Consulting Work
In a world of ‘context collapse,’ I bring a perspective that is beyond boundaries.
Viki Conner is a seasoned strategic communications and marketing leader who delivers exceptional advisement and results for her clients. Having worked across sectors and geographies, she draws on more than than two decades of experience from the boardroom to the classroom, spanning work for the PR agency Edelman and the University of Chicago. Her approach combines passion for big picture strategic opportunity identification with flawless attention-to-detail in execution for her clients.
As a sociologist and communications researcher who studies how narratives and emotions operate in, through, and across digital spaces, she brings the latest research to her work to produce campaigns and initiatives that work to deliver results for her clients and a positive impact on society.
About Viki
Viki Askounis Conner (she/her) is a doctoral researcher in communication studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago where she studies new media, politics, and social change, and works in the editorial office of the top-ranked journal, Social Media + Society.
Before beginning her doctoral studies, Viki served as the Senior Associate Dean of Communications and Public Affairs at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. In this capacity, she oversaw the communications and events functions for the school during a period of rapid growth in enrollment and fundraising. With her leadership, she drove a major rebrand for the school while modernizing its external relations functions – investing in digital engagement, content marketing, events, and executive communication – to reach and engage new audiences in the school’s vital work. During her six years at Harris, she advised three deans through the announcement of new strategic initiatives, including six centers and institutes, three academic degree programs, and the opening of its award-winning facility, the Keller Center, in addition to navigating various issues, such as COVID-19 and D&I, at the school.
Prior to joining the University of Chicago, Viki spent 13 years with the global public relations agency, Edelman, where she served as Senior Vice President of Corporate and Public Affairs. Having worked in the agency’s Chicago, New York, and London offices, Viki brings extensive experience in corporate communications and brand positioning for Fortune 500 organizations across a wide range of sectors, including financial services, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, retail, and education. While at Edelman, she led corporate brand-building campaigns and reputation management initiatives for clients including GE Capital, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, CME Group, and SC Johnson, among others. She also led several consulting projects for the University of Chicago, as a client, in support of strategic initiatives of the President’s Office.
In addition to pursuing a Ph.D., Viki holds an M.A. in the social sciences with a concentration in sociology from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in public policy and French from Duke University. A downtown Chicago native, she resides in Lincoln Park with her husband and two daughters.
Expertise
Organizational Branding + Messaging
Organizational brand strategy and research
Landscape audits
Audience research
White space identification
Brand implementation
Brand guidelines development and consultation
Messaging architectures, narratives, and verbal toolkits
Brand launch communications and roll-out plans
Messaging ‘tune-ups’ and refreshes
Digital Content Strategy + Engagement
Owned content strategy
Digital content hubs
Editorial calendar planning
Paid partnerships and sponsored content
Social media
Strategy and planning
Content development
Influencer research and listening
Organizational websites*
Information architecture advisement
Web content and copywriting
*In coordination with web development specialists (upon request)
Communications Strategy + Planning
Communications strategy and counsel
Annual plans
Initiative and program launches
Major announcements
Announcement plans
Messaging
Media*
Project management and implementation
*In coordination with media specialists upon request
Internal communications and change management
Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Audits
Communications and engagement plans
Annual reports and accountability
Stakeholder Mapping + Outreach
Relationship prioritization and mapping of existing contacts
Influencer and partnership identification to cultivate new contacts
Research
List building
Outbound communications plans inclusive of online/offline engagement
Advisement, coaching, and briefings for high-level, direct-to-stakeholder engagement
Executive Positioning + Thought Leadership
Executive positioning
Topic identification
Online/offline engagement opportunities
Leadership visibility plans
360 implementation across channels (media, events, social media, etc.)
Internal and external communications
Board and influencer identification
Executive remarks and speech writing
Event Programming + Speakers
Speaker series + custom events
Concept development and branding
Event planning*
Content and programming
Speaker identification and outreach
Event invites and marketing
*In coordination with event management and logistics specialists (upon request)
Speaker’s bureaus
Identification of third-party speaking and event opportunities for executives and experts
Speaker proposals
Case Studies
Social Impact, Down to a Science.
How can your organization gain new relevance in a stagnant category? And, when the social and political landscape around it is changing so rapidly, how do you innovate while staying true to your roots?
Learn about my work for the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy where we developed and launched a new brand positioning to galvanize students, policy leaders, scholars, and donors to support its mission and redefine what it means to be a policy school for the next generation with its brand promise of “Social Impact, Down to a Science.”
Credits: Video produced by UChicago Creative with creative direction provided by Colleen Newquist; brand book developed in partnership with UChicago Creative and Anthony Ruth
Who I’ve Worked For
Let’s Connect
Whether you’re interested in collaborating, learning about my work, or exploring how I can advance your project, I would love to hear from you. Let’s connect and imagine what’s next.