Meet Daniella Weinberg, a Manhattan-based public relations pro. Her diverse PR background – first working in-house with a major hospitality brand and later on the agency side for luxury clients – informs the way she works with the major players she now supports across strategy, corporate comms and executive positioning. We spoke with Daniella to learn more about her business, her recent expansion into more purpose-driven work and her advice to anyone starting a career in PR.
Where are you currently based?
Manhattan, New York.
What are your specialty practice areas?
My core practice areas are executive positioning, brand management, corporate PR and sustainability/ESG communications across a diverse range of industries, including hospitality & travel, luxury lifestyle, retail, fitness, design, culture and local government relations.
Tell us about your career background before becoming a freelance consultant.
I spent the beginning of my career in hospitality and travel, first at Starwood Hotels working on St. Regis and W Hotels, and then moved to the agency side working with Gramercy Park Hotel, Soho House and Andre Balazs’ luxury properties including Chiltern Firehouse, The Mercer Hotel and Chateau Marmont.
I feel fortunate to have started my career at Starwood Hotels and would recommend hospitality/travel as a good starting point for anyone pursuing a career in PR. Early on it taught me valuable skills such as balancing competing stakeholder objectives and setting realistic expectations. Because hotels are so dynamic and the nature of creating an exceptional guest experience is complex and multifaceted, it also exposed me to a diverse range of PR focus areas from brand partnerships, design and events to crisis comms and issues management. Even now, I still find myself referencing the lessons I learned from my former hospitality colleagues and leadership teams.
While at PR Consulting (PRC) I was able to use what I gained from Starwood to transition away from hotels, overseeing design clients like Roman & Williams and luxury consumer brands such as Assouline Publishing. I began focusing more on executive positioning at Warby Parker as well as the communication challenges and opportunities of a growing, iconic regional startup into a nationally recognized brand. Since 2018, I have primarily focused on strategy, corporate communications and executive positioning for larger companies, including Samsung USA, Verizon Wireless and American Express. Recently, I have also expanded my expertise in sustainability/ESG communications, which began during my time at Philip Morris International. During the pandemic I got involved in more localized sustainability projects and realized that there is a lot of non-traditional PR work that I wanted to take on. While I am still working on luxury lifestyle projects, being on my own has given me the flexibility to move beyond corporate communications for brands into more purpose driven work.
What are some of your current projects/clients?
Recently, I have been working with fitness clients who focus on holistic strength coupled with community building, something that feels exceptionally relevant as we continue to our post-pandemic transition. One person I am incredibly proud to be working with is Nadia Zaki, a former Equinox instructor who recently opened her own studio in Soho – Inspire Inner-Space – offering dance, martial arts and yoga classes.
Conservation is another deeply personal topic for me. I'm currently working on a project that raises awareness about the environmental and social impact of infill development, as well as the demolition of existing homes and new construction in local communities.
What are your favorite aspects of freelance life – and least favorite?
I love that the projects and clients hold a deeper, more personal connection. It's been a joy to tackle a diverse range of projects that have allowed me to stretch my abilities in ways I never could have anticipated.
Sometimes I miss the routine and bustle of commuting to an office every day and the unexpected opportunities for brainstorming and collaboration that arise from impromptu meetings with co-workers.
Who would be a dream client?
The Guggenheim or ABC’s Nightline.
