Erika Bennett
Chief Marketing Officer at Essence Ventures- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Siobhan O'Neill-Schwenk
I worked with Erika on multiple Nestle USA businesses while at Edelman. I look back on our four-year collaboration as PR and Digital counterparts as one of the greatest highlights of my time there, and my entire career. I also credit her partnership, leadership and approach with my advancement as a professional during that time. During our partnership, the brands we managed as an agency grew in revenue from sub-$50k to over $1m annually. Besides the obvious benefit of long-term revenue, our work was an early and strong example of Edelman walking the integration talk, which was not an easy task with other teams and personalities, but was always easy, fun, and produced exceptional work when she was at the table. Together, we moved from "agency" to "partner" with the client in terms of strategic thinking across multiple brands and strategic priorities. She was a strong mentor and leader to peers like myself, junior staff, and her own leadership. Her ability to think and understand both PR and Digital/Social Marketing made her a truly brilliant thinker. It's rare that you find a partner like Erika and I have missed working with her so much in the years since. I'm hopeful that we'll one day find the opportunity again. Until then, I settle for calling her my friend, one of the best things that Edelman brought me.
Ashley Blua
Erika is an excellent manager, and was the hardest working member of our team when we worked together. Even as a junior member of our staff at the time, Erika encouraged me to own projects, have a voice and point of view, and always listened when I had an idea or opinion. Erika continues to be a mentor to me, and is a professional who I will always look up to.
Siobhan O'Neill-Schwenk
I worked with Erika on multiple Nestle USA businesses while at Edelman. I look back on our four-year collaboration as PR and Digital counterparts as one of the greatest highlights of my time there, and my entire career. I also credit her partnership, leadership and approach with my advancement as a professional during that time. During our partnership, the brands we managed as an agency grew in revenue from sub-$50k to over $1m annually. Besides the obvious benefit of long-term revenue, our work was an early and strong example of Edelman walking the integration talk, which was not an easy task with other teams and personalities, but was always easy, fun, and produced exceptional work when she was at the table. Together, we moved from "agency" to "partner" with the client in terms of strategic thinking across multiple brands and strategic priorities. She was a strong mentor and leader to peers like myself, junior staff, and her own leadership. Her ability to think and understand both PR and Digital/Social Marketing made her a truly brilliant thinker. It's rare that you find a partner like Erika and I have missed working with her so much in the years since. I'm hopeful that we'll one day find the opportunity again. Until then, I settle for calling her my friend, one of the best things that Edelman brought me.
Ashley Blua
Erika is an excellent manager, and was the hardest working member of our team when we worked together. Even as a junior member of our staff at the time, Erika encouraged me to own projects, have a voice and point of view, and always listened when I had an idea or opinion. Erika continues to be a mentor to me, and is a professional who I will always look up to.
Siobhan O'Neill-Schwenk
I worked with Erika on multiple Nestle USA businesses while at Edelman. I look back on our four-year collaboration as PR and Digital counterparts as one of the greatest highlights of my time there, and my entire career. I also credit her partnership, leadership and approach with my advancement as a professional during that time. During our partnership, the brands we managed as an agency grew in revenue from sub-$50k to over $1m annually. Besides the obvious benefit of long-term revenue, our work was an early and strong example of Edelman walking the integration talk, which was not an easy task with other teams and personalities, but was always easy, fun, and produced exceptional work when she was at the table. Together, we moved from "agency" to "partner" with the client in terms of strategic thinking across multiple brands and strategic priorities. She was a strong mentor and leader to peers like myself, junior staff, and her own leadership. Her ability to think and understand both PR and Digital/Social Marketing made her a truly brilliant thinker. It's rare that you find a partner like Erika and I have missed working with her so much in the years since. I'm hopeful that we'll one day find the opportunity again. Until then, I settle for calling her my friend, one of the best things that Edelman brought me.
Ashley Blua
Erika is an excellent manager, and was the hardest working member of our team when we worked together. Even as a junior member of our staff at the time, Erika encouraged me to own projects, have a voice and point of view, and always listened when I had an idea or opinion. Erika continues to be a mentor to me, and is a professional who I will always look up to.
