Susan English is a strategist, researcher and messaging architect who has a passion for rooting out angles and insights that fuel audience engagement, influence opinions, and motivate action. She has 25+ years of agency experience helping clients shape messaging and communications to consistently exceed marketing and business goals. Susan’s track record of success is why several clients have relied on her for 15 years or more, and why so many of her programs are recognized as best in class at the national level.
With her expertise in strategic planning and foundational message development, Susan now leads Gatesman’s strategic communications function, and works with teams to research insights, craft positionings, build plans, and optimize efforts. She has helped her clients establish and evolve their core messaging, such as vision, mission, and values. She has also helped them identify positioning and thought leadership platforms, and to initiate programs in new areas, such as corporate giving, multicultural marketing, managed care, loyalty programs, research and education, and social media. Susan has led several research initiatives to develop frameworks for thought leadership and planning in areas such as business leadership, crisis response, and Gen Z opportunities.
Just a few of the national brands and category leaders that Susan has supported are National Vision, Transitions Optical, PPG Industries, TruHearing, Array Technologies, Chaberton Energy, