Helen C. Shelton, M.S.,?senior partner at leading global PR agency Finn Partners, will receive the 2016 Circle Award from ColorComm, the nation’s premier membership organization for women of?color?in communications.?Shelton and six other women are being recognized for their contributions to the communications industry. ?
In an exclusive interview, Shelton recently shared with TNJ.com her approach to her award-winning work, ?When you are a communications strategist, you need to be able to think of ways to effectively engage communities in a way that is sincere and genuine, and you have to be prepared and understand situations from 360 degrees; there are no linear approaches to what I do. I have been very fortunate in the sense that, over the years, I?ve become a trusted point of counsel for many clients who allow me to advise them on ways in which to work with communities. Whether it?s working on a consumer product or some sort of initiative, they trust me to help shape campaigns that will drive awareness and engagement and impact their business. For that, I am very grateful.?
She continues, ?And I think the way I got there is by continuing to do that and constantly being many steps ahead.? What are the trends? What?s in the news? What is driving consumers and their decisions? What is impacting the landscape in terms of tastes and trends that are out there? It is my job to fly above all of that and really take what I see and put together effective strategies that enable us to serve our clients and their interests.??
Shelton, whose career in public relations spans nearly 20 years, is very active in the industry, spearheading diversity initiatives at Finn Partners and serving on the board of ColorComm.?She is also a member of the international social service organization The Links Incorporated and has served as an adjunct professor at NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.?Over the years, Ms. Shelton has worked on public relations campaigns for major brands including Pernod Ricard USA’s Seagram’s Gin and Martell Cognac portfolios, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, General Motors and Verizon, among others.
“The?ColorComm?Circle?Awards?are the highest honor?awarded?to a select group of women who are changing the face of the communications industry,” says Lauren Wesley Wilson, president and founder of ColorComm.?”Helen Shelton has been a stalwart and a strong advocate for ColorComm since our founding five years ago. As a respected industry leader, she utilizes her position to positively impact the lives of others through her work. We are therefore delighted to honor her with the Circle Award.”
A Network Journal 2015 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business Award honoree, Shelton received a bachelor?s degree in art history from Dartmouth College and her master?s from Boston University College of Communication, where she was appointed a writing fellow.
(CLICK HERE to see Shelton speak on camera at TNJ’s 2015 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business awards.)
