#219: How to Deploy Strategic Communications for Your Startup with Jessica Schaefer, Founder & CEO of Bevel PR, a Leading Public Relations Consultancy that Works with Venture Capital Funds, Tech and Fintech Brands

Jessica honed her communications skills during her tenure at Point72, where she led communications for the firm’s venture capital arm — Point72 Ventures — in addition to serving as Vice President of corporate communications of the family office. She then went on to found Bevel ( https://www.bevelpr.com/ ), a leading public relations consultancy that works with venture capital funds, tech and fintech brands. Prior to Point72, Jessica had multiple sales and marketing roles at Moody’s, which included Head of Marketing Communications and Director of Global Sales, managing a book of $12.5M.

She started her career at a mid-sized PR agency in NYC at the beginning of the financial crisis in 08’. Her clients included Oppenheimer Funds, RBC, RBS, and Jefferies. Jessica has received multiple awards for her work including PR News “Rising Stars 30 under 30” and Moody’s “Rising Star Award.” She holds her MBA of Finance from Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College and is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where she studied Public Relations. She currently serves on the Board for Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation and volunteers a significant amount of her time doing public relations for non-profits focused on pediatric cancer.

Some of the Topics Covered by Jessica Schaefer in this Episode

• What Bevel does and the types of companies they work with
• Jessica's experience working with Steve Cohen at Point 72
• How Jessica decided to start Bevel PR
• Why Jessica ended up in communications
• How Bevel PR became the go-to fintech communication firm
• Some of the things Bevel PR does to help companies like Acorns and their strategy working with other companies
• When a startup should consider taking on a PR firm and what Bevel PR looks for in the companies they work with
• How Jessica has approached growing the team at Bevel PR and why she brings on people outside of the world of PR
• The unique pay structure Jessica uses for her own team at Bevel PR
• Building an internal communications team vs. hiring a firm like Bevel PR
• Proactive vs. reactive communications
• The expectations of the clients Bevel PR works with
• Working on a project with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Acorns
• How Jessica looks at PR for Bevel PR, why she created a team internally, and what this team consists of
• COVID-19 and how Jessica has navigated the situation for Bevel PR
• The most challenging part of being in the public relations industry working with intense founders
• How Jessica recharges outside of work
• Jessica's advice for other founders

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