Page People

Issue 4 | October 2, 2024

Welcome to the fourth edition of our monthly newsletter: “Page People.” This initiative aims to spotlight the remarkable individuals who are part of this vibrant community. Each month, we’ll dive into the journeys, insights, and contributions of our members, celebrating the diversity of talent and experience that defines Page. We hope you find inspiration in the stories of your fellow members and that these stories spark connections for you.

Page | Head, Global Corporate Partnerships, Save the Children

Current role: As the Head of Corporate for Save the Children, I'm responsible for building strategic alliances between Save the Children and major corporations in order to simultaneously deliver business value and social impact.

Previous roles: Prior to joining Save the Children, I spent about 15 years at Burson and Shandwick and was head of Corporate Affairs for Unilever NA and Kraft Foods Inc. I've also been the CEO of a social enterprise (Your Career, Your terms), an award-winning author, and an adjunct professor.

A little bit about me: My life changed when I had the opportunity to move to Singapore in early the 90s for work. I left everything I had ever known in a matter of weeks to move to the other side of the world, to a place I’d never been. There I witnessed profound poverty and institutionalized discrimination but I also experienced ancient, amazing cultures and wonderful people, so different from my own background up until that point, having lived a privileged and pretty sheltered life in a small town outside Philadelphia. Since then, I’ve pursued my passion to leverage the positive power of business to make the world a better place. This has seen me moving house more than more than 20 times and getting paid to travel the world, working in more than 50 countries.

Piece of advice: Tap into the Power of Focus – being able to determine what matters most and then prioritizing no more than 3 things at any one time. Try it!

Ask me about: The business value of social impact and the implications of CSDDD.

Meet Bernd Eitel

Page | Senior Vice President of KION Group Communications, KION GROUP AG

Current role: I'm currently the Senior Vice President of KION Group Communications at KION GROUP AG.

Previous roles: I began my career at a regional office of the German Press Agency and worked for several years as an editor and correspondent for WirtschaftsWoche. Since then I've led communications teams for various global companies in Asia and Europe, including Siemens in Germany and China and General Electric in Europe. I was also responsible for communications in Europe for one of Asia's largest technology companies, Tencent.

A little bit about me: I started my career in local journalism, reviewing music and records. This sparked my passion for storytelling, and it was in these regional offices where I realized that there is a lot to learn about people and the world from local journalism. These experiences laid the foundation for my later work in corporate communications and public affairs, and allowed me to live and work in China during the some of the country's most interesting times.

Fun fact: I have a license to sail sailboats, and have sailed all around the world. My favorite place to sail is the Mediterranean Sea.

Ask me about: China/Asia communications and storytelling about technology.

Meet Radina Russell

Page Up | General Manager, Edelman South

Current role: I joined Edelman in 2022 and currently serve as General Manager of Edelman South (North Carolina through Texas). I serve as a trusted advisor to executives on high-profile executive visibility, reputation management, thought leadership, and crisis management efforts.

Previous roles: I began my career in finance as a sell-side analyst at J.P. Morgan and have over two decades of experience in corporate communications, shareholder engagement, advising c-suites and boards on complex issues, and ESG strategy. With my background in finance and strategy, I have played a leading role in some of the largest domestic and cross-border capital markets transactions, including Kraft Heinz and Restaurant Brands International and activist shareholder defense campaigns.

A little bit about me: I'm passionate about DEI and ESG and am committed to increasing the number of racially and ethnically diverse directors on corporate boards. In 2020, I worked with Ursula Burns to establish the Board Diversity Action Alliance. I'm deeply committed to making a positive impact on my community. In 2016, I co-founded Harlem Girls Cheer, Inc., an organization that empowers young girls in Harlem and the South Bronx to become confident and accomplished leaders. And I coached a National Championship team!! I'm also a member of the board of directors of the Reisenbach Philanthropies based in New York and host of the annual broadcast fundraiser #DearNewYork. In Atlanta, I’m on the board of councilors of The Carter Center (Happy 100th Birthday Jimmy Carter), the board of Trustees of the Woodruff Arts Center and a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta.

Fun fact: I’m fueled by wanderlust and love to travel with the goal of exploring the uniqueness in every locale I visit.

Ask me about: Board service as a communications professional.

Meet Kai Bucher

Page Up | Speechwriter, International Olympic Committee

Current role: As speechwriter at the International Olympic Committee, I have a very specialized role: providing executive communications services for the IOC President. From speeches at high-profile occasions such as the Olympic Games or the United Nations, to personalised letters to CEOs or video messages for local community events: editing text and developing messaging for different formats, languages and a wide range of audiences is my daily work.

Previous roles: Executive communications and storytelling were also central during my time at the World Economic Forum. Especially in the context of the annual meetings in Davos, my responsibilities included international media relations, strategic communications such as preparing executives for press conferences and organizing media opportunities for Heads of state and governments. In my roles at UNICEF and at the World Bank, I learned the art of collaborating with industry experts to condense complex subject matter into compelling messages. I began my career in public relations at Burson-Marsteller (as it was still known back then) where I was part of the corporate practice team that developed executive thought leadership programs for C-level executives of SAP, the biggest agency client at the time.

A little bit about me: As a German-Japanese and having spent my formative years in the Philippines, I continue to build my intercultural communication skills together with my American wife and my two francophone children in Geneva, Switzerland.

Fun Fact: Just ahead of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, with the world still in the grip of the pandemic, I ran with the Olympic torch in a deserted park, when the only sound I could hear was the crackling of the flame – an experience that was both surreal and enthralling at the same time.

Teach me about: How to use the power of Page to plan my next career steps in executive communications.

Our Newest Members

The Page community just grew! Connect with our new Page and Page Up members, and show them why our community is so great.

Page People News

🏆 Congratulations are in order - Gary Sheffer was recognized for his lifetime of leadership and contributions to the communication profession by being inducted into the Page Hall of Fame. Gary’s distinguished career spans over 40 years in journalism, government, academia, and corporate communication, most notably serving as head of communications and public affairs at GE, where he advised top executives and influenced critical business strategies.

🏆 Bill Heyman, co-founder of FHS Capital Partners, received the Page Distinguished Service Award during the Page Annual Conference. This honor is bestowed upon individuals who have made significant contributions to the profession through selfless service, leadership, and a commitment to advancing the role of corporate communication in business and society.

Is there something or someone you'd like to spotlight in our next newsletter? If you have published something recently, got recognized for a professional achievement or would like to highlight a fellow member's accomplishment, please let us know by sending an email to Mia Skwiot at mskwiot@page.org.