m proficient in design tools and web development platforms, ensuring cohesive and impactful brand presentations.

Technical Skills

PR & Communications Software

Cision Advanced
Muck Rack Advanced
Meltwater Advanced
RocketReach Advanced
Prowly Advanced

Design & Creative

Adobe Photoshop Advanced
Adobe Illustrator Advanced
Adobe InDesign Advanced
Adobe Premiere Pro Advanced
Adobe Acrobat Advanced
Figma Advanced
Canva Advanced
Wordpress Advanced
Elementor Advanced

Productivity

Microsoft Word Advanced
Microsoft Excel Advanced
Microsoft Powerpoint Advanced
Google Docs Advanced
Google Sheets Advanced
Google Slides Advanced
Google Forms Advanced
Slack Advanced
Zoom Advanced

Lifecycle Marketing

Blueshift Advanced
MailChimp Advanced
HubSpot Intermediate
Drip Intermediate

Project Management

JIRA Advanced
Confluence Advanced
Monday.com Advanced

Social Media Management

Meta Business Suite Advanced
Buffer Advanced
Hootsuite Advanced

Data Management

Amplitude Advanced
Google Analytics Advanced
Snowflake Intermediate

ChatGPT 4o Advanced
Jasper Advanced
LLM Training Intermediate

Programming & Markup Languages

Liquid Advanced
HTML Intermediate
SQL Beginner