Jennifer Ryan is vice president, strategic communications and public relations at Northwestern Mutual, a Fortune 100 financial services company. She oversees the company’s external communications to grow brand awareness through public relations, thought leadership and executive social media platforms and is responsible for protecting and strengthening the company’s overall reputation to help drive business results and build advocacy with stakeholders. Jennifer also leads strategic communication strategies for the company’s sustainability, strategic philanthropy, and diversity and inclusion efforts and serves as strategic communication counsel to the company’s Law & Public Affairs function. She has an extensive background in strategic communications, media and public relations, community relations, reputation management, executive communications, and internal communications.

Jennifer joined Northwestern Mutual in 2010 responsible for media and public relations of Northwestern Mutual’s brand—including marquee sponsorships with the NCAA and Rose Bowl—and positioning the company’s financial advisors in key markets. She also played a leadership role in launching the company’s first national philanthropic effort to fight childhood cancer which today has contributed $60M to research. Since 2014, she has been in strategic communications leadership roles aligned to key business areas and serves as a trusted communications advisor for the company’s C-suite leaders—a role she still plays today.