Communicator spotlight: Blake Simpson of Adtalem Global Education
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Blake Simpson serves as chief communications and corporate affairs officer for Adtalem Global Education, which operates for-profit higher education institutions that support students pursuing careers in the health care industry.
Why it matters: Simpson's team is responsible for educating audiences on Adtalem's impact on the workforce and health care system.
Catch up quick: Simpson started her communications career in retail, where she held corporate affairs and communications roles at companies like Levi Strauss & Co. and Gap.
- From there, she oversaw communications and public affairs for CKE Restaurants, the parent company of fast-food chains including Carl's Jr. and Hardee's.
- Most recently, Simpson served as senior vice president of global communications at Under Armour before joining Adtalem in 2022.
Details: Simpson reports to Adtalem CEO Steve Beard and oversees the team responsible for investor and government relations, alumni engagement, global impact and issues management as well as internal and external communications.
What she's saying: "Communications teams have the ability to connect the dots across the business with a consistent narrative, but if we're not included in the decision-making, we can't amplify what the company is doing to its maximum potential," Simpson told Axios.
- Zoom in: Simpson and the team at Adtalem are currently focused on building relationships within the new Trump administration, she said.
- "We are highly critical in society. We want those in Washington to really understand and appreciate what we do and why we do it," she said. "We are focused on our institutions and making sure that they are getting the visibility that they need. We are also making sure that our 300,000 alums are really engaged and part of our storytelling."
What she's watching: How the media landscape is affecting communications.
- "The rise of the podcasts, newsletters and the digital media efforts requires all of us as communicators to take a hard look at how our teams are operating and how we have to be really nimble and ready to move and adjust accordingly," she said.
Best career advice: "Always look for a way to make a small idea big."
