Page People

Issue 2 | August 7, 2024

Welcome to the second 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 | CCO, Ariel Investments

Current role: I’m the CCO of Ariel Investments, LLC, the nation’s oldest African-American-owned asset management firm headquartered in Chicago. Despite the similarities in name, the firm was founded in 1983 before I was born!

Previous roles: I worked at Edelman as Executive Vice President & Transaction Director, leading the mergers & acquisitions and bankruptcy / restructuring team. I also held a variety of positions at Weber Shandwick within its Financial Communications, Crisis Communications & Issues Management, and Corporate practices. I always say that if you take advantage of every opportunity “on campus,” being at a big agency can really accelerate your resume in “dog years.” I was so lucky to be at agencies that allowed me to lead big teams as early as my 20s, that made me who I am today.

A little bit about me: I’m a mom of a 2 year old daughter who is the coolest person I know, and with another daughter on the way, due in September 2024! Pictured above, we are in matching outfits with our little bun in the oven in Central Park, a stone’s through away from our home in New York City! I was also pregnant with my first daughter in my corporate headshot, also pictured above!

Fun fact: I don’t get the “Sunday Scaries” because I spend my entire Sunday reading as much as possible! Every newspaper, any books I have outstanding, emails I may have put on the “back burner” from the prior week… it really helps me feel like I’m walking into Monday budding with ideas.

Ask me about: I love talking about the intersection of employee engagement and corporate strategy. Please always knock on my door if you want to chat through cultural challenges facing your organization!

Meet Nanne Bos

Page | Chief Brand and Communications Officer, Aegon Group

Current role: I'm responsible for shaping and driving the global brand strategy. I oversee strategic and financial communications, ensuring cohesive and impactful engagement with Aegon’s global stakeholders.

Previous roles: Before joining Aegon, I led global brand management at ING. Prior to that, I was the Brand and Communications Director for ING's European Insurance business. Throughout my career, I’ve often found myself at the center of major organizational transformations. I have a deep passion for large-scale change initiatives and firmly believe in the power of integrating brand and reputation with strategy, HR, communications, and leadership. I’ve learned that while many transformations fail, those that effectively blend top-down and bottom-up approaches can achieve remarkable results.

A little bit about me: One of my proudest achievements was at ING, where we successfully aligned the global brand strategy through a seven-year transformation led by Ralph Hamers. This initiative connected all the critical elements and had a lasting impact on the company. I’m also a fan of The West Wing, more recently, Succession, and STORY by Robert McKee remains a favorite of mine.

Fun fact: I was born on a freight ship from the Titanic era, the Jan Backx, in the Port of Rotterdam.

Ask me about: I recently completed a program on AI and business strategy at MIT Sloan School of Management. At Aegon, we’re developing an AI tool named Luigi to support corporate communications, a project that shows great promise. I’m eager to share insights and learn from others about the evolving role of AI in our profession, as I believe it will have a profound impact in the coming years.

Meet Adrian Gianforti

Page Up | Director of Marketing and Communications, History Factory

Current role: I educate and inform key stakeholders about the value of brand heritage storytelling and the historical preservation of a company’s valued assets. No two days look alike, but the responsibilities range from leading the strategic direction of our marketing and communications to all content development, analytics, and reporting.

Previous roles: I came from PR agency land where I learned how to be (survive) in PR, managing client relationships, the creative process, working with the press, and more. My first job in DC was working at the USDA’s Food Safety & Inspection Service where I spoke to epidemiologists daily, and became a spokesperson on behalf of the agency during food illness outbreaks. It was true crisis communications and I loved it while it lasted.

A little bit about me: My dad always said that I always walked to the beat of my own drum, I think that still holds today. Why go left when I could go right? Or at least ask the
question of the advantages of going left over going right? You’ll notice that
managing me can be a challenge because I figure what’s the harm in questioning, well, everything?

Piece of advice: Don’t take yourselves too seriously and get out and experience the world. We confuse busy activities with efficiency and progress. I’m huge on moving the ball down the field, and that often means putting the computer away and revisiting the work with a fresh set of eyes.

Teach me about: The leadership and management of younger generations. They’re the future and I don’t want to dig my heels in forever thinking that my way is the only way of doing things.

Meet Tarsis Lopez

Page Up | VP of Reputation Management, Eli Lilly and Company

Current role: I lead external global communications for the company. This includes corporate, R&D, brand and public affairs.

Previous roles: I’ve spent most of my career in healthcare. In the past, I’ve held communication roles at international pharmaceutical companies like Astellas, Takeda, and Baxter. Additionally, I worked with FleishmanHillard’s healthcare team in Chicago.

A little bit about me: The principles that defined my career path are summed up in a couple of quotes...

“Your career is your business. It’s time for you to manage it as a CEO” – Dorit Sher

“It’s not what you achieve, it’s what you overcome. That’s what defines your career” – Carlton Fisk.

Fun fact: I’m a professional DJ with a regular monthly club gig dedicated to 80s and early 90s alternative rock.

Ask me about: The use of AI in our field to power our work, effective management and engagement of diverse generations within a team, and exploring improved methods for measuring outcomes.

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 - HPE appointed Jennifer Temple as chief marketing & communications officer, and several Page members were named on PRovoke Media's 2024 Influence 100, including Amy Bonitatibus, Andy Pharoah, Bea Perez, Brad Burns, Brian Lott, Catherine Frymark, Damon Jones, Donna Lorenson, Dustee Jenkins, Joanna Price, Jonathan Adashek, Kate Cronin, Katie Boylan, Kelly McGinnis, Lavanya Wadgaonkar, Lin-Hua Wu, Lisa Gibby, Michael Stewart, Moira Gilchrist, Omar Zaafrani, Ramiro Prudencio, Rebecca Edwards, Stacy Sharpe, Stephen Kehoe, Steve John, Torod Neptune, and Vanessa Broadhurst.

Even more members were featured on PRWeek's Power List including, Kathryn Beiser, Lin-Hua Wu, Mark Truby, Damon Jones, Richard Edelman, Josh Earnest, Chris Foster, Torod Neptune, Gail Heimann, Corey duBrowa, John Saunders, Jonathan Adashek, Mike Doyle, Dustee Jenkins, Melissa Waggener, Barby Siegel, Diana Littman, Vanessa Broadhurst, Alex Geiser, Kathy Bloomgarden, Tony Fratto, Kim Hunter, Dominic Carr, Margery Kraus, Jonathan Rosen, and Jennifer Prosek.

📖 Looking for a new book? Shellie Fray recently published The Power of a Creed, a business culture book about how a collective "company conscience" can enable organizational success.

📍 Have you visited the only museum that celebrates our industry? Learn about the hisotry of communications, Arthur W. Page, and more by visiting The Museum of Public Relations.

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.