Image of Ellen Ryan Mardiks
Jury

Ellen Ryan Mardiks
Vice Chairman
Golin

CHICAGO, USA // A 30+ year veteran of the agency, Ellen believes every brand can be relevant with the right mix of insight and compelling creative to tell its story. 

Ellen has built a career as a strategist and brand builder, with a particular passion for integrated marketing.  She has a track record of award-winning campaigns for iconic yet game-changing brands including Walmart, Nestlé, Crayola and Sargento.

Ellen is a sought-after speaker at PR and marketing conferences around the world.  Most recently, she chaired the Women in Leadership Economic Forum in Abu Dhabi, an event that drew more than 1000 participants and speakers from the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. 

She serves the industry and the community with vigor.  Ellen was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities and serves as vice chair of the Advisory Council of the Ad/PR Program at the University of Georgia’s Grady School, one of the premier collegiate PR programs in the US. One of Ellen’s great passions is fueling the creative talent of young PR people, which she was proud to do as a jurist for the Young Lions Competition at Cannes.

An architect of trusted partnerships, Ellen leads Golin’s client management efforts including the g4ce (G-Force!), which supports the agency’s leading Catalysts in their efforts to build their clients’ business through smart strategic insights and breakthrough creative that connects with impact.

Ellen graduated from Georgetown University and also studied at the University of London.