Bill Novelli — Social Marketing & Communication Innovation
Bill Novelli, a pioneer in the development of social marketing, co-founder of Porter Novelli, and author of Good Business: the Talk, Fight, Win Way to Change the World, examined the history of social marketing and the forces shaping our field—what we’ve learned and where we’re going, in a discussion held on September 18. Novelli also introduced NovelliGPT, a generative AI model inspired by his philosophy and pioneering principles. The PRMuseum also announced that Novelli's oral history will become part of its collection.
Participants in addition to Bill Novelli included Jillian Janaczek, CEO, Porter Novelli; Sarah Davanzo, chief innovation officer, Porter Novelli; and Phil Kotler, widely respected “Father of modern marketing" and professor emeritus at the Kellogg School of Management, made a special appearance.
Bill Novelli was co-founder of Porter Novelli, chief operating officer of CARE, founder and president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and CEO of AARP. He is currently a distinguished professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, where he founded the Business for Impact program. He is also co-founder and co-chair of the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care, a national alliance to reform advanced illness and end of life care in the U.S.
Bill Novelli, distinguished professor, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business
Philip Kotler is Professor Emeritus of Marketing at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, where he held the S.C. Johnson & Son Professorship of International Marketing. Widely regarded as the father of modern marketing, Kotler earned his MA in economics from the University of Chicago and PhD from MIT, followed by post‑doctoral work at Harvard and Chicago. Author of over 57 books—including Marketing Management, the global graduate marketing standard—and 150 + articles, he has advised IBM, GE, AT&T, Merck and governments worldwide. A first‑recipient of the AMA “Distinguished Marketing Educator” award and inductee into the AMA Marketing Hall of Fame, Kotler shaped Kellogg’s rise to Business Week’s “Best Business School” and “Best at Teaching Marketing.”
Phil Kotler, Professor Emeritus of Marketing, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management
Jillian Janaczek is Global CEO of Porter Novelli, leading its purpose-driven strategic communications work as part of the Omnicom PR Group. A seasoned agency executive, she previously led BCW New York—managing healthcare, consumer and corporate practices and driving double-digit growth. Since joining PN in August 2023, she has shaped a unified global vision, scaling operations, strengthening client partnerships and advancing innovation and purpose-led storytelling.
Jillian Janaczek, Global CEO, Porter Novelli
Sarah DaVanzo is Chief Innovation Officer and Head of Strategic Services & Foresight at Porter Novelli. A global strategic innovator with 20+ years of experience across client and agency roles—including leadership at Pierre Fabre and L’Oréal—she drives digital transformation using AI, data analytics, “curiosity science,” and exotic data to deliver Industry 5.0 insights. Sarah is a Rolling Stone Culture Council contributor and internationally recognized techno‑futurist.
Sarah DaVanzo, Chief Innovation Officer and Head of Strategic Services & Foresight, Porter Novelli
Thanks to our Sponsors
The PR Museum wishes to recognize this event’s sponsor, Porter Novelli, and the ongoing support of our Founding Partners Edelman and PRSA; our Program Underwriters Burson and APCO Worldwide; and our Sustaining Sponsors, Honeywell, Muck Rack, Enbridge, Zeno, HUNTER, Racepoint Global, Conagra Brands, Page, The Wallace Foundation, The Grossman Group, the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, and The University of Florida.
