What are some of your proudest achievements?
I’m proud to be a PR Week 40 under 40 honoree as well as a 40 Game Changers of Chicago award recipient from WVON 1690 and Ariel Investments. I’ve also been recognized as a Chicago Defender Woman of Excellence. I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done over the years for clients such as AT&T, The Dow Chemical Company, Nike, McDonald’s and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago’s bebolD&Inspire diversity and inclusion campaign won several communications awards in 2019, including an award from Bulldog and the National Association of Black Journalists. In addition to winning awards, the branding and messaging my team helped develop has empowered employees to include a D&I lens at all levels at the bank in the hiring and supplier diversity process. That’s why strategic communications work is so critically important — because it can impact mind space that then has an impact on real actions.
What’s next on your list of objectives for the industry?
In addition to adding more clients to our roster, I’m excited to fulfill my legacy and commitment to education. I am joining DePaul University’s College of Communications as an adjunct professor at the graduate level. I am also joining a couple of boards dedicated to educating the next generation of students of color. I plan to continue spreading the importance of diversity and inclusion in public relations, communications, marketing, advertising and content creation so we can make sure our perspectives are heard and we have a seat at the table in these high-impact and culture-shifting industries.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy traveling, reading great books both fiction and nonfiction, producing my podcast “Firsts Over Forty,” writing, doing yoga, bicycling on the lakefront, and spending time with my great friend network. A perfect evening would be sharing dinner with my husband and friends at one of Chicago’s top restaurants. Chicago is a great city for communications pros and restaurant aficionados.
To learn more about Christina Steed, visit website, www.christinasteed.com and follow her @ccsteed on Instagram and Twitter. Click here to listen to her “Firsts Over Forty” podcast on Spotify.
