Euro RSCG Worldwide PR - Katie McSorley
Company: Euro RSCG Worldwide PR
Company Description: Euro RSCG Worldwide PR is the PR arm of Euro RSCG Worldwide. Its practice areas include B2B, consumer, corp comms, health care, SoMe and tech. ERWW PR is digital at the core and is a longtime leader in cause marketing and corporate social responsibility. The North American division is the second largest in the Euro RSCG Worldwide PR network after France and has a presence across the U.S.
Nomination Category: Individual Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Mentor or Coach of the Year
Nomination Title: Katie McSorley
Describe for the judges the nominated individual's activities and accomplishments that supported women in business during the eligibility period (up to 500 words):
Katie McSorley heads the Pittsburgh office of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, where every staff member, minus one (who good-naturedly calls himself “the outlier in the Pittsburgh office’s sisterhood”), is a woman. They are all so fiercely loyal to their leader, colleagues and work that the low turnover rate probably breaks some sort of record.
Clients are equally loyal. Two of the office’s accounts, Bayer MaterialScience and Transitions Optical, have relationships with ERWW PR spanning two decades. Almost unheard-of, it shows Katie’s strengths in meeting the evolving marketing needs of clients while earning the loyalty and trust that contribute to such long-term partnerships.
Her success could be tallied in a variety of ways, from those devoted clients to award wins to a growing revenue base. Plus, in April, Katie was promoted to president of ERWW PR Middle Atlantic.
But colleagues say her personal communication skills are essential to her accomplishments. Whether they’re used when earning a prospective client’s trust, meeting a young professional to assess his or her qualifications for a position, media training a top executive in a crisis or inspiring her staff, she uses them wisely to guide others. Katie is transparent when conveying good or bad needs, is a perceptive listener, and is a coach of work-life balance.
“Katie leads by example, with uncompromising ethics and the ability to bring groups together with common vision to achieve remarkable results,” says Susan English, an SVP who has worked with Katie for 12 years. “Just watching her in action is a valuable learning experience, but Katie doesn’t stop there. She always makes time for—and expects—those she works with to be active learners, working together for the best outcome.”
Susan adds that Katie’s initiative to bring the One Young World (OYW) leadership summit (a Euro RSCG program) to Pittsburgh in 2012 has “created an office-wide learning and life-changing experience.” Katie used an innovative strategy—one that also contributes to the agency’s business success—to spearhead the effort. She immediately recognized many potential benefits, and Pittsburgh is now one of two finalists, vying with Johannesburg.
“When I took over @erwwpr, industry analyst Paul Holmes offered sage counsel,” says Marian Salzman, CEO of ERWW PR. “My only takeaway was, ‘Let Katie let her teams thrive.’ To paraphrase Paul, she was a winning manager, a trusted PR practitioner and a mentor to the next generation in the Steel City who enjoyed the environment she sustained regardless of New York. I take great pride that in bringing the One Young World opportunity to Pittsburgh, New York has served it soul food, which Katie has seasoned, simmered and plated absolutely her own way.”
Katie is a trusted business leader, adviser, coach and colleague. Under her guidance, her office has an active internship program, invites students to job- shadow, and encourages staff to enrich their perspectives through continuing education opportunities locally, nationally and internationally. She gives generously of her time and talent, cultivating and challenging new professionals inside and outside the office to excel.
List the URLs (web addresses) of any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that you would like the judges to see that support your entry. IMPORTANT: List each URL on a separate line, begin each URL with http://, and enclose each URL in square brackets. For example, [http://www.yourcompany.com/pressrelease.html]:
A press release about Katie’s new role in a restructured ERWW PR:
http://bit.ly/eIIvF5
An article naming the largest Pittsburgh-area PR agencies; ERWW PR tops the list:
http://bit.ly/abrOmB
An article about Katie’s and ERWW PR Pittsburgh’s efforts on behalf of One Young World:
http://bit.ly/mbqNLh
Provide a brief biography of the nominated individual (up to 100 words):
Katie McSorley’s agency career spans more than 25 years, during which time she has developed a strong expertise in B2B communications, creating strategic campaigns for the chemicals, aluminum, steel, optical, glass and energy industries, among others. Her clients have included Bayer, Transitions Optical, Nestlé, PPG Industries, and Johnson & Johnson. Katie has served on the boards of the Parental Stress Center, Arthritis Foundation, American Heart Association and Pittsburgh Athletic Association, and she is active in the Public Relations Society of America, having served as her chapter’s president and board officer. Katie is a graduate of Manhattanville College.