SPOTLIGHT: ANGELIQUE MORELLI
Member profile: NYWICI Board Member Angelique Morelli
On any given day, Angelique Morelli wears many hats simultaneously: Writer, publicist, content creator, event planner, community builder, mom and spouse, plus newly minted author, with her first children’s book coming soon.
Over her 15+ years in communications and public affairs, she’s held many leadership roles and was named one of the Business Council of Westchester’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars; she now serves on the Rising Stars Leadership Council. As a proud board member of New York Women in Communications (NYWICI), she also serves as Vice President for Executive Programming.
Hear from Angelique in her own words about her background, her career and a big lesson she learned along the way, and when she discovered that she had it in her to be a leader.
1. Please tell us about your background.
Growing up, I always wanted to be a news anchor or a talk show host. I thrive on sharing stories that inspire and inform others, and I wanted to be that vessel that brought those narratives to the world. I had the privilege of interning at CBS for The Early Show in college, and after graduation worked as a page in the audience department of The Late Show with David Letterman.
My heart was in the news, and I landed a reporting gig at Westfair Communications, Inc. that published business newspapers for Westchester and Fairfield Counties and the Hudson Valley Region. I was drawn to stories about nonprofit organizations and felt compelled to be their storyteller. It was through this experience that I realized I wanted to move over to the PR side of communications.
I had stayed connected with the CEO of an eldercare nonprofit I had written about, and let her know I was looking to make a move into the nonprofit sector and PR. She created a role for me in their advancement office as the PR Coordinator. It was that opportunity that kept me in the nonprofit sector for 15 years, mostly working in education. I held roles that covered alumni and parent engagement, fundraising, communication and event planning.
In 2023, I reached what many would call the pinnacle of their career: I made it to the C-Suite. I served as the Chief Development Officer at the YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester, where I oversaw the strategy for fundraising and communications. I absolutely love the mission of the YWCA and made so many meaningful connections within my team and the communities we served. In 2024, I made a career pivot to the parts of my job that I loved the most: PR and event planning: An opportunity opened at a boutique PR and events firm, so I took a chance and made the move!
2. Looking back, was there a turning point or challenge that really shaped your career?
There was a distinct moment when I discovered that I had the ability to lead. I was working at a school in alumni and parent engagement as part of a two-person team – me and my supervisor. At the start of the school year, my supervisor unexpectedly took medical leave, which left me as a one-woman band to manage our department. We led more than 60 events for the parent and alumni communities – from monthly parent meetings to reunion weekends and everything that popped up in between. I was the “wing woman” to my supervisor, so you can imagine the thoughts of imposter syndrome that were bobbing and weaving through my mind at the time: How am I going to manage this by myself? Would anyone take me seriously as an interim director? “Can I do this?”
The work needed to get done and I had no other choice but to ignore any doubt and just do it. And I did. Not only did I manage the events, volunteers, and all the details, but I delegated, directed and people took me seriously. I not only realized I could lead but I saw the type of leader I am: A servant leader, who rolls up my sleeves and leaves no one behind.
The relationships I built across campus departments were strengthened and colleagues from many areas were knocking on my door to ask for advice, to be a thought partner on projects they were working on, or simply just to say hi and tell me a funny story. It was an empowering feeling.
3. What’s one big lesson you’ve picked up along the way?
You are your own best career advocate. Here’s why I feel that way: After I served as interim director of my department, that experience gave me the confidence to ask for a raise and a title change. I had worked under the same role title for five years. During each performance review I had, I inquired how raises were given out, and I received the same answer from my supervisor every year: they weren’t giving out merit-based raises.
However, I heard that others were getting them, and I knew I was working hard and deserved one, but I didn’t want to be “too pushy” or ask for “too much,” so I stayed in my lane, so to speak, and accepted it when I was told not to expect anything to come my way. I later found out that my supervisor had never actually asked that I get a pay bump. But it turned out she was getting them – because she advocated for herself.
If you’re wondering if I got the promotion, I did, from my new boss, who modeled what it meant to be a leader. It was at that moment that I made a promise to myself that not only would I always remember my worth and be fearless about asking for what I want, but to always do the same for anyone who reports to me.
4. If you could go back and give your younger self some career advice, what would it be?
You are the company you keep – treasure the friendships and professional connections you make along the way with people who you feel in your gut are truly in your corner. They will be your cheering section, greatest advocates, and sounding board.
5. Are there any projects, achievements, or passions you’re especially proud of that you want other members to know about?
I wrote a children’s book! It will be coming out before the end of this year. It’s called Ellie Morelli & The Pack Unleash Their Super Powers. The book stars my real dog, Ellie “Eleanor Roosevelt” Morelli, and is a story that celebrates friendship, forgiveness and realizing that what makes each of us unique are actually super powers and, when put to the test, might just save the day.
I wrote it during COVID and after years of pitching and looking for an illustrator, I was able to land a deal with an independent publishing company. It’s been an awesome experience seeing this come to life and I can’t wait to share it with the world.
6. Is there a skill or experience you wish you’d picked up earlier in your journey?
Video editing! One of my favorite parts of the work that I do is creating digital content for social media for our PR clients. Everyone who has collaborated with me knows I live for a video shoot. One of the skills I want to pick up (when I have more time) is taking a video editing class so I can build out that part of my resume. I find it lots of fun.
7. What made you become a NYWICI member?
What led me to NYWICI is our amazing 2026 President Elect, Beth Feldman. She was my professor at Iona University when I was studying for my master’s in PR, and she had a tremendous impact on me. We stayed connected, and when I told her I made the move to focus on communications, she said, “You have to join NYWICI!” So here I am!
8. What’s the coolest thing about being part of this community?
The coolest thing is sisterhood. I love meeting so many accomplished women who are eager to share their stories, experience, and time to help the next generation of women in this industry. And I love knowing that one day, I will be one of those women to pass the torch.
9. What is your personal motto?
When you are in a dark place, you sometimes tend to think you’ve been buried, but perhaps you’ve been planted. BLOOM!
Written by Kathryn Reichert
