Weber Shandwick Wins Best PR Firm Diversity Initiative at 2016 Diversity Distinction in PR Awards 

Published

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2016 — Weber Shandwick, one of the world’s leading global communications and engagement firms, was honored with the Best PR Firm Diversity Initiative award by the PR Council and PRWeek at the annual Diversity Distinction in PR Awards. Judith Harrison, senior vice president of Diversity & Inclusion, was also recognized with Honorable Mention in the PR Firm Diversity Champion category for her work in advancing diversity and inclusion at Weber Shandwick and across the public relations industry. The Diversity Distinction in PR Awards honor industry champions who facilitate greater diversity and inclusion within organizations and public relations.

Weber Shandwick Names Gail Heimann President, Chief Strategy Officer; Frank Okunak, Chief Operating Officer

– Judith Harrison Receives Honorable Mention as PR Firm Diversity Champion – 

 

This is the fifth award win for Weber Shandwick at the Diversity Distinction in PR Awards since the program was established six years ago, including four Best PR Firm Diversity Initiative honors and one Best Community Initiative honor.

 

The PR Council and PRWeek highlighted Weber Shandwick’s multi-level employee engagement programs as contributors to the firm’s success, including master classes for global executives, annual Diversity Day/Weeks across 12 offices and quarterly educational seminars. Additionally, Weber Shandwick has grown its Diversity Council from 118 to more than 175 in the past year. On Weber Shandwick’s efforts in this area, one Diversity Distinction in PR Awards judge noted, “It continues to raise the bar and produce results. It’s a model for all to follow.”

I’m proud of our entire team at Weber Shandwick whose collaborative efforts have contributed to this award, recognizing our commitment to diversity and inclusion. There is more work to be done, but we’re grateful for this recognition and energized in our commitment to continue making progress

Andy Polansky

Chief executive officer of Weber Shandwick

Harrison, in receiving Honorable Mention as a PR Firm Diversity Champion, was described as a “simply outstanding leader” by one Diversity Distinction in PR Awards judge. Harrison leads Weber Shandwick’s Diversity & Inclusion Council and fosters effective partnerships with several industry organizations focused on advancing diversity and inclusion, including The Lagrant Foundation and Ron Brown Scholar Program. Harrison helped facilitate the launch of ColorComm’s Chicago and New York chapters. She also initiated and advanced the PRIME program at Weber Shandwick, which aims to increase diversity in PR by recruiting students from historically black colleges.

 

Weber Shandwick has also been honored with IPG’s Inclusion Award for Inclusive Talent Cultivation, the Advertising Age Best Place to Work distinction in 2014 and 2015, and was also ranked a Best Place to Work by PRWeek in 2013 and 2014.