Richelle Payne is managing partner at Hurst & Leigh Communications Group, a strategic communications and marketing firm based in Philadelphia, Pa., that partners with CEOs and change makers around the world to help them find and fix their brand challenges for greater impact.

She is an award-winning writer whose 30 years of experiences working as a journalist for a black-owned community newspaper, spokesperson and brand steward for an HBCU, college English instructor, and president of a national association for black PR professionals create an exciting mix of expertise crafting messages that inspire people and ignite business results.

She established her firm in 2010, and counsels presidents, CEOs, and division heads on strategies for managing business transformation, organizational change, and crises through brand strategy. In 2013, she expanded U.S. operations and works with strategic partners across offices in four states and global teams in the Netherlands, Canada, the UAE, and Cairo. Her client list includes entrepreneurs, executives, authors and activists such as Dondré T. Whitfield of OWN-TV’s critically-acclaimed scripted series “Queen Sugar,” retired San Francisco 49er Adam Walker, retired Philadelphia 76er John Salmons, retired Philadelphia Eagles Walter Thurmond III, bestselling author and megachurch leader Van Moody, Verizon, T.D. Jakes Enterprises, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and the Knight Foundation.

She graduated with a B.A. in English from Hampton University and the M.A. in Corporate Communication from Duquesne University. She earned the CCP (certified communications professional) designation from the AWC Matrix Foundation.