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Kenly Uphaus
Senior Director, Corporate Communications at LinkedIn
Professional Background
Kenly Uphaus is a seasoned expert in corporate communications with over a decade of dedicated service at LinkedIn, where he has risen through the ranks to become the Head of Corporate Communications. In this pivotal role, Kenly architects the corporate public relations strategy, placing a strong emphasis on executive communications for LinkedIn's CEO and leadership team. This entails crafting compelling narratives that resonate with stakeholders and drive proactive storytelling to enhance LinkedIn's business brand visibility.
Leveraging his extensive experience across various communication disciplines, Kenly’s work is instrumental in shaping public perceptions and stakeholder engagement for one of the most prominent technology companies in the world. His responsibilities also include overseeing the quarterly earnings communications as part of Microsoft, further highlighting his integral role within LinkedIn's communications landscape. Kenly's team is pivotal in managing and strategizing LinkedIn's corporate channels, ensuring that the company's message is consistent, clear, and impactful.
Education and Achievements
Kenly Uphaus earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Communications from the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His academic background equips him with a unique perspective on human behavior and communication strategies, which has proven invaluable in his professional pursuits.
Kenly’s journey commenced at Access Communications, where he held various roles including Account Coordinator, Assistant Account Executive, Account Executive, Senior Account Executive, and ultimately Account Supervisor. His progression at Access Communications laid a solid foundation in strategic communications and account management, honing his skills in crafting messages that resonate with diverse audiences.
Upon joining LinkedIn, Kenly's career flourished as he transitioned through several key positions including Manager of Product Communications, Customer and Product Communications Manager, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications, and Group Manager of Corporate Communications. Each role allowed him to develop robust strategies that effectively communicated LinkedIn's value proposition to the market. His leadership culminated in his position as Senior Director of Corporate Communications, where he further expanded his influence and oversight of LinkedIn's communications portfolio.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Kenly Uphaus has made significant contributions to the growth and development of LinkedIn’s corporate communications. He played a crucial role in the evolution of the company's public relations strategies, particularly in how LinkedIn communicates critical news and updates to its diverse stakeholders. His adept handling of executive communications has not only elevated the narrative around LinkedIn’s leadership but has also reinforced the company’s positioning as a thought leader in the technology space.
Kenly’s commitment to his craft is evident not only in his strategic oversight but also in his dedication to storytelling. His innate ability to weave narratives that engage and inform has solidified his reputation as an articulate spokesperson for LinkedIn. In doing so, he adeptly bridges the gap between complex corporate developments and consumer understanding, an invaluable skill in today’s fast-paced media landscape. Whether managing quarterly earnings reports or leading the charge on significant corporate announcements, Kenly exemplifies the highest standards of excellence in corporate communications. Kenly’s trajectory within the corporate environment demonstrates a steadfast dedication to fostering clear, impactful communication strategies that align with broader business objectives. He continues to inspire others in the field through his innovative approaches to corporate storytelling and stakeholder engagement.
Career Development and Leadership
Kenly has held various positions within the corporate communications domain, showcasing his adaptability and proficiency in managing communications strategies across different facets of the organization. His holistic understanding of corporate communications is a key asset in today’s dynamic technology landscape. His leadership style emphasizes collaboration and innovation, ensuring that his team is equipped to tackle the evolving challenges of corporate communications within a global context.
Highlights
This week marks 10 years at LinkedIn. 10 years since Julie Inouye met me at Peet’s Coffee for my final round interview (during her maternity leave no less!) and 10 years since Shannon Brayton agreed to give this bright-eyed and bushy-tailed twenty-something a shot.
While the 10-year milestone makes me feel ancient, it also makes me feel proud. I’ve grown up at this company. I met and married Steve Uphaus and took on the most important job in the world of becoming a mom to two beautiful boys while working here. And I’ve been able to juggle a family and a career - albeit some days are smoother than others ;) - because I’ve been surrounded by leaders, mentors and teammates who have championed me each step of the way.
When I’m asked what’s kept me at LinkedIn, it always comes back to the people. Everyday, I get to learn from people who dream big, get things done, and have a lot of fun along the way. People who push me to raise my hand or take big leaps when I need the nudge. In fact, I credit those nudges for putting me on the path to a job I love. Thank you Julie Inouye, Melissa Selcher and Jeff Weiner for supporting me as I made the leap from Product and B2B into Corporate Communications. And Nicole Leverich, your leadership and encouragement have fueled my journey ever since.
10 years in and I’m more inspired than ever to be a part of a company and platform that will help people around the world navigate a new era of work. And I couldn’t be more excited to continue telling our story with the one leading the way, Ryan Roslansky.
Thank you, LinkedIn, and here’s to all that’s still ahead!
From a very young age my parents instilled in me the importance of travel and the aspiration to leave the world a better place than I found it. They took me around the globe - visiting places like Nepal, Tibet, India, Thailand and Western Samoa - as they produced their documentary films and photography to bring awareness to different cultures and undiscovered corners of the Earth.
3 decades later I find myself back in this part of the world and feel deeply inspired to be working in a role I love, at a company that truly does make the world a better place. While my skills are different than my parents - I can barely draw a stick figure while my mom can create art in mere minutes with a camera, pen, or paintbrush - I fully inherited their belief that we should all strive to better the world and do so, in part, by traveling it to better understand each other. No matter what country you visit, the desire for economic opportunity is there. You can see it and feel it in India. Being here on the ground has made it even more clear that LinkedIn has a real role to play in helping this country usher in a new era of economic growth.
Ryan Roslansky Caroline Gaffney Lisa Mudge Aneesh Raman Carolyn Giang Sakshi Talwar Homith Bakshi
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Mesh is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Mesh offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Mesh is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Mesh's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Mesh has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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