We were lucky to catch up with Elizabeth Nickerson Hill recently and have shared our conversation below.

Elizabeth, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Lately, one of the most meaningful projects I have done was leading the Equitable Health Media Cohort, a cross-functional initiative that brought together local, regional, and national American Heart Association professionals to refine our outreach strategy.
The challenge was to move beyond traditional messaging and build deep trust within communities that are often marginalized in health conversations. To do this, we launched a long-term insights project designed to be refreshed annually, ensuring we evolve alongside the communities we serve and continue to deliver messages that resonate where they are most trusted.
This work centered on mentorship and intentional collaboration. By empowering my team to shift from a broadcast mindset to one of active listening, we moved beyond mere metrics. We established a sustainable framework that doesn’t just disseminate information, it fosters genuine, lasting relationships, proving that the most impactful communications are those built on consistent, culturally relevant engagement.

Elizabeth, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a communications executive with over 20 years of experience, having transitioned from journalism to public relations and marketing. Currently, I serve in a national marketing communications role for a global health nonprofit and lead as the 2026 President of the PRSA Miami chapter.
My work sits at the intersection of strategic communications, public health advocacy, and leadership development. I help organizations navigate complex landscapes by developing insights-driven strategies that ensure messaging resonates with and is trusted by the diverse communities organizations serve. I bridge the gap between technical, expert-driven information and the public, creating accessible narratives for high-stakes campaigns. I focus on ethical innovation—including the integration of AI—and prioritize mentorship to help the next generation of practitioners thrive.
My “journalist-turned-advocate” perspective is my differentiator. I apply the critical, objective eye of a reporter to every project, ensuring our messaging is not just visible, but deeply authentic and credible. I believe leadership is defined by the success of those you mentor, and I strive to build collaborative environments that outlast any single campaign.

Communications is the heartbeat of mission-driven work. My brand is built on the belief that the most effective strategy is one rooted in empathy, rigorous listening, and a relentless commitment to ensuring no audience is left behind. Whether I am advocating for public health or supporting the PR community in Miami, my goal is to create courageous, clear connections.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Leading a 70-year-old legacy chapter like PRSA Miami requires a delicate balance of deep respect for our foundation and a clear-eyed urgency for modernization. For me, managing a team and maintaining high morale starts with the belief that leadership is essentially an act of service.
When you are working with a volunteer-led board, you cannot rely on traditional top-down authority. Instead, I focus on radical transparency and shared purpose. I make it a point to be open about the challenges we face as we evolve our programming and broaden our reach, because people are most energized when they understand exactly how their individual contributions move the needle for the entire organization.
My strategy centers on building a “big tent” culture. I actively work to bridge the gap between our long-standing members and our newest practitioners, ensuring that our institutional wisdom is always paired with fresh, modern perspectives. I prioritize mentorship above all else, because when I invest in the professional growth of my board members, they feel valued, supported, and personally invested in our collective success. Morale is never something you can simply demand; it is a byproduct of purpose. When you foster an environment where people feel seen and their professional goals are aligned with the chapter’s mission, they don’t just show up to work—they take ownership of the legacy we are building together.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the ability to connect with an audience on a fundamental human level, regardless of the medium. Having started my career in the performing arts—acting and directing—I learned early on that whether you are on a stage or in a newsroom, the core of the work is empathy. You are always trying to find the truth in a story and translate it in a way that resonates with someone else.

Even though I transitioned into broadcast journalism and now work in national marketing communications, that creative instinct never left me; it’s simply in my blood. The magic remains the same: the process of taking complex, often abstract information and shaping it into a narrative that sparks understanding, emotion, or action. There is an immense sense of fulfillment in using those creative tools to bridge gaps, whether I’m helping a community understand a critical health issue or helping a student navigate their career path. Being a creative means you never stop looking for the best way to tell a story that matters, and seeing that story land with an audience is the ultimate reward.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethnickersonhill/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-nickerson-hill-m-s-337342148