Rachel Ezekiel-Fishbein, KLN ’86, both an alum and former adjunct instructor at Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication, has always felt called to help others. Now, she is combining her passion for mission-driven work and her experience in public relations (PR) to donate 30 hours of pro bono PR services to celebrate 30 years of Making Headlines, her public relations consultancy.
Ezekiel-Fishbein, a Philadelphia native, transferred to Temple University during her sophomore year of college. During her time at Klein College, Ezekiel-Fishbein said she felt supported by her professors and built a solid foundation for her career.
She assumed her first full-time role as a copywriter and later joined Elkman Advertising as a public relations account executive in 1990. At Elkman, she found the mentors who helped her throughout the rest of her career. The people she met helped her build her network and find other opportunities.
“I was very fortunate to have amazing mentors,” she said.
After Elkman, Ezekiel-Fishbein followed her mentor to a position at Earle Palmer Brown. When Ezekiel-Fishbein became a new mother, she sought a flexible work environment that matched her lifestyle. She founded her own home-based business. Making Headlines, and the company that Ezekiel-Fishbein started, out of a spare room in her house, became remarkably successful.
“Within hours, I had three clients lined up,” she said.
While continuing to build Making Headlines, Ezekiel-Fishbein had her second child. When she discovered her child had multiple disabilities, she was thankful for the ability to manage her own schedule.
“I realized what a blessing it was that I had the flexibility and autonomy that come with owning your own business,” she said.
In 2015, Ezekiel-Fishbein returned to Klein College as an adjunct instructor, and her passion for helping others showed itself in this aspect of her career as well. She shared that one of her biggest accomplishments while teaching at Klein College was making a difference in how her students felt supported.
Ezekiel-Fishbein pushed to highlight the importance of providing accommodations for students.
“I was the first person in my department to put information in my syllabus about students' rights to have their basic needs met and their sexual safety,” she said.
“Some of the things I’m most proud of are not what I taught,” she continued. “At the time, I went through a lot of tissues in my office. I am really proud of how many students would come to my office hours because they needed help figuring something out.”
Whether at Klein College, Making Headlines or in her agency work, Ezekiel-Fishbein always strived to help others.
“At every agency I worked at, I asked to do the pro bono work,” she said.
Her client list at Making Headlines is primarily composed of nonprofit and mission-driven organizations. Ezekiel-Fishbein cites her upbringing as the foundation that nurtured her altruistic tendencies. Her mother, a Holocaust survivor, encouraged her to understand the importance of charitable acts.
“My mom believed she had the responsibility to give back because she survived,” she said. “I feel really fortunate that I found a way to do what I love and feel like I’m making a positive difference.”
This year, Ezekiel-Fishbein decided to celebrate 30 years of Making Headlines by engaging with her passion for helping others. She chose to provide 30 hours of pro bono PR services to one nonprofit or mission-driven organization. Ezekiel-Fishbein hosted a nomination process to decide which organization would receive the hours.
“By having a meeting with every nominee, I’m in some way giving to each of them by hearing their story and giving them feedback about what I envision they need,” she said. “The goal is that everyone who is nominated wins in some way.”
The ultimate objective of this celebration is to help a company where Ezekiel-Fishbein feels she could make the most difference.
“I didn’t want to give one hour to 30 different companies because that would feel less meaningful,” she added.
David Brown, associate professor and assistant dean for community and communication at Klein College, has known Ezekiel-Fishbein for many years and underscored how the contest aligns with Ezekiel-Fishbein's personality and work style.
“It’s so on brand for her,” he said. “She’s always been a very community-minded practitioner, and she’s always recognized the power that public relations has for mission-focused organizations. What better way to celebrate the milestone?”
Ezekiel-Fishbein plans on announcing the winner of the contest in the near future.
“The winning organization will be the one that understands their own objectives and their own mission the best and where I can make the most impact with the 30 hours,” she said.