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Women’s History Month: Laura Hennen
By Minnesota PRSA Admin
Posted: 2024-03-22T16:31:50Z

As women’s history month comes to a close, we are highlighting a few remarkable women in leadership from our Minnesota PRSA chapter. Today we’re featuring Board Director, Laura Hennen. Since 2005, Laura has played important roles within the Minnesota PRSA chapter. This includes being an active member on the Membership and Advisory committees, along with serving as the Midwest District Conference co-chair. Join us in honoring Laura for her achievements and contributions to the PR industry.

 


Do you have a favorite memory or memories as a chapter leader?

I've been a member for quite a while but a definite highlight was co-chairing the Midwest District Conference in 2022. We had an incredible team come alongside one another to pull together an incredible event that had great outcomes. The event was filled with strong content from great speakers from throughout the Midwest and it was so fun to pull together some amazing surprise and delight moments that really set the event apart. It was so satisfying to put many hours of work into an event and see it come together and feel really good about sharing a fantastic professional development opportunity with communications peers from across the Midwest.


What do you do when you’re not serving Minnesota PRSA?

I work at Medtronic, where I lead public relations for the peripheral vascular health business. It's such an honor to tell the stories about life-improving and lifesaving products. Of course, my favorite is telling patient stories. In fact, last year, I was able to work with my fellow PRSA member, Leah Kondes, to share her Medtronic patient story. I'm hugely biased, but that will always be one of my favorite stories to have shared to show the impact of our products. 


In my personal life, I am married and have two beautiful daughters, one is five and the other just turned six months old. I am an avid reader and love to discuss/compare favorite reads with friends and take on various reading challenges each year. My annual reading goal is usually 50 books and I generally exceed that. In the summer, I enjoy tending to my vegetable garden and spending time at the lake. Beyond that, my free time is committed to lots of "kid stuff" and I wouldn't trade that for the world. 


Do you have any inspiring words or advice for fellow PR professionals?

As PR professionals, we are the storytellers for our organizations. That's a more important role than is often credited. After all, Steve Jobs, a truly visionary leader, said "The most important person in the world is the storyteller. The storyteller sets the vision, values and agenda of an entire generation that is to come." 


By leading our organization's storytelling, PR pros are the ones to put words to the page that tell how we live out the vision, values and agenda of our organizations. In good times and bad, our counsel allows our organizations to put a stake in the ground on who we are, living out our values, and why what we do matters. Let's embrace that responsibility. Let's advocate for our seat at the decision-making table. Let's celebrate our role in writing the story of where we are today and where we are going tomorrow. Let's lead together for this and the the next generation. 


“The most powerful person in the world is the story teller. The storyteller sets the vision, values, and agenda of an entire generation that is to come”

- Steve Jobs


Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

At any level of involvement, PRSA membership will better your career. And, as with anything, the greater the involvement, the greater the reward. I've made lifelong friendships and found incredible peers and mentors through my PRSA membership. I'm grateful for the people who've believed in me and helped me grow. I'm also grateful for the opportunity to pay it forward and give back to an organization that has enriched my professional and personal life. There's so much to gain and nothing to lose, especially through the invaluable opportunity to get to know a group of professionals committed to and tackling the same professional challenges as yourself – there are budding friendships to be found in this warm and friendly chapter of fellow communicators!

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