Meet the Team: Q&A with Alli
Get to know one of our communications specialists.
1. What brought you to the Guardian team?
I was working in the sports and live events industry when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and layoffs occurred in almost every department. After the pandemic, I struggled to find fulfillment at my advertising agency. It felt like God was pushing me toward something more meaningful. A LinkedIn post came across my radar about an open role at Guardian, and I was immediately intrigued by a place where my skills could benefit faith-driven clients.
My career is now at the 10-year mark and I can confidently say that I have never felt more at home than I do at Guardian. No work day is the same. Our work is fast-paced and requires problem-solving, and we truly have the opportunity to partner with our clients to bring positive change in the world.
2. What must you do every day to stay sharp professionally and personally?
Keeping up with the latest trends in public relations, communications and AI is really important. There is a ton of information out there, making it easy to feel overwhelmed if you try to take it all in. I prefer to consume news that is formatted like a daily newsletter. This allows me to skim and get the topline information, and then dive deeper into the stories that are relevant to our work and clients. The Neuron is a great resource for AI updates that are digestible, and PRWeek is my preferred source for “News of the Day” and updates on communications trends.
3. What are you most passionate about regarding strategic communications?
I love crafting messages in a way that resonates with a client’s target audience and moves them to take action. People will always relate to stories that are humanized and have a feel-good component to them. Being able to identify those stories and tell them for the ministries we work with is very fulfilling.
4. If you could share one message or tip with nonprofits, what would it be?
Everything communicates. I know we say it often, but embracing this foundational concept is a game changer. While your messaging is an obvious channel of communication, it is important to remember that who you partner with, where you invest your time and how you steward money are all things that contribute to your brand reputation.
5. What motivates you?
I’m motivated knowing our work makes a positive impact for our clients, their ministries and those they serve. For example, there was a significant natural disaster last year, and one of our clients was on the front lines assisting victims and providing aid. We were able to get the word out about their work, and it made a significant impact in a struggling community. I feel really fortunate to work on projects like that.
6. What is a quote you live by?
Coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” I know I will never achieve perfection, but by pushing to always improve, I position myself to honor the Lord through excellent work and service.