Maria Burquest

About Maria Burquest

My consulting business, MB3 Communications, provides strategic counsel, media relations and project management support for a range of clients including consumer brands, trade associations and non-profits. I retired from P&G in 2021 with over 22 yrs of global PR and brand & corporate communications experience. My final assignment was leading P & Gs global Citizenship Comms team: Sustainability, Gender Equality, Diversity & Inclusion. In this role I led the global plastic waste and packaging communication strategy, with heavy emphasis on the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, Holy Grail, The Recycling Partnership and other X-industry efforts to increase collection & recycling to unleash the circular economy of plastics. While working 16 yrs in the beauty sector, I led communications strategy and execution for global brands including Olay, Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Old Spice, Secret, Herbal Essences, Safeguard and Vidal Sassoon. I also supported P&G’s FemCare division working on Always, Tampax, and Always Discreet. Specific areas of expertise include global product launches, celebrity and stakeholder management, issues & crisis, social media platforms, cause marketing, consumer associations & test institutes, events & agency management, and leading a team of professionals across the Americas, Europe and Asia. In particular, my 2.5 years living in Singapore leading our Asia Beauty Communications team armed me with an unprecedented understanding of emerging & developed markets, diverse regulatory and stakeholder environments, and cultural norms that, if misunderstood, can significantly impact a brand\'s equity and market position. Prior to joining P&G, my work in Healthcare, Arts & Entertainment, and non-profit communications & development provided a broad exposure to public relations on the local and regional level.

Experience

1. Communications Strategist

   Leonora Polonsky & Associates, Llc

   Oct 2022 — Present · Cincinnati, OH, US

   LPA is a pioneering brand strategy consultancy focused on delivering measurable impact on clients\' business and organizational results. With constant marketplace disruption, brand strategy is critical in driving relevance and results short-term and long term. I am working with LPA as a Communications Strategist, leveraging my 20+ years of corporate and brand communications experience at P&G to bring practical, winning solutions to LPA clients.

Education

• University of Dayton

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Psychology

  1983 — 1987

• Notre Dame Academy - Park Hills KY

  High School

  1979 — 1983

Skills

• Brand Development
• Brand Management
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Marketing Strategy
• Personal Care
• Marketing Communications
• Hair Care
• Strategic Communications
• Corporate Communications
• Consumer Products
• Customer Insight
• Social Media
• Crisis Communications
• Marketing
• Integrated Marketing
• Public Relations
• Internal Communications
• Media Relations