All posts by Mary Brophy

About Mary Brophy

Mary has held leadership positions at the world’s largest independent PR agency, Edelman Worldwide, Cramer-Krasselt, Jacobson Rost and other leading agencies. Her background includes advising CEO-level executives on a variety of crisis communications and reputational issues.

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Mar 06

How Can Businesses Deliver on Social Impact? Play to Your Strengths

Six Lessons on Strategic Philanthropy to Advance Your Company’s Reputation Chances are if your company made it onto Fortune magazine’s list of “World’s Most Admired Companies” for 2019, strategic philanthropy is hard-wired into your DNA. The prestigious survey uses nine criteria to select the best-regarded businesses, including corporate social responsibility (CSR). Companies embracing CSR—the belief we all have social, environmental and ethical responsibilities to society—are reaping the benefits of their activities in important ways. First, they are establishing goodwill with employees, customers and other community members. That’s earned trust you can bank on. Even better, they are increasing profits and building strong brands. Starbuck’s, which ranks fifth on this year’s […]

Jun 06

Marketing Then and Now: Why Relationships Will Always Matter Most

My Dad, Dave, was an old school marketer. He didn’t have a college degree. He learned everything he needed to know about sales and marketing on the job at Aubrey Manufacturing, a family owned company in mostly blue-collar Union, Ill. Aubrey made range hoods and ventilation equipment for the kitchen and bathroom. Good products. Well made. Dad knew the importance of great brand storytelling and influencer marketing long before they became today’s buzz words. His storytelling was of the oral variety, though, usually told with laughter over a drink or dinner. His influencers were the partners, colleagues, employees and company leaders he got to know through the work he loved. […]

Apr 23

Reputation Nation March 2018

Someone once said everything we do and say is public relations. The editorial mission of Reputation Nation is to highlight news and issues impacting business reputation and the practice of public relations (PR). From thought leadership programs to social responsibility and crisis communications, PR provides the reputation currency to build trust and grow your business. In fact, we would argue that in today’s divisive and highly polarized society, PR is needed now more than ever. We hope you enjoy this issue of Reputation Nation and we welcome your feedback!

Apr 27

Is Digital Disruption Killing PR? No, But Times Are Changing.

If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it make any sound? Yes, but only if there is a capable public relations (PR) advisor on hand to help amplify the noise. Perhaps this analogy is a bit corny, but it’s also true. Chances are that a PR pro has had some hand in nearly every major story of note, most often behind the scenes counseling business leaders on messaging strategy or serving as a liaison between official and press. But make no mistake, the indelible imprint of the PR practitioner is being felt more often than not. In recent years there have […]

Apr 14

Gotcha United! What is Really Behind this Week’s Corboy & Demetrio Press Event

After suffering a heart attack and cheating death one month into the job, unconventional CEO Oscar Munoz led United to become America’s best airline. That was the gist of the headline Business Insider reporter Benjamin Zhang penned just two months ago when describing Munoz after his success turning around the fortunes of the airline. On March 16, Munoz collected PRWeek’s coveted U.S. Communicator of the Year award for his ability to build consensus. Within 48 hours of the fateful video showing the forceful removal of Doctor David Dao from United Express Flight 3411, PRWeek publishers virtually snatched back their choice. As if everything the man had accomplished the prior two […]