BROOKLYN, USA // When brands want to create a forever-connection with consumers, they consult Cheryl Overton. She is a creative instigator with a passion for brands, an instinct for consumer insights, a commitment to inclusivity and a knack for integrating digital solutions that leverage popular culture to drive awareness and fandom. She is the Founder and CXO of Cheryl Overton Communications, LLC, a strategic integrated communications advisory that helps brands navigate its relationships with stakeholders via the voices, influence and persuasive power of multicultural consumers. Through creative storytelling and disruptive business solutions, her team creates content and campaigns that stick and land.

With more than 20 years of global communications experience, Ms. Overton has been the driver behind influential, culture-shaping initiatives for some of the world’s most beloved brands including Starbucks, American Express, Barnes & Noble, Target, Pepperidge Farm, Johnson & Johnson and The City of New Orleans, to name a few. Two of the campaigns she spearheaded – Unilever Dove “Campaign for Real Beauty” and the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” – were ranked among the best of the best campaigns of the past 20 years by both Ad Age and PR Week. Cheryl served as the African American insights and strategy lead for Procter & Gamble’s repositioning of “My Black is Beautiful” and “The Talk,” its unprecedented, unexpected and groundbreaking campaign about racial bias. It was Ms. Overton’s core insight that catalyzed the award-winning integrated campaign and prompted deeper dialogue about racial bias that resonated around the world. Just recently, she conceived and led Hologic’s integrated campaign entitled, “Her Health is Her Wealth,” a women’s health call-to-action that debuted during the Super Bowl.

Prior to entrepreneurship, Cheryl held senior agency leadership roles at Egami Group, Zeno Group, PMK|BNC, UniWorld Group, Ogilvy PR and Edelman, providing strategy, creative, business development and relationship management for a spectrum of clients targeting consumer, corporate, professional, influencer and multicultural audiences. Cheryl elevated Egami Group from an unknown to #34 on Adweek’s Fastest Growing 100 Agencies list in one year’s time. Industry recognition of her brand work includes an Emmy, three Cannes Lions (including the Grand Prix), Silver Anvil, Adcolor, Gold Pencil, Gold Sabre, IPRA, Shorty, PR Week and PRSA Big Apple “Best of the Best.” A sought-after industry thought leader, she has lectured for the Association of National Advertisers, PR Council and Public Relations Society of America. She serves on the Board of Directors of The Advertising Club and hosts its knowledge series knowledge series entitled, “Entrepreneurs: NOW.” She was named a “Person of the Year” by The Ad Club and was inducted into the PR Week Hall of Femme. She was also named among the PRovoke Media Innovator 25. She received her B.A. from Barnard College of Columbia University and her Master of Journalism degree, with honors, from Temple University.

A native of Philadelphia, Cheryl volunteers as Board Chair of viBe Theater Experience, a NYC-based “artivism” program for young women and non-binary youth. Under her leadership, viBe has doubled its Board and tripled its giving. She also serves on the Board of Advisors for Heroic Gardens, a nonprofit that uses horticulture therapy to support the needs of Veterans. Cheryl is an intrepid explorer and culture hound who has visited six continents, 120 countries (and counting), tagging her adventures #CROontheGO. Her leisure pursuits also include fashion, black and white photography and jewelry design. A foodie and (Michelin) star chaser, she is currently taking DJ lessons and curates the @MadShoeGram Instagram feed.