“For someone still so early in her career, Nina Schumann is making an extraordinary contribution to Zeno’s business and culture.

Nina is a go-to team member doing important and complex work for high-profile clients such as Coca-Cola, Chick-fil-A and Ally Bank. She also has served as the agency’s lead for the past three years on our pro bono work for Breakthrough T1D (formerly known as Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), where she plays a key role in that organization’s annual holiday gala, which last year raised a record $18.5 million in one night.

Nina’s career in PR is off to a fast start but I can say with great confidence that she’s just getting started — her lasting impact with clients, colleagues and in her community is well underway.”

“Nina's impact, professionalism, smarts and connectivity extend far beyond her years in the industry. 

Early in her career, Nina raised her hand to support the Chicago chapter of Breakthrough T1D (formerly known as JDRF), one of Zeno Group's hallmark pro bono clients. Her four-year commitment to this effort includes galvanizing the agency's participation in all fundraising events, coordinating more than 50 client-donated silent auction baskets and spearheading media relations initiatives for the organization.

Thanks to Nina’s writing talent and media savvy, Breakthrough T1D leadership has participated in numerous broadcast interviews, while Zeno Group has been elevated as a vital partner in the organization’s fundraising success.

Beyond her client and pro bono work, Nina is a cultural catalyst within Zeno. Nina’s energy and creativity help define the Zeno experience. In every sphere — client service, community engagement and agency culture — Nina brings unmatched dedication and heart. She gives her all, every time, to every community she touches.”

“Nina Schumann has had a tremendous impact on Zeno during her tenure at the agency. As the leader of the U.S. Brand practice, I’ve seen many young professionals come through our doors — and Nina stands out from the rest.

She brings a professional maturity to all that she does, leading client counsel with confidence, and driving strong results for complex clients such as The Coca-Cola Company and Chick-fil-A.

For instance, Nina recently led a challenging new restaurant opening for Chick-fil-A on the South Side of Chicago that included both nuanced reputational communications and stakeholder engagement.

Her strategic thinking, media prowess and awareness of the client’s business needs and objectives led to the opening being a huge success. This is just one example of how Nina contributes every day to Zeno’s culture and client work. We are grateful to have someone with Nina’s talents on our team.”

“Nina is the cultural and earned media spark that our Brand practice at Zeno Chicago needed.

She faces challenges with excitement, innovation and curiosity. For her work on Topo Chico and other culture-forward clients, she needs to stay ahead of trends and know what the next best thing is going to be, and she delivers – new partnership ideas, the best location for an event, or an emerging media vertical.

She is excited about the evolving media landscape, helping to push clients out of their traditional verticals and into new places, and reaching new audiences regularly.

Her media savvy is recognized by colleagues and clients alike. Her strong relationships with highly influential journalists are driving real impact daily. We are proud to call Nina a Zenoid!”

“It is with great enthusiasm that I recommend Nina Schumann for this award thanks to her outstanding work in public relations and community engagement.

Over the course of our collaboration, she has consistently demonstrated professionalism, creativity and a deep understanding of how to connect with the local community in meaningful and impactful ways.

From day one, she took the time to understand our mission, values and goals. She crafted strategic communications highlighting our Breakthrough T1D Illinois walks, gala and mission — which not only amplified our message, but also helped us build genuine relationships within the community. Whether through media outreach, event coordination or storytelling, her efforts have significantly increased our visibility and engagement with key stakeholders and supporters.

Most importantly, Nina has created a lasting impact on our mission. Thanks to her support, we’ve been able to reach new audiences, foster stronger partnerships and drive positive change for the T1D community we serve. We are grateful for her partnership and wholeheartedly recommend her to any organization looking to deepen their local impact through thoughtful and effective public relations.”

“Since Nina started at Zeno as an intern, her insatiable appetite to learn, grow and take on any challenge has consistently made her stand out as a rising star.

After earning the moniker, ‘newsjack Nina’ by a client for constantly identifying ways for brands like Coca-Cola and Ally Bank to tap into trending cultural conversations, Nina has gone on to build impressive relationships with journalists, clients and colleagues alike who applaud her strategic work, and I have personally asked for Nina by name to be on my teams.

I can’t think of another candidate with the accolades Nina has amassed, or who is so deserving of the [30 Under 30] award!”

“Nina has been instrumental in supporting the local Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Illinois Chapter as the Zeno pro bono lead.

She has seamlessly led a team of volunteers at our annual gala — procuring silent auction items, coordinating the ‘blue carpet’ photo opportunity, and managing night-of social media.

Most notably, Nina has broadened the reach of our mission by securing on-air and digital media coverage to highlight our annual walk, advocacy efforts and National Diabetes Awareness Month campaigns. Nina is an organized, thoughtful and dedicated leader who has made a direct and lasting impact on the type 1 diabetes community.”

“As a recent addition to the Ally Bank team, Nina has made an immediate impact.

Jumping right in, surfacing trending personal finance stories, showcasing her sense for what makes news and being a willing partner to other team members on any and every deliverable has helped the team greatly.

Nina is smart, eager, proactive and incredibly easy to work with.

In two short weeks, she's made our workstream stronger and her new teammates are confident in her perspective and counsel as well as her reliability. Nina is a star.”

“Beyond her media wins, Nina consistently raises her hand to support the team regardless of tight turnarounds or pressure from clients.

She goes above and beyond on every task, bringing reliability, initiative and calm under pressure.

Nina's blend of sharp media instincts and unwavering teamwork has made her a standout contributor to Ally Bank’s earned media program, and clients have been very complimentary of her work!

Her contributions are essential to our success, and it's hard to imagine our team without her.”

“Nina’s leadership and organization have positioned her as the backbone of the Topo Chico team, while her cultural prowess and creativity have made her indispensable to the clients and brand.”