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Member Spotlight: Ariana Solis Gomez

Ariana Solis Gomez, director of strategic communications at Hogan Lovells, may be new to WWPR, but she’s already making her mark by focusing on our organization’s diversity and inclusion efforts. I chatted with her for this month’s Member Spotlight to learn more about her soon-to-launch blog series for WWPR and her commitment to advocating for women of color and other minority groups.

The Journey to DC

Ariana was born and raised in Mexico before moving to DC over six and a half years ago. Her life in the District began after she landed a scholarship from the Washington Center, where she took on an internship at the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) while taking a course on public policy and project management. Ariana turned the internship into a full-time position and built the communications department from the ground up—with an emphasis on the digital strategy—eventually becoming the director of communications.

Melinda Tolliver, WWPR Member
Article written by  Melinda Tolliver,
WWPR Member,
Manager, Digital Media, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools

Currently, she is part of Hogan Lovells’ Strategic Communications Practice Group, a new branch that is part in-house PR, part  public affairs and government relations. In this capacity, Ariana develops strategic issue advocacy campaigns to help move the legislative needle, increase brand visibility, and cultivate relationships with potential key audiences. 

Advocacy for Diversity & Inclusion

In and out of the office, Ariana is a tireless advocate for diversity and inclusion. She first found her passion for diversity and inclusion when she moved to the U.S. and found herself faced with new challenges related to diversity. At HACR, she was introduced to the organization’s mission to increase representation of Hispanics in corporate America, and she also worked closely with other organizations hoping to do the same with other minority groups.

Ariana still thinks there’s a long way to go to see more progress on that front, especially in leadership positions. One thing she always tries to do is bring awareness to the issues—including unconscious bias—and providing action items on best practices that individuals can take back to their communities or places of work, which she hopes will lead to substantial growth.

Diversity & Inclusion and WWPR

As part of her role on WWPR’s Content Committee, Ariana will be launching a new blog series focused on diversity and inclusion, including highlighting women of color who are making strides in the field. When she was considering joining the organization, she noted a lack of resources tailored to minority or other affinity groups, and flagged that as an opportunity for WWPR. Among other ideas for the series, she is hoping to take a look at what other women of color are doing in terms of diversity and inclusion, address unconscious bias, and share challenges that many face in the field.  

In addition to her efforts on the Content Committee, Ariana is also a member of the Emerging Leaders Awards Committee where she’ll be a liaison for the finalists—helping them navigate the process and becoming the point of contact for questions.

Her Ideal Weekend

Ariana’s favorite way to spend time out of work? Soul Cycle! She is a huge fan and describes the time in the studio as her treat. She also decompresses outside of work by watching movies, getting in quality time with her husband, and having dinner with friends.  

In the Morning…

Ariana recently updated her morning routine as part of her renewed focus on her health. She now begins her day at 5:45 a.m. with a high-intensity interval training workout. Since she’s not naturally a morning person, it’s a bit new for her, but she says having a routine has helped and now she’ll even feel a bit guilty if she skips a day. After the workout, she’ll get ready with a cup of coffee. Then, it’s off to work to check that inbox (and get more coffee!).

Her Advice:

Take more risks! Life happens outside your comfort zone.

Stop second guessing yourself – you are fully capable.

Check out Ariana’s latest blog post about how diversity leads to success in the workplace.

How Diversity and Inclusion are Driving Business Success

“Diversity is the mix. Inclusion is making the mix work.” – Andrés Tapia.

For decades, we have heard a great deal about diversity and one would assume that by this point in time we would be making great strides and becoming a more inclusive society. However, for some, this remains an unknown territory. As Andrés Tapia hits the nail on the head, diversity and inclusion should be intrinsically linked in order to be successful.

Ariana Solis Gomez, WWPR Member
Article written by  Ariana Solis Gomez,
WWPR Member,
Director of Strategic Communications, Hogan Lovells

But before we go into the importance of this mix, it is important to break the stereotypes that the term diversity and inclusion is just about doing the right thing, a check the box strategy, or a badge of approval. In reality, the diversity and inclusion formula is not only adding moral value; it’s becoming a business imperative.

If we look at the U.S. shifting demographics, in 2017, the Hispanic population reached 58.6 million. In 2016, the African American population reached over 40 million followed by Asian Pacifics with 16.6 million. By 2044, these minority groups will become the new majority. Furthermore, these minority groups are not only growing in number, but they are also driving the U.S. economy. By 2019, the “new majority” will reach over $4.1 trillion in purchasing power. To put things into perspective, if these groups combined formed a separate country, they would be “the third largest economy in the world, after the U.S. and China.”

