Aerial Ellis

Emerging among the brightest in the industry, Aerial Ellis is a gifted strategist and storyteller who nurtured an entrepreneurial spirit early in her career by launching her first public relations company at the age of 22. Recognized nationally by PR News and The Huffington Post, Aerial has since become a sought-after consultant for her ability to transform culture, improve diversity, enhance communication, navigate change, build community and drive innovation. From beginning business owners to legendary moguls, clients have trusted her distinct ability to align partnerships with giants such as Burger King, Sony Music, NBA and BET and strengthen their brand awareness in the early digital age through media coverage with outlets such as CNN, BBC, ABC and ESPN. She has been a speaker/trainer for the National Collegiate Athletic Association, SXSW, Microsoft, National Urban League, US Army Corps of Engineers, National Diversity Council, American Bar Association, National Coalition of 100 Black Women and National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communication on issues of cultural competency, global communication, intergenerational leadership, and diversity/inclusion. She holds a certification in Workforce Diversity and Inclusion awarded by UCLA Extension and the National Organization for Workforce Diversity. She is a fellow of the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations where worked at the Johnson & Johnson world headquarters with the corporation’s Vice President of Corporate Communication and the Chief Diversity Officer to create change migration and strategic communication plans aimed at addressing emerging developments in diversity and inclusion within their global structure. An active member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), she has served as director-at-large for the Nashville chapter, secretary for the national committee on diversity & inclusion, and as a member of the national nominating committee. She is also co-founder of the Nashville Women of Color in Communications Network and a board member of Delta Dental of Tennessee. Aerial is author of the thought leadership book, The Original Millennial, highlighting six defining lessons of leadership for millennials in business and community. She teaches courses in leadership, organizational communication, public relations and cross-cultural communication at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. A native of Memphis, Aerial holds a bachelor's degree from Tennessee State University and master's degree from Middle Tennessee State University, both in mass communication, and is currently pursuing a global executive doctoral degree from University of Southern California.