Siobhan O'Neill-Schwenk
I worked with Erika on multiple Nestle USA businesses while at Edelman. I look back on our four-year collaboration as PR and Digital counterparts as one of the greatest highlights of my time there, and my entire career. I also credit her partnership, leadership and approach with my advancement as a professional during that time. During our partnership, the brands we managed as an agency grew in revenue from sub-$50k to over $1m annually. Besides the obvious benefit of long-term revenue, our work was an early and strong example of Edelman walking the integration talk, which was not an easy task with other teams and personalities, but was always easy, fun, and produced exceptional work when she was at the table. Together, we moved from "agency" to "partner" with the client in terms of strategic thinking across multiple brands and strategic priorities. She was a strong mentor and leader to peers like myself, junior staff, and her own leadership. Her ability to think and understand both PR and Digital/Social Marketing made her a truly brilliant thinker. It's rare that you find a partner like Erika and I have missed working with her so much in the years since. I'm hopeful that we'll one day find the opportunity again. Until then, I settle for calling her my friend, one of the best things that Edelman brought me.
Ashley Blua
Erika is an excellent manager, and was the hardest working member of our team when we worked together. Even as a junior member of our staff at the time, Erika encouraged me to own projects, have a voice and point of view, and always listened when I had an idea or opinion. Erika continues to be a mentor to me, and is a professional who I will always look up to.
Experience
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Essence Ventures
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Book and Periodical Publishing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Chief Marketing Officer
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May 2022 - Present
Lead marketing across Essence Ventures Portfolio of brands (Essence Communications, Inc. AfroPunk, Beautycon, Naturallycurly, New Voices and more); Oversee growing team of marketers responsible for: - Experiences - Creative - Comms - Social - Brand/Consumer marketing - Consumer Insights/measurement - Growth Marketing - Media/Partnerships - Branded Content and Video - Talent and Stakeholder Engagement Lead marketing across Essence Ventures Portfolio of brands (Essence Communications, Inc. AfroPunk, Beautycon, Naturallycurly, New Voices and more); Oversee growing team of marketers responsible for: - Experiences - Creative - Comms - Social - Brand/Consumer marketing - Consumer Insights/measurement - Growth Marketing - Media/Partnerships - Branded Content and Video - Talent and Stakeholder Engagement
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Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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300 - 400 Employee
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Member Board Of Directors
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Jan 2022 - Present
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Instagram
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Software Development
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700 & Above Employee
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Global Lead, Culture and Community Marketing
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Feb 2021 - May 2022
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YouTube
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United States
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Technology, Information and Internet
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700 & Above Employee
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Global Head of Entertainment, Education and Community Creator Marketing
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Oct 2019 - Feb 2021
Oversee YouTube's marketing strategy and execution for creator marketing programs driving satisfaction, success, and connection for creator communities across the entertainment, education and diverse communities verticals. This includes working cross-functionally to drive business strategy, product innovation and developing diversity marketing programs that super-serve these audiences against business and creator goals.
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Global Head of Social Marketing and Influencer, YouTube Originals and YouTube TV
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Sep 2017 - Feb 2021
Led social marketing strategy for YouTube Originals and YouTube TV; An integral part of the leadership team for social for YouTube, helped deliver social success around YouTube Original’s first critically acclaimed breakout hit, Cobra Kai, while driving cultural acclaim for several other shows including Kevin Hart: What the Fit?, G-Funk (the story of Warren G), Best Shot and global breakouts BTS: Burn the Stage (APAC) and Training Days (UK). Erika also oversees social and influencer efforts in support of YouTube TV including its tentpole sponsorships of the NBA and MLB. Show less
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Allied Integrated Marketing
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United States
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Advertising Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior Vice President
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Jun 2013 - Jul 2017
Served as SVP of multicultural entertainment marketing division, Allied Moxy, driving business development for the group and servicing entertainment industry across top studios, networks and OTT platforms. Shepherded the division to unprecedented year-over-year growth and delivered record-breaking results by evolving and expanding marketing capabilities across a spectrum of film marketing disciplines to include custom digital content production, influencer engagement and social media among traditional marketing capabilities (publicity, promotions, events, etc.); Served as part of executive leadership team driving innovation and evolution for the company overall. Promoted more than 100+ shows /films over more than four-year tenure. Top clients included: - Universal Pictures (FAST AND FURIOUS franchise, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, RIDE ALONG franchise, etc.) - Netflix ("Marvel's Luke Cage", "Dear White People", etc.) - NBC ("The Wiz! Live, "The Is Us", etc.) - 20th Century FOX (DEADPOOL, HIDDEN FIGURES, etc.) - Paramount (FENCES, etc.) Show less
