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Fernando Agudelo
Strategic Communications and External Affairs - NORC at the University of Chicago
Professional Background
Fernando Agudelo brings a wealth of experience in communications and client services to his role as a Senior Communications Associate at NORC at the University of Chicago, a renowned nonpartisan research organization. With over seven years in the field, he has honed his skills in corporate communications, marketing initiatives, and client management, playing a critical role in shaping and executing effective communication strategies. In his current position, Fernando excels at overseeing the planning and execution of various corporate communication projects. He collaborates closely with research teams to develop dissemination tactics that broaden the reach of NORC's impactful research while supporting external events featuring NORC experts. His dedication to amplifying the organization's expertise makes him an invaluable asset to his team.
Prior to joining NORC, Fernando had an impressive tenure at Edelman, the world’s largest public relations firm, where he specialized in corporate communications and earned media strategies across diverse sectors, including automotive, financial services, consumer packaged goods, and technology. His leadership in the Hispanic employee resource group exemplifies his commitment to inclusivity and knowledge-sharing, further establishing his reputation as a forward-thinking communicator. Throughout his career, Fernando has been involved in numerous projects that demonstrate his ability to blend strategic thinking with creative execution to meet his clients' needs.
Education and Achievements
Fernando’s academic journey is as distinguished as his professional career. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising and Public Relations, achieving an impressive GPA of 3.96. His educational foundation provided him with a solid grounding in the principles of effective communication and media relations, which he continues to apply in his professional endeavors. Recognizing the importance of continuous learning, Fernando pursued further studies in advanced Italian language and culture at the Florence University of the Arts, as well as obtaining a Certificate in Essentials of Project Management from The University of Chicago Graham School. This education not only speaks to his dedication to personal growth but also enhances his ability to manage complex projects seamlessly.
In addition to his formal education, Fernando's versatility is exemplified by his multilingual capabilities. He is fluent in Spanish and has a passion for learning the Italian language, which has undoubtedly enriched his cultural understanding and communication skills in diverse environments.
Community Engagement and Personal Interests
Outside of his professional responsibilities, Fernando maintains a vibrant personal life filled with interests that reflect his creative side and commitment to community involvement. He plays the alto saxophone in the Lakeside Pride Marching Band, where he connects with others through music while supporting LGBTQ+ representation in the arts. This engagement demonstrates a broader commitment to community and the role of arts in fostering inclusivity and expression.
Throughout his career, Fernando has been active in various roles that have deepened his understanding of public relations and communications. He began his journey at a public affairs and event management agency in Chicago, where he collaborated with city and government officials, setting the stage for his later achievements in the industry. His early experiences, including internships at MediaVest and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando, laid the groundwork for his successful career in public relations and communications.
Achievements
Fernando's impactful career trajectory is marked by several noteworthy achievements and contributions to the field of communications. He has successfully led numerous corporate communication initiatives, skillfully working with clients to enhance their outreach and engagement strategies. His role in thought leadership and earned media programs has helped organizations articulate their message effectively and reach a wider audience.
As a management expert, he spearheaded knowledge management initiatives for a vast network of over 500 earned media experts across Edelman's U.S. and global offices, signifying his pivotal role in fostering collaboration and sharing insights within the organization. Fernando's drive and dedication to excellence have resulted in meaningful outcomes for clients in various sectors, and his time at NORC continues to reflect his commitment to impactful research dissemination.
Fernando Agudelo is a dynamic communications professional whose career is defined by his commitment to quality, community engagement, and lifelong learning. His contributions to NORC, coupled with his previous experiences at Edelman and other esteemed organizations, position him as a leader in the field of communications, adept at navigating complex challenges while delivering exceptional results.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
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