Lori Sussle Bonanni is the founder of elssus, LLC, a multi-disciplined communications consultancy. Lori builds and grows companies’ reputations thereby increasing awareness, business results and credibility.

Think of her as a nontraditional publicist working with companies as early as funded startups and as established as Global 500s. She partners with her clients to help them raise their next round of funding, hire and retain top talent and be noticed by potential and existing customers. Her work spans communications including public and media relations, strategic, internal and crisis communications, integrated marketing, advisory and more.

Lori speaks and writes about effective and mindful communication, visibility and reputation management. Lori’s most requested talks are ‘Attention is Earned, Not Given: Getting Your Business Media Attention’ and ‘Mindful Communication: Who are you Unknowingly Excluding?’

Lori gives generously with her time. She opens office hours to mentor startup founders through Almaworks (Columbia University’s startup accelerator), Black Ambition (supporting Black and Latinx founders founded by Pharrell Williams) and Mentor Makers (via the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center). She speaks with marketing and advertising students at universities through a partnership with the Advertising Education Foundation. Lori also hosts monthly Ask Me Anything sessions to answer questions from founders and operators about how to best communicate a funding round before, during and after the announcement.

Prior to launching elssus, Lori held senior-level marketing, communication and business development roles at world-class organizations including Verizon, World 50, NBCUniversal and DDB. Her writing has been featured in prestigious media outlets such as U.S. News and World Report, Huffington Post and The Muse.

Lori earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a Specialization in Advertising and Public Relations from Rowan University. After graduation, she participated in BUNAC’s International Work Exchange Program in London, England. Lori also earned multiple continuing education certificates for Advertising Copywriting from the School of Visual Arts. In 2021, she earned both a Certificate in Women’s Entrepreneurship from Cornell University and a Certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida.

In 2023, Lori was recognized as a Woman of Excellence by the Rochester Business Journal.

Key Moments
[00:05:44] Random jobs in London, publishing firm followed.
[00:07:58] Found it, booked it, went big, loved it.
[00:12:11] Temporary remote work led to permanent company.
[00:13:40] Flexibility, diversity, adventure – thriving in work.
[00:17:18] Jersey Shore, different country, reference for Philadelphians.

Find Lori Online
https://www.elssus.com/series-a-funding-announcement-pr
https://www.elssus.com/ask-me-anything
https://www.elssus.com/services
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorisusslebonanni/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/elssus

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