When we analyze the data, it is clear that the shifting demographics are not aligned with the market shifts and demands. Having diversity and inclusion strategies is critical to succeed in today’s multicultural marketplace. Failure to adapt to the rapidly changing demographics, anticipate market trends, craft compelling messages, and understand the different cultural nuances will impede companies to increase shareholder value and improve the bottom line.

Recent research has shown that companies that foster diversity and inclusion are “35 percent more likely to outperform the national industry median, according to a 2015 McKinsey report.” Additionally, a diverse and inclusive environment can yield to innovation, diversity of thought, and creativity. This means, companies can develop better products, agencies can make more compelling campaigns, and organizations can serve their constituents in a more holistic way.

So how can companies, organizations, and agencies successfully develop diversity and inclusion strategies? The first step is to raise awareness. An open dialogue, as well as discussions around unconscious bias, is a great starting point. Second, companies must develop recruiting and retention strategies that will help shape the next generation of diverse leaders and strengthen the talent pipeline, always providing equal opportunities and bridging the ethnic and gender gap. Third, companies must foster a work environment where diversity of thought is encouraged. Finally, mentorship and sponsorship programs are necessary to have diverse candidates not only on the front lines but in leadership positions as well.

President’s Note: April

Danielle Veira, President, Washington Women in PR
Danielle Veira, WWPR 2018 President, Senior Manager of PR & Advocacy Communications, American Diabetes Association
Twitter: @DaniV7101

Spring has sprung and WWPR is in full bloom!

We’re finally getting some warm weather in the DMV and WWPR is bringing you even more to celebrate with upcoming events to help you give back to the local community, connect with experts in the field, and applaud emerging leaders. Here are just a few:

Give Back for National Volunteer Month: Want to build your resume and also help local nonprofits get the word out on the phenomenal work they’re doing to support women and children in the DC area? Join us on Tuesday, April 24 at Hager Sharp for a chance to “speed date” with representatives from organizations including the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project, Mamatoto, and Mary’s Center. Also, this event is FREE for both members and non-members.

Emerging Leaders Awards: There are so many young, female communicators in our area who are making waves in the industry and we’ll be shining a spotlight on some of them at our 9th Annual Emerging Leaders Awards. Come christen the new WeWork space on the Capitol Waterfront and toast some of DC’s rising stars on Tuesday, May 15. Early-bird registration is now open, so register today!

Rosé All Day (and Night): Grab a glass and something to snack on while you get to know our 2018 Board and network with fellow communicators. Our quarterly happy hour is in the works, so look out for more info in the next few weeks. Wine. Apps. Rooftop views. You don’t want to miss this…

Hope to see many of you at one or more of our future events and, in the meantime, enjoy the sunshine!

-Dani 
WWPR 2018 President

Live Chat with WWPR: 7 Reasons Why WWPR is Right for You

Laura Davenport, WWPR Member
Article written by  Laura Davenport,
WWPR Member,
Senior Account Executive, Ketchum

WWPR’s Membership Committee Co-Chairs—Alex Thompson and Jenn Sherman—recently went Live on Facebook to answer one simple question: why should you join Washington Women in PR?

The conversation that followed was packed with useful information. Didn’t have time to watch the video, but still want to know why WWPR is right for you? Not to worry! I’ve shared the key takeaways as I saw them.

  • We are a community.

In Washington and the greater DMV area, there’s no shortage of associations, organizations, clubs, academies, or societies to join. WWPR stands out because of the commitment that its 350+ members share for making this community a supportive one and ensuring that each member gets what she needs out of it.

Both Alex and Jenn remarked on how welcoming they found the members of the group when they joined. WWPR has—dare we say it—a great vibe, the source of which is the organization’s commitment to cultivating and inspiring our members to reach their full potential.

  • We make networking fun—and worth your while.

Oh boy, networking. I don’t know if there has ever been a more DC concept than this one (except maybe Happy Hour, or boozy brunch). If you are anything like me, you know that the quality of networking in our fair District tends to vary.

Rest assured, when you network with WWPR, you’re networking with the best. During their Facebook Live, Alex and Jenn shared how WWPR networking events give members access to top communicators in the DC area—from every part of the industry. We made of are CEOs, CCOs, internal comms leaders, digital experts, media relations juggernauts and more.

