Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rachel Alkon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Rachel, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I founded Alkon & Co. to advise purpose-driven organizations that are tackling some of the world’s most complex challenges of our time, from climate change and food resiliency to global nutrition. It’s rewarding to partner with category-defining companies and build the reputations of their leaders and founders – many of whom are challenging the status quo. I’m a firm believer that smart communications has the power to help propel new categories and advance new innovations and technologies.
The journey toward founding my own boutique communications firm began almost a decade ago, when I was advising Big Food companies at Brunswick Group, the reputation advisory firm. This work inspired me to learn from the disruptive voices fighting for nutrition equality and a better food and agricultural system – folks like public health advocate Marion Nestle, a NYU Professor, and environmental NGOs focused on water access, and global food insecurity.
After many years helping companies grapple with social, environment and public health issues, I pursued a master’s in food policy at NYU and had the privilege of studying with Nestle who has been at the forefront of research on nutrition and food safety. There, I deepened my knowledge of the impact of corporate influence on food policy, the importance of food advocacy, social entrepreneurship, and corporate sustainability, and was inspired to build a career centered around building a better and more sustainable food system.
After graduate school, I applied my background in corporate communications to companies that shared my passion. Following leadership roles at Whole Foods and Bowery Farming, I formed my own consultancy Alkon & Co. in 2022,
The name of my company is inspired by my family’s last name and longline of entrepreneurs. My parents, grandfather, and grandmother were all incredibly dedicated professionals with their own businesses. In the 1980s my parents converted my grandfather’s carbon copy business into a modern-day computer supply firm that sold laser toner to major corporations. From them and school vacations in their warehouse, I learned grit and perseverance from a young age; and the power of relationships and fundamentals of client service. I also picked up a few practical lessons from my mother, a pioneering full-time company President and CFO, who “telecommuted” from home in the 1990s.

Rachel, 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?

My background built a foundation for the multi-stakeholder perspective I hold today. Experience in policy, public affairs, and corporate communications gives me a multidimensional lens that shapes my counsel to clients. I’m always thinking about the reputational impact of every decision, big and small, from the viewpoint of investors, policymakers, consumers, activists and NGOs. Part of what sets me apart from others is that diversity of experience – having worked in-house and on the agency side – and my deep background building thought leadership campaigns, reputation management and media relations. I’ve built new functions and teams from the ground up, announced record-breaking funding rounds, and even distributed fresh produce to communities during the COVID pandemic. Clients appreciate my practicality, humility, and that I’m always direct, whether it be with consecutive feedback, or a compliment about a strong interview.
When I think back on the work that brought particular satisfaction, my partnership with younger companies like Helaina and Bowery comes to mind. Collaborating early on with founders to create a comms function, build a brand, define a brand voice, and generally be a part of that brainstorming, building from the ground up spirit of a young company — that’s an exciting place to be, especially when the company’s mission aligns with my own.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The incredible relationships that I developed at Bowery Farming, Whole Foods, and in the NYU Food Studies community have been pivotal in shaping what I’m building at Alkon & Co. This web of connections, so many of whom are deeply invested in building a better planet, has allowed me to build a list of clients that share my passions around sustainability and food.
Spending five years at Brunswick Group was a major career-defining experience. It was the chance to learn from the best in the business – including former major heads of comms, lawyers and journalists, all turned PR pros; they taught me how to think like a client, to proactively scenario plan to help stay ahead of issues, and to encourage clients to engage a broad range of stakeholders beyond the media.

Contact Info:

• Website: alkonandco.com
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-alkon-0a99ba

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