I’m Toni Shears and I’m here to Share Your Story.
Strategist, storyteller, master of messaging
I’m a Chicago-based creative professional with broad experience across the full spectrum of print, digital, and social marketing communications. A prolific and versatile writer and editor, I craft web content, email campaigns, social media and blog posts, feature articles, media pitches, presentations and speeches that inform, engage, and persuade.
I have worked to share the stories and raise the public profiles of premier graduate schools and institutes in medicine, law, business, economics, and child development. At the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, I led the redevelopment of the school’s website to reflect a consistent brand and voice. While managing the site, I also played a key role in developing clear and compelling brand messaging and implement it across the school.
At Erikson Institute, I strategized and launched the school’s social media presence to attract applicants to graduate programs in early childhood education. More recently, I developed and implemented a comprehensive communications plan to raise awareness of the Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics at the University of Chicago. With compelling web content, social media, a robust schedule of email outreach and event promotions, I successfully engaged targeted audiences and disseminated policy-relevant research.
My strength is identifying stories that reflect the heart of an organization or issue and crafting content that engages, informs, and persuades. With sharp analysis and graceful, incisive prose, I distill complex or technical information into clear, compelling messages.
A journalist at heart, I’m driven by a reporter’s curiosity; I ask questions and dig down to understand and define client needs and opportunities to reach audiences. I earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Michigan and am a member of the Independent Writers of Chicago.