LAUREL

Coming in HOT! Join us for September's event, which will focus on FUTURE OF WORK. Meet the Press (MSP) is a social mixer for innovators and journalists who are invested in disruption of a single vertical. Get a ticket, invite somebody - maybe even your favorite journalist - and plan to join us for the best social mixer on either side of the Mississippi. Thrilled to meet new innovators and reporters and spark new connections. Keep an eye out here on LinkedIn or in our newsletter for special collaborations and future verticals. See you every first Wednesday going forward! #innovation #journalism #publicrelations #startup #ecosystem https://lnkd.in/gKBJHRnr

Meet the Press (MSP) event series is officially launched! The room was buzzing and full of powerful innovators and journalists. Thanks to all who joined us. To get involved in future events, follow along with LAUREL by subscribing to our weekly PR + comms newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gUj6PafK Special thanks to our journalists: Cam Bonelli of Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (MSPBJ) Nick Williams of Star Tribune Deanna Pistono of MinnPost Jeffrey Bissoy of Center for Broadcast Journalism The future is bold! #publicrelations #innovation #startup #communications #journalism #press #ecosystem #leadership

LAST CALL for journalists and innovators in healthcare and social innovation based in MSP. Join us on Wednesday, August 7th for a social mixer designed to connect journalists who write on these topics with expert sources who are actively building in the space. RSVP and plan to join us!

Small shift, big impact. The search feature on RISING ICONS is now live! Search the series for keywords when you're looking for experts to provide comment, make a guest appearance or speak on their expertise. Visit the page and meet people driving change in innovation ecosystems across the nation: https://lnkd.in/ggRMb9fB The future is bold! #innovation #publicrelations #journalism #communications #leadership

Meet our next RISING ICON. Amir Berenjian the founder and CEO of REM5 STUDIOS, an immersive technology company based in Minneapolis. After holding leadership roles in investment banking with BMO Capital Markets, he built a safe place for people to be introduced to cutting-edge tech, accepting an Oculus Launch Pad Fellowship with Facebook and partnering with Fortune 500 companies. Most recently, he's led the REM5 team to build immersive technology to solve world health issues, partnering with organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and American Cancer Society to drive awareness and activate global donors with virtual experiences - the largest of their kind in the world. "The future of VR and AR isn't about games, it’s the future of how everyone will interact with technology. PCs, phones, and all other screens will eventually go away. It wasn't that long ago the 'internet' was a silly concept and the iPhone was considered a flop … yet here we are." To learn more about Amir's founder story and leadership journey, find the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gfkEB8AR We're rooting for his rise! mentioned: UNICEF and United Nations Foundation cc: Lex Fridman and Mike Isaac at The New York Times

If you love meeting interesting people, we're having a TIME celebrating innovators featured in the RISING ICONS series. At this point, it's taken on a life of it's own and I don't personally know a lot of the people we feature. Grateful to everyone who's said yes. It's the joy of my life to put people who are betting on themselves in front of the media and their community in new ways. More than ever, I'm a proud founder and executive editor at LAUREL. Check it out the series here: https://lnkd.in/gk7bePgi #publicrelations #leadership #innovation #startup #futurist

Meet our next RISING ICON. Andrew Headrick is founder + CEO of Kavira Health, a subscription-based primary and urgent care clinic for virtual and in-person home visits. Before setting his sights on helping employees get access to more affordable and convenient everyday healthcare, Andrew held roles as an analyst in investment banking at Piper Jaffray and corporate development at Medtronic. He also learned valuable lessons founding an earlier company. Every stop was insightful to the growth he drives for his current venture. "Each path has its own ups and downs, but as long as you keep learning, improving, making connections, generally moving forward, and of course looking up to enjoy the scenery, then you needn’t stress so much about the current decision in front of you." To learn more about Andrew's founder story and leadership journey, find the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/g4Jcw58A We're rooting for his rise! mentioned: Lex Fridman cc: Nick Williams at Star Tribune

Forbes reports that 44% of a company's market share is attributable to the leader's reputation. It's even more significant for emerging brands. "With 70% of consumers 'somewhat' or 'completely' trusting a brand's website and 69% trusting a company's mentions in editorial content, it's crucial for top executives to be highlighted in articles, reviews and expert pieces." Check out this article from Forbes or join us in August for an Executive PR Strategy interview: https://lnkd.in/gVjcD3CA

Meet our next RISING ICON. Marcus Alipate is the founder of SMOOVE, a fashion brand that was established to help change the narrative behind how someone views their true self. With a background in apparel (former Nike), professional sports (Tonga Basketball) and creative brand direction (Thesis), Marcus has delivered an option that's a nod to all three. "Storytelling is woven into the fabric of human history. It's how we make sense of the world and connect with others. Similarly, clothing is a form of storytelling, expressing who we are before we even speak. Combining storytelling and clothing reveals volumes about our identities." To learn more about about Marcus's leadership story and founder journey, find the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gkajG33k We're rooting for his rise! mentioned: Pierre-Laurent BAUDEY cc: Sheena Butler-Young at The Business of Fashion