With networking that works for you—you have access to a lot of amazing opportunities.  Which brings me to my next point…

  • We have an amazing job board.

WWPR’s job board is made by and for members. Current members can share postings for openings at their company or organization. When applying for those positions, other WWPR members have the possible advantage of a built-in referral or reference through the member who posted the job.

On the first page alone, there are positions available for strategic comms agencies, trade associations, issue advocacy group and grassroots organizations.

  • We provide professional development opportunities.

Some of us have—for now at least—wrapped up the formal education era of our life. Lucky for us, WWPR offers around 10 professional development events per year. Some are hosted by WWPR, some of hosted by outside groups that give a special rate for WWPR members.  Events range in topic—here’s a taste of past offerings:

  • We give you a lot of bang for your buck.

“Laura, you can’t possibly expect us to believe that all this and more can be ours with a WWPR membership!”

Oh, but it is! And if you don’t believe me, Alex and Jenn discussed it in their Live broadcast. We are a dues-paying organization, but the small annual membership cost covers access to professional development events and to WWPR’s extensive network of women communicators. WWPR also offers all-inclusive group memberships giving access to our signature events and more!

  • We are committed to advancing women communicators.

As a member of WWPR, you can help play an integral role in celebrating outstanding achievements by women in our field.  Get involved in a committee supporting WWPR awards that honor these industry leaders. Emerging Leader Awards are given to nominees who have demonstrated leadership in their field.

The Washington PR Woman of the Year Award is given to one woman every year that exemplifies true characteristics of a leader in PR—she is a visionary, a standout representative of her company, who perseveres and delivers results that last in her work.

  • We are run by you, for you.

Leadership opportunities abound at WWPR. Members are welcome to join any number of the committees that operate this all-volunteer organization. Joining a committee is a great way to further your networking reach, as well as to practice existing or learn new skills.  For example, Alex and Jenn co-chair the Membership Committee. I am a member of the Content Committee. I encourage you to research the available committees and see if they might be the right fit for you.

Finally, WWPR is built for its members. Committee members are open to suggestions and your input. A great example that comes up in the Facebook video is Alex’s efforts to increase activities for and presence of our Northern Virginia and Montgomery & Prince George County, MD peers.

WWPR is 100% committed to advancing women communicators and it does so by bringing relevant opportunities and content to you.

For more from Alex and Jenn, watch the Facebook Live video and send questions to membership@wwpr.org.

WWPR Vice President Amanda Ott Looks to Our Future for Women’s History Month

For women, March is a month with a lot of expectations. In just 31 days, we are asked to look to the past to celebrate Women’s History Month, acknowledging how far we’ve come while also reflecting on the ways we can stand in solidarity our worldwide sisterhood.  For WWPR, I encourage you to use this month to inspire, motivate, and empower yourselves and other women to “Woman Up.”

Much of March is focused on acknowledging the sacrifices of our predecessors from the not-so-distant past, recognizing the major strides women have made in gaining the right to vote, get an education, or join—and grow in—the workforce. We’ve come so far! However, I encourage WWPR members to also look at the future for themselves as well as the woman in the cubicle next to them. Not many of us would be where we are today without the support of another woman lifting us up, encouraging us, and giving us the opportunity to do, learn or be something more. Now, it’s your turn to return the favor.  

First, spend a minute to send a thank you note to the woman who inspired you. Second, reach out and pull up the next woman who may not yet have the confidence to speak up and stand out for herself. For this, WWPR is here to help you: we’ve officially opened nominations for the WWPR Emerging Leaders Awards.  

Within six industries, we want to recognize the young women, aged 25-35, who communicate, collaborate, and conquer in their workplaces and communities. Show us the women who bring it!  Encourage a colleague to be an all-star and self-nominate for the award, or help them compile their application with your reference, due March 31.  I challenge each and every person reading this message to pay-it-forward and suggest a woman you know apply for the award. We ALL know someone who deserves to be recognized.

And of course, take this month as an opportunity to own your workplace and personal achievements. It’s always hard for on-the-go women like us to take a minute to step back and look at our day, week, or month.  That’s why we hosted our first Rise and Shine event, a members-only opportunity to network, refresh our minds, and motivate ourselves before the busy day begins. I invite you to become a member so you can join us next quarter for a mindful start to your day.

Amanda Ott
2018 WWPR Vice President

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