Professional Experience
My 20+ year career includes a mix of agency and in-house roles largely focused on consumer brands and services. I’ve specifically cultivated an expertise in food and beverage and health and wellness brands, having orchestrated PR and communications programs for clients ranging from scrappy start-ups to large scale CPG leaders. I truly enjoy the packaged foods industry because it’s rich with sensory exploration and deep innovation, especially with the heightened intersection of personal and planetary health. I’ve led hundreds of integrated programs from igniting publicity campaigns designed to drive brand awareness to successfully navigating sensitive crisis issues to mitigate fallout.
I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.
- Estée Lauder
How'd you get here?
Less than six years into my professional journey, I founded Rachel Kay Public Relations (RKPR), a bicoastal boutique agency that became one of the most respected firms specializing in consumer packaged goods, which was acquired by FINN Partners in 2022.
Considered an industry thought leader, I’ve been interviewed on CPG marketing and communications trends by numerous media and organizations including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Mashable, O’dwyers, BevNet, New Hope, The Specialty Food Association, and Food Business News. I’m also proud that we were named a Silver Stevie Award Winner for Women-Run Workplace of the year. My commentary on new media has been featured in Cutlip, Center and Broom’s “Effective Public Relations,” one of the world’s most widely used textbooks for PR study at the university level, and in “Ready to Launch: The PR Couture Guide to Breaking into Fashion PR.” I was also named one of 20 PR Power Women to follow on Twitter by The Daily Muse. Being passionate and vocal really helped propel our reputation as leaders in CPG communications.