Management Team
Professional Staff
Toddi Gutner Senior Vice President
Why PR?
What’s the story and why should I care? Those questions have propelled me for the last 20+ years as a financial journalist for Forbes, Businessweek, among other business publications. I believe every person, organization and company has a story. Sometimes it is buried and the right questions just need to be asked to dig it out. The truth is, I don’t really see myself “doing public relations” as much as drilling down with my clients to ask the hard questions so that they can tell stories reporters want to cover. I still get to do what I love: Feed my intense curiosity and insatiable need to constantly learn new things through asking questions.
Areas of Expertise
Most of the time, I play Devil’s Advocate. When media pitches come across my desk, I give them the reporter sniff test. Does it have the ingredients of a good story? I consult on the viability of thought leadership and survey programs, contribute to the professional development of staff in areas of critical thinking, media relations and story development, and conduct business development. As a longtime journalist, I also help media train clients and develop media strategy.
What I Did Before BlissPR
If what the career experts say is true—that professionals have an average of five career changes in their lives—then I’m entering my third. After graduating University of Michigan with a BA in Economics, I spent five years as an economic analyst for National Economic Research Associates, a consulting firm. I earned a graduate degree in journalism from Northwestern. I launched my journalism career at Forbes Magazine where I worked for five years and then spent 11 years at Businessweek as a columnist and associate editor covering personal finance, finance, women in business and the bond market. The last five years I have been a contributor to the Wall Street Journal, MSN Business on Main and Reuters Wealth, developed thought leadership for The Conference Board, Ernst & Young, among other consulting firms, and consulted with private clients on high-level media strategy. I also speak at and moderate conference panels at venues such as The Women’s Forum for Economy and Society in Deauville, France.
What I Do for Fun
I am an intrepid traveler and love to plan the next adventure for my husband and two sons, Lee and Cameron. I love to read, exercise (run, bike, hot yoga), and truly enjoy an intellectually stimulating conversation—always on the hunt for the next story.
