founder & principal
Payal Patel is a strategic communications professional, crisis and issues management expert and multilingual media spokesperson with more than 15 years of experience in leading integrated marketing and communications.
Prior to her consultancy work, Payal spearheaded the marketing and communications department and served as the chief spokesperson for Navy Pier—one of the top-attended destinations in the world. During her tenure, she helped the popular non-profit institution elevate its brand profile, execute award-winning PR campaigns, increase attendance, and diffuse several operational and reputational crises, converting them into favorable outcomes for the organization. As the public relations director for the Chicago-based NFL Players Association (NFLPA), Payal developed and implemented comprehensive communications strategies for key organizational events and community outreach initiatives, including the annual celebrity golf outing, youth football grant and scholarship programs and the highly-anticipated NFL Draft in Chicago. Payal has also led marketing and communications efforts for several other professional sports organizations following a brief career in journalism, where her journey as a storyteller first began.
In 2020, Payal was named to the PR NEWS Top Women in PR list and internationally recognized for her work in crisis management. In 2016, she was honored at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. as part of the 30 Under 30 list, celebrating the industry’s rising stars. A passionate advocate for girls’ education and women’s economic empowerment, Payal devoutly supports philanthropic efforts for Room to Read and Dress for Success. In addition, she has served on the boards for the Publicity Club of Chicago, Public Relations Society of America and UN Women. In 2023, she was appointed as a United Nations Global Goals Ambassador, charged with helping the UN advance its Sustainable Development Goal of Economic Growth (SDG 8). Payal was also selected to represent the United Nations Association as a U.S. delegate at the 68th Commission on the Status of Women—the UN's largest global assembly on gender equality.
Payal holds a Master of Science in Communication (emphasis in Crisis Management) from Northwestern University—where she now serves as a guest lecturer—and a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism, Public Relations, and Spanish Language and Literature from Marquette University.
To learn more about Payal's work and background, visit www.payalpatel.com.
Prior to her consultancy work, Payal spearheaded the marketing and communications department and served as the chief spokesperson for Navy Pier—one of the top-attended destinations in the world. During her tenure, she helped the popular non-profit institution elevate its brand profile, execute award-winning PR campaigns, increase attendance, and diffuse several operational and reputational crises, converting them into favorable outcomes for the organization. As the public relations director for the Chicago-based NFL Players Association (NFLPA), Payal developed and implemented comprehensive communications strategies for key organizational events and community outreach initiatives, including the annual celebrity golf outing, youth football grant and scholarship programs and the highly-anticipated NFL Draft in Chicago. Payal has also led marketing and communications efforts for several other professional sports organizations following a brief career in journalism, where her journey as a storyteller first began.
In 2020, Payal was named to the PR NEWS Top Women in PR list and internationally recognized for her work in crisis management. In 2016, she was honored at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. as part of the 30 Under 30 list, celebrating the industry’s rising stars. A passionate advocate for girls’ education and women’s economic empowerment, Payal devoutly supports philanthropic efforts for Room to Read and Dress for Success. In addition, she has served on the boards for the Publicity Club of Chicago, Public Relations Society of America and UN Women. In 2023, she was appointed as a United Nations Global Goals Ambassador, charged with helping the UN advance its Sustainable Development Goal of Economic Growth (SDG 8). Payal was also selected to represent the United Nations Association as a U.S. delegate at the 68th Commission on the Status of Women—the UN's largest global assembly on gender equality.
Payal holds a Master of Science in Communication (emphasis in Crisis Management) from Northwestern University—where she now serves as a guest lecturer—and a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism, Public Relations, and Spanish Language and Literature from Marquette University.
To learn more about Payal's work and background, visit www.payalpatel.com.