Michaelle Burstin

Partner & Global Head Brand, Marketing and Communications @ William Blair

About

Michaelle Burstin is a partner, and the global head of Brand, Marketing and Communications for William Blair. She is also a member of the Extended Leadership Group. In 2023, Michaelle led the firm through an overhaul and launch of a new firm intranet. This updated platform offers employees globally a personalized, William Blair branded experience enabling a matrix flow of information to allow for quick access to relevant content with the goal to increase engagement. Michaelle brings decades of experience in branding, strategic marketing and communications to her role. Since joining William Blair, Michaelle has continued to build a strategic central function by launching new marketing departments, upgrading the operations, digital, social, and technology infrastructure, and managing the team’s expanded responsibilities. She’s also responsible for crisis, communications, corporate communications, and internal communications . Previously, she co-chaired the mission vision and values working group, and was a member of the risk committee and the global inclusion council. Before joining William Blair, she held multiple senior leadership positions. She was previously the head of marketing at MSCI, responsible for developing and executing marketing and communication strategies for all global business lines. Michaelle previously spent 10 years at Credit Suisse in various leadership roles in marketing, branding, and communications at both the corporate level and in the investment bank. She was also a member of the fixed-income management committee and the operating committee. Michaelle was a managing director at Burson-Marsteller and Hill and Knowlton, two of the world's largest public relations and communications firms. There she developed strategic marketing plans for their largest clients and had responsibility for media relations, technology, crisis communications, and corporate communications. Earlier in her career, Michaelle worked as a political appointee for the Clinton administration as the director of Private and Public Sector Liaison with the United States Trade Representative in Washington D.C. and held a top-level security clearance. She was also the head of the media group at the Financial Relations Board and a producer and assignment editor at Fox news in California where she was nominated for a television Emmy. Michaelle is a board member to the Grant Park Music festival in Chicago. She has a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.A. from the American University, where she graduated with Phi Kappa Phi honors.

Country

United States

City

Greater Chicago Area

Industry

Financial Services

Skill

Strategic Communications, Investor Relations, Corporate Communications, Public Relations, Media Relations, Internal Communications, Marketing Communications, Strategy, Crisis Communications, Social Media, Mergers, Crisis Management, Integrated Marketing, Digital Marketing, Change Management, Strategic Planning, Marketing Strategy, Digital Media, Business Strategy, Marketing

Experience

Partner & Global Head Brand, Marketing and Communications

William Blair

2017-9 - Present · 9 yrs 1 mo

Chicago, Illinois

Responsible for marketing, branding and communications strategy for William Blair globally, and am a member of the Leadership Team. Most recently, I helped launch the firm’s new mission, vision and values and am now overseeing its integration into our culture. I have integrated data driven tools to track and measure results, manage projects and ensure on-time relevant results that amplify the brand and drive revenue for the firm. My responsibilities includes branding for the firm, CEO communications, PR/media relations, internal/employee communications, events, design strategy, video production, digital strategy, content strategy, social media, email/client communications, salesforce execution, business marketing strategy and community engagement for our Corporate, Investment Banking, Investment Management, Private Wealth Management, Research and Sales & Trading departments.

Global Head of Marketing

MSCI Inc.

2014-6 - 2017-8 · 3 yrs 3 mos

Greater New York City Area

Develop and execute marketing and communication strategy for all business lines globally at MSCI. Responsible for index, ETF, real estate, analytics, factors and ESG marketing teams around the world. Member of the management committee. Launched first product marketing and communications function. Marketing strategy responsibilities include: messaging and positioning, content marketing, client communications, events and partnerships, development of marketing materials and launching advertising campaigns. Communications strategy responsibilities include: development of media relations campaigns, engagement with reporters, leveraging digital media and handling crisis communications.

Global Head, Client Marketing Strategy, Branding and Communications

Credit Suisse

2009-11 - 2014-6 · 4 yrs 8 mos

New York, New York

Built first dedicated client-focused marketing, branding and communications program for the Investment Bank. - Responsible for delivering new unified marketing strategy for cross-promoting our products, initiatives and services including: launch of a new brand, new collateral and marketing material, new conferences, delivering internal awareness and education campaigns, and media relations outreach. - Developed new model for generating business leads, identified new revenue opportunities and client analytics. - Responsible for crisis, external media campaigns, investor and employee communications. - Partner with the senior most members of the Bank to deliver the business strategy, work closely with sales, trading and eCommerce to deliver our products and thought leadership to clients and manage a global team - Member of: Fixed Income Management Committee, Operating Committee, eCommerce Steering Committee, Social Media Committee and Human Capital Committee.

Corporate Communications

Credit Suisse

2004-12 - 2009-11 · 5 yrs

New York, New York

HEAD OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS 2006 - 2009 (3 years) New York, NY Developed marketing and internal communications function for the Investment Bank in the corporate communications department. Partnered with senior management and CEO to develop strategic initiatives to support the Bank's strategy. Launched new functions: regional management series, corporate policies and employee engagement tools. GLOBAL HEAD, CIO COMMUNICATIONS 2004 – 2006 (2 years) New York, New York Launched and developed internal and external marketing and communications program for the new Chief Information Officer and Executive Board Member. Developed media relations campaign for positioning role of technology as a driver for investment bank's of the future. Also integrated IT messaging into mainstream communications at the Bank.

Global Managing Director

Burson-Marsteller

2000 - 2003 · 3 yrs

Greater Los Angeles Area

Key Account Manager, responsible for developing new business, oversaw the firm's largest clients, generated significant revenue and managed a global team. My expertise is in technology and finance.

Managing Director

Hill & Knowlton

1998 - 2000 · 2 yrs

Greater Los Angeles Area

Launched and managed dot-com/eStrategy communications team responsible for developing IPO roadshows, media relations and strategic communications for start-up companies. Also worked with Fortune 500 companies on their public relations and communications strategies.