Page People

Issue 1 | July 3, 2024

Welcome to the first edition of our new 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.

In this inaugural issue, we have the privilege of featuring Kelli Parsons and Umayma Abubakar, the chairs of Page and Page Up respectively. Their leadership and vision are integral to our collective success. We are excited to share their stories with you.

Page Chair | Global CEO, Hill & Knowlton

Current role: I’m the global CEO of Hill & Knowlton, where I help leaders solve for their challenges and capitalize on opportunities at the intersection of corporate strategy and communication. I also serve on the Burson Group global leadership team.

Previous roles: I have been blessed with a diverse career path from journalism to agency and corporate leadership roles. Early on as a television news reporter, I covered the war in Bosnia and a US presidential campaign. I served as CCMO of Fortune 50 companies.

A little bit about me: I grew up on our family farm in Kentucky, where I learned from my parents the importance of hard work and teamwork, value of an enterprising nature, and joy in a job well done. I was also fortunate to travel extensively with my mother who served on corporate boards. While doing my sixth-grade homework in the back of a board room, I was inspired to earn a seat at that table one day.

Fun fact: I love to travel. My husband Scott and I have visited all 50 U.S. states and dozens of countries. Next on our bucket list is Antarctica in 2025. Some of our favorite places are close to home—an early morning walk on a Nantucket or Kiawah Island beach with our dog Henry.

Teach me about: Anything! A great benefit of serving as Page chair is engaging with and learning from our members.

Meet Umayma Abubakar

Page Up Chair | Deputy CCO, Mubadala

Current role: I'm the Deputy Chief Communications Officer at Mubadala Investment Company in Abu Dhabi and I also sit on the Management Committee at Mubadala.

Previous roles: I was the Head of Corporate Affairs at Barclays Bank, UAE and had 14 years of experience in the Financial sector.

A little bit about me: Some of my greatest accomplishments include working on establishing Mubadala’s culture and leading on our merger and integration work, which included developing a new brand. These two projects, in particular, really helped me in strengthening my relationships within the company, nurturing a strong team and allowed me to showcase why Comms should always be part of the decision-making table.

Fun fact: When I have some rare down time – I love to walk in nature, boxing and in a previous life time, I used to enjoy cooking. I'm also a mother of three and my youngest is hopefully off to university this September 2024 and I look forward to traveling as just a couple once again.

Ask me about: Leadership engagement, culture and employee engagement.

Page People News

This will be your one-stop shop for the latest news, achievements, and exciting updates from your fellow members.

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.