SPOTLIGHT: RAHEL RASU
Global Chief Communications Officer, IPG Mediabrands
Rahel Rasu is Global Chief Communications Officer for IPG Mediabrands. In her role, Rahel is responsible for driving internal and external communications strategy for the global media agency network, with responsibility over corporate brand and reputation management, thought leadership, media relations, social media, analyst and influencer relations, employee communications and corporate social responsibility.
As head of communications, Rasu works with the agency’s global press contacts at marquee publications, both mainstream and industry, such as Fast Company, Business Insider, Advertising Age, Adweek and Campaign Magazine. She positions the network through its leaders’ global speaking opportunities at programs including Cannes Lions Festival, International Economic Forum of the Americas and ANA conferences to align with agency and client goals.
Prior to Mediabrands, Rasu worked as EVP, Head of Global Communications for DDB Worldwide, where she worked to amplify the network’s brand by strategically developing, managing and executing the public relations, executive thought leadership, editorial content, philanthropic projects and events for the global creative network.
Before DDB, Rasu worked as SVP, Corporate Communications at McCann Worldgroup, where she collaborated with leadership to create opportunities for McCann’s brand, executives and clients. Before McCann, she worked in research at Ad Age’s Datacenter. While at Ad Age, she communicated with leading agency and brand sources to help gather, verify and assess data across multiple disciplines including media, digital, search, direct, promotions and public relations for the publication’s annual reports and Fact Packs.
1. What inspired you to join the NYWICI Board of Directors in the role of Co-Chair of the Scholarship Committee?
I am a first-generation college student who benefited greatly from scholarships. The cost of education can be a barrier to entry for many of us, so I’m happy to support NYWICI’s work in helping advance women through education.
2. What piece of career advice do you live by?
“Focus on the work.” There are so many distractions, the better you get at pushing them aside and focusing on the task in front of you, the better you and your work become.
3. What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I immigrated to the United States as a child from Eritrea, a small country in northeast Africa.
4. What is the best thing you’ve watched, listened to and/or read in the past month?
I finally got around to watching I May Destroy You by Michaela Coel, and it was painful and beautiful.
5. What 5 people, living or dead, would you invite for dinner (once we can eat in groups again)?
I would invite Toni Morrison, Michelle Obama, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Michaela Coel and Tupac Shakur.
