Christina Steed is an overly organized, uber-strategic, lover of all things creative. From her humble beginnings as the newspaper editor in her second-grade class, Christina has a true passion for the written and spoken word in all their many forms. As an executive-level marketing communications pro by day, she channels that creative passion into helping brands tell their story to key audiences with a culturally competent lens.
Christina started in the field of broadcast journalism delivering on-air news reports for the CBS affiliate in Champaign, Illinois. Her commitment to expanding her knowledge in the communications field led her to pursue marketing communications and public relations. She has worked for several award-winning agencies handling global accounts from the chemical and HVAC industries (BBB= boring billion-dollar businesses) to food service, financial, consumer and technology companies.
Christina is a multi-dimensional creative. A podcast host, newly minted TV show host, adjunct professor, writer, and film producer, she is also a life-long advocate for community causes near and dear in the areas of education, youth and literacy. She is completing work on her first novel and is an avid reader of books and industry trend pieces. She also provides one-on-one mentoring to up-and-coming communications professionals.
Christina’s background includes a mix of journalism, broadcasting, public relations, marketing communications, trade show marketing, social media and global communications. She received her B.S. in Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her M.A in Strategic Communications from the University of Missouri-Columbia’s School of Journalism.
My time as a reporter, Champaign, IL.
Christina was named one of PRWeek’s 40 under 40, a prestigious list of top professionals in the public relations industry. She has received several industry awards from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Publicity Club of Chicago (PCC), Bulldog Reporter, PRNews, and PR Week. She was named to the Chicago Defender Women of Excellence list and was recognized as a WVON and Ariel Investments Top 40 under 40 Gamechanger of Chicago. Christina enjoys reading, writing, traveling, attending live concerts, museum strolling and Tweeting to her small but mighty following. She is a member of the Black Public Relations Society Chicago Chapter, National Association of Black Journalists, Sophisticates, Inc., and Just 4 Girlfriends. She previously served on the Diversity and Internship Committees at Golin and currently serves as Chairman of the Board for the Chicago State Foundation. She serves on the board for Open Books and Girls Like Me Foundation. She previously served on the board of the South Side Community Art Center, PCC, and the American Diabetes Association Executive Committee. A native of Chicago’s south suburbs, she is married, and currently resides in Chicago and Atlanta.
Awards
- PR Week 40 under 40 Rising Star
- Chicago Defender Woman of Excellence
- Bulldog Reporter, Best Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program
- WVON and Ariel Investments 40 under 40 Gamechangers in Chicago
- Publicity Club of Chicago Silver Trumpet Award
- PR Week Honorable Mention
- Best Integrated Marketing Award, McDonald’s
- Public Relations Society of America Best Campaign
- PR News Best Multicultural Campaign