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PMK•BNC
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United States
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Public Relations and Communications Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Director, Brand Marketing and Communications
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Aug 2012 - Jun 2013
Mange branded entertainment, consumer and lifestyle public relations for several clients including T-Mobile, Beats by Dre, Fanhattan, Activision (Call of Duty); Direct agency team to execute media and events on behalf of clients; Highlights include: T-Mobile's MLB Sponsorship and Influencer Program Directed team to publicize T-Mobile Elite celebrity and online influencer program, focusing efforts on promoting the program via key top-tier, celebrity/entertainment and lifestyle publications; Lead communications for T-Mobile's inaugural year sponsorship of Major League Baseball Jenny Craig Healthy Heart Initiatives Led team to oversee lifestyle communications for Jenny Craig, which included managing the brand’s partnership with the American Heart Association Heart Walks (a multi-market grassroots initiative), overseeing social media integration, strategic planning and promoting Jenny’s relationship with celebrity brand ambassadors Activision’s “Call of Duty” Served as day-to-day manager overseeing media support for the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops II, which garnered more than 1 billion consumer media impressions in the first weeks of launch Show less
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The Wonderful Company
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United States
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Food and Beverage Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Manager, Corporate Communications
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Aug 2011 - Aug 2012
Oversaw branded, consumer public relations strategy and execution for two largest brands in Roll Global portfolio of products – Paramount Farms (Wonderful Pistachios, Almonds and Almond Accents) and Paramount Citrus (Cuties); Highlights include: Takin’ Get Crackin’ From a Commercial to a Conversation: Directed PR launch of third year of infamous “Get Crackin’” campaign for Wonderful Pistachios, which resulted in increase in media impressions year over year and changed media conversation around campaign Fans Go ‘Nuts’ for Angry Birds: Developed integrated campaign to support launch of Wonderful Pistachios’ partnership with Rovio, which included launching the first-ever, fully integrated branded game in the U.S. for Angry Birds; Cuties Coast to Coast: Led integrated communications (including agency management) for national launch of Cuties, including launch of Cutieskids.com, strategic partnership with non-profit Donorschoose.org and engagement of spokes-chefs, 10-year old Twin Chefs Show less
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Edelman
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United States
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Public Relations and Communications Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Senior Account Supervisor
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May 2007 - Sep 2011
Oversaw a growing, integrated agency team tasked with promoting brands within the consumer marketing practice including Nestlé, ONEHOPE Wine, Bossa Nova Superfruit Juice, Dannon and Experian Clients: Nestle Beverage Division (Juicy Juice, Nesquik); Experian, ONEHOPE Wine, Dannon Communities See Fruitful Future with Juicy Juice: Helped spearhead execution of multi-year, national community relations program for Nestlé to educate communities about child wellness/nutrition through partnerships with local NGOs; Partner with multicultural marketing team to create culturally relevant program Bringing Sexy Back to Credit: Led media relations for Experian’s Consumer Education Program, which helped consumers understand and better manage their personal finances; developed “Ask the Expert” Web chat series, Twitter chats and national studies to raise Experian’s reputation and credibility with key consumer and media stakeholders Nestle Goes Social: Integrated social media into traditional marketing communications matrix by spearheading proactive blogger engagement/product review program for Nestlé, informed content strategy and provide additional crisis support to online social media channels (Facebook/Twitter, etc.) Show less
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Cohn & Wolfe
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United States
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Public Relations and Communications Services
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100 - 200 Employee
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Account Executive
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Apr 2005 - May 2007
Responsible for public relations, strategic sponsorship, community relations and internal communication initiatives for Hilton Hotels Corporation including launching Hilton’s new advertising campaign, and ongoing partnerships with the United States Olympic Committee and various entertainment entities (GRAMMY Foundation, Food Network, Hilton Theater in Times Square); Served as in-house extension to Hilton’s integrated marketing team, working directly with executive members to manage incoming sponsorships/partnership requests Clients: Hilton Hotels Corporation (2005 Winter U.S. Olympic Partnership, AVP Sponsorship, In-room amenities and media partnerships) Show less
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Education
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Northwestern University
Bachelor of Science, Communications -
University of California, Los Angeles
UCLA Riordan Fellow
Community
