Aisha Neha Shaikh

• I am responsible for all internal and external communications-related activities for three schools under the University.
• I am currently handling Edinburgh Business School (one of the biggest at the University), School of Textiles & Design, School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, and Centre of Excellence for Smart Construction.

Tasks and Achievements:

• Manage media relations and campaigns to strengthen and position the spokespeople as industry leaders.
• Built and strengthened relationships with members of media in order to promote positive coverage.
• Cultivated productive relationships with internal stakeholders (Provost, Heads of Schools, Faculty, Staff)
• Transitioned from periods of inactivity to immediate stress and intensity with exceptional accuracy and alertness.
• Developed and implemented short- and long-term communications strategies.
• Supported business goals by developing public relations strategies and campaigns.
• Prepared for public relations presentations and plans by gathering information on business objectives, vision, brand strategy, competition and industry trends.
• Drafted press releases detailing relevant newsworthy information and supporting brand image, and worked with news media to spread positions.
• Engaged in professional networking to maintain strong relationships with communications and media professionals to drive partnerships and effective dissemination of mass communications.
• Created unified messaging of public relations efforts in conjunction with advertising campaigns by working closely with marketing peers.
• Develop social media content copy.

• My role at APCO included the below but was not limited to it: Content development: Press releases, op-eds, articles, research, media outreach, and strategy, account management, strategy development, strategic counseling, internal communications, growing current client relationships, new business pitch development, content curation, handling digital and social media content.
• My last role at APCO was as a Project Manager as part of the seconded team for a high-level government client in Abu Dhabi.

Major Tasks and Achievements

• Handled social media content development and account management for clients from the finance and insurance sector.
• Supported the APCO Bahrain team with regional media outreach and media strategy. Bahrain clients were from the semi-government, finance, and technology industries.
• Special events planning My role also involved supporting the new business team to develop strategies (including activity planning, research, and media strategy) and have worked on several new business proposals.
• Additionally, I have worked on internal communications for several clients – including managing newsletters (and developing content), supporting change management, developing internal news updates which involved competitor analysis and developing HR company- wide emails/updates.

As a boutique agency with a small number of employees, I was exposed to clients from across sectors and have learned to understand the pulse of various industries.

Work handled.

• External communications: Press release drafting and disseminating to relevant media.
• Internal communications: Corporate emails, monthly newsletter content, creating internal communications manuals, driving internal communications strategy.
• Conducted market and public opinion research related to clients' reputation and positioning among key stakeholder audiences.
• Pitched and secured interviews for clients in leading publications.
• Activation communications: All communication related to media, blogger, and event activations.
• Collaborated with internal client stakeholders (sales, marketing, and PR managers) to determine branding, product positioning, and media messages.
• Conducted market analysis and monitored competitive activity.
• Developed extensive PR strategies (clients and new business)
• Raised brand awareness through consistent marketing efforts and product campaign launches.
• Consulted with advertising agencies to arrange promotional campaigns in all types of media.
• Monitored marketing content for quality, accuracy and impact.

• Aviation Services Management (ASM) is a flight support services company with services ranging from refueling, permits, clearance, ground handling to handling diversions, ferry flights, etc. I was reported directly to the Managing Director, giving me first-hand insight into the aviation market as a fresher.
• I was responsible for setting up the PR and marketing function at the organization that involved media, stakeholders, and government communications.
• Led marketing and PR communications at two major events in aviation - Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) in Dubai and European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva.
• Drafted and executed the yearly and monthly public relations strategies.
• Website revamping, which included content development, design direction, and coordinating with the website developer.
• Price Guide 2013- Content development of the 35-page document, which was sent to global clients.
• Loyalty Program – Researching and drafting the initial loyalty program launch document and then processing it with the finance team.
• PR content development – Press releases, op-eds, features.
• Conducted market analysis and monitored competition activity.
• Managing ocial pages with constant updates and interaction.
• Events – From booking space to being responsible for hiring a worthy stand contractor for the event.
• Internal communications – Planning and development.
• Successfully managed the year events calendar by keeping track of, researching, and advising on which events need to be attended by the organization.
• Coordinated and managed sponsorships and sponsorship activation.
• Supplied marketing expertise to all company departments.
• Conducted market and public opinion research related to the company’s reputation and positioning among key stakeholder audiences.
• Developed marketing and PR strategies.
• Consulted with advertising agencies to arrange promotional campaigns in all types of media.
• Raised brand awareness through consistent marketing efforts and product campaign launches.
• Communicated with media weekly to build relationships and optimize press coverage.
• Produced and distributed internal and external communications.
• Developed and promoted corporate brand, images and identity to media and public.
• Oversaw social media presence and aligned posts to include branding and trending ideas.
• Fostered positive relationships with key business journalists in national and trade publications.
• Authored fresh and engaging press releases and prepared complete press kits.
• Drafted speeches for company executives and advised on media talking points.
• Cultivated strong corporate image and identity with clear branding.

• Savoir Faire Media is a media house with two magazines, namely Business Goa (Goa’s only business magazine) and My Goa (a social magazine covering the Goan society) and an advertising agency called Savoir Faire.
• My job profile included managing the advertising and marketing aspects of the magazines.
• Business development, tracking monthly advertising material from clients, and administration of advertising and marketing documentation.
• I have also developed and edited content for the magazines.
• I was also part of the core team that planned, managed, and executed the yearly Business Goa Business Excellence Awards.
• Completed paperwork, recognizing discrepancies and promptly addressing for resolution.
• Proved successful working within tight deadlines and fast-paced atmosphere.
• Used coordination and planning skills to achieve results according to schedule.
• Developed team communications and information for meetings.
• Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.

Perfect Relations is an international image consultancy that offers public relations services to various sectors ranging from hospitality to FMCG, telecom, and technology.

• My job profile included client servicing and outstation networking to media planning and event management.
• Reported on press coverage recaps to determine areas for improvement.
• Drafted speeches for company executives and advised on media talking points.
• Built and strengthened industry partnerships to improve product placements, amplify coverage and maximize effectiveness of marketing strategies.
• Fostered positive relationships with key business journalists in national and trade publications.
• Wrote engaging and successful press releases to control information and public opinion.
• In addition, I was responsible for creating and managing client profiles, content development, handling product launches and press conferences, media relations, managing fam trips.
• Some clients managed included: Uninor Telecom (Goa) International Film Festival of India (Goa) DLF (Goa).