When brands and institutions want to connect meaningfully with stakeholders, they consult Cheryl Overton, a transformational integrated marketing communications executive with over 20 years of experience across audience types, verticals and media platforms. She is an insights-inspired content innovator and entrepreneur who counsels brands, C-suite leaders and boards on ownable ways to tell brand stories that strategically align organizational purpose and growth. Cheryl delivers culturally nuanced, data-driven strategies that lead companies toward innovation, inclusivity, effectiveness and profitability. She is an experienced cross-functional orchestrator and collaborator adept at assembling teams that work optimally toward common goals.

Cheryl was an integral force behind influential, culture-shaping campaigns such as Procter & Gamble’s “My Black is Beautiful,” American Express’ UNSTAGED, (Unilever) Dove’s “Campaign for Real Beauty” and the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women.” It was her strategic insight that lifted P&G’s award-winning short film, “The Talk” to deeper dialogues about racial bias that resonated around the world. Prior to entrepreneurship, she held leadership roles at notable global agencies providing strategy, creative, business development and relationship management for a spectrum of brands targeting consumer, corporate and professional audiences. Industry recognition of her brand work includes an Emmy, three Cannes Lions (including the Grand Prix), Silver Anvil, Adcolor, Gold Pencil, Gold Sabre, IPRA, Shorty, PR Week and PRSA Big Apple “Best of the Best,” among others.

She has lectured for the Association of National Advertisers, PR Council and Public Relations Society of America as well as private corporations on the topics of multicultural marketing, DEI and cultural storytelling. She serves on the Executive Committee for The Advertising Club and chairs its entrepreneurship committee. She was named “New Yorker of the Year” by The Advertising Club and was inducted as a PR Week Woman of Distinction. She was named to the PRovoke Media Innovator 25 and has served on the PR Jury of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. In 2023, she holds jury position for both the CLIO and Festival of Media awards. She also serves on the Boards of Directors of viBe Theater Experience and Heroic Gardens, helping to grow their reach and impact in multicultural communities.

She holds a Master of Journalism with honors from Temple University and a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College. She is a graduate of the Herndon Director’s Institute, a program to expand minority participation on governing boards.