Paramount PR is introducing a new blog series called “Women in PR” in which we highlight prominent women who have had an impact in the public relations world. Today, learn more about a rising force in the political PR world, Audrey Gelman.
At twenty-six, Audrey Gelman has a resume most PR professionals would envy. Shortly after graduating from NYU, Gelman became deputy press secretary for Scott Stringer in his campaign for Manhattan borough president. Running against the infamous Eliot Spitzer, Stringer was lacking serious name-recognition. Gelman gave Stringer’s campaign new life with a millennial PR approach. She hosted what New York Magazine called “the most hip fund-raiser in the history of the office of the New York City comptroller”. By inviting high-profile celebrities, like Girls creator Lena Dunham, Gelman successfully made comptroller politics cool. The event was covered by influential national media like Page Six, Refinery 29 and Vogue and made Scott Stringer a household name and eventual winner of the election.
Beyond her work with Stinger’s campaign, Gelman found time to revive Downtown 4 Democracy, a political action committee. Again, Gelman made progressive politics hip by hosting a casual, celebrity-endorsed launch barbecue. Gelman understands her demographic and the importance of tastemakers in the world of PR. Young people, she tells New York Magazine, “influence what America wears, watches, reads, and listens to — they have an opportunity to harness that influence.”
We can’t help but admire Audrey Gelman, not only for her PR efforts but also for her ambitious attitude. She currently serves as vice president of the strategic communications-consulting firm SKDKnickerbocker, is a contributing editor at Marie Claire and is the inspiration for the character Marnie on Girls. Gelman’s refreshing take on political PR has established her as an “It Girl” that female PR professionals can look up to.
To learn more about Audrey Gelman, check out this article from The New York Times.
