Smitha Rao

About Smitha Rao

Smitha Rao is a senior communications leader and media strategist with more than two decades of experience shaping narratives, leading high-stakes storytelling, and driving earned visibility for some of the world’s most recognized brands. Her career spans national broadcast journalism, agency leadership, and in-house corporate communications—giving her a uniquely holistic perspective on how stories are crafted, elevated, and amplified in a rapidly evolving media landscape.Smitha began her career in 2005 in broadcast news, working in five television newsrooms across the U.S. and contributing to major networks including NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, and HLN. She has reported from the frontlines of some of the most consequential news moments of the past 20 years—from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the 2022 NYC subway attack to high-profile political and criminal investigations. She has interviewed and covered global leaders and public figures including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, and President Bill Clinton.Transitioning into public relations, Smitha brought her newsroom instincts and storytelling discipline to top New York agencies, where she led integrated earned-media campaigns across healthcare, tech, consumer, education, and travel. Her work helped executives and brands break through in an increasingly competitive media environment, securing coverage across national broadcast, digital, and print outlets.Today, as a PR Lead at Amazon, Smitha oversees proactive media strategy, executive visibility, and large-scale broadcast initiatives across major U.S. markets, including New York City—one of the company’s most complex and scrutinized regions. She leads high-impact press events, crisis response, and flagship campaigns, and frequently serves as an on-camera spokesperson while also training senior leaders for national and local media engagements.Known for her calm under pressure, strategic judgment, and ability to translate complex issues into compelling narratives, Smitha is trusted by executives, journalists, and cross-functional partners alike.A proud graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Smitha now lives in Manhattan. Outside of work, she can be found exploring new restaurants, traveling, spending time with family, or riding her Peloton.

Experience

1. Pr Media Lead, Field Communications Team, New York City

   Amazon

   Oct 2022 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Lead media strategy across multiple business lines and priority U.S. regions, aligning regional campaigns with national objectives and Amazon’s customer-centric and AI-focused narrative.• Act as lead spokesperson for Prime Day, Cyber Monday, and major product launches, managing high-stakes media inquiries and delivering consistent messaging under tight timelines.• Partner with About Amazon, the company’s newsroom, to deliver timely coverage of breaking news and key corporate announcements. • Directly secure top-tier media coverage, driving thousands of airings and clips annually (including multiple airings on 24/7 news stations). • Build and maintain strong relationships with regional tech media, broadcast outlets, and influencers, expanding Amazon’s local storytelling footprint in key growth markets.• Develop and coach senior leaders (Vice Presidents, Directors) on media engagement and public speaking, resulting in increased executive visibility and stronger external representation.• Mentor and train junior PR team members across the East Coast, contributing to internal talent development and improved cross-functional collaboration.

Education

• S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University

  Bachelor's degree, Broadcast Journalism

  2001 — 2005

Skills

• Teamwork
• Ap Style
• News Writing
• Journalism
• Storytelling
• Breaking News
• Broadcast Television
• Facebook
• Producing
• Marketing Management
• Radio
• Video Editing
• Enps
• Final Cut Pro
• Broadcast Journalism
• Post Production
• New Media
• Videography
• Broadcast
• Avid
• Interviews
• Video Production
• Editing
• Interviewing
• Social Media
• Media Relations
• Broadcasting
• Blogging
• Video
• Press Releases
• Digital Media
• Web Content
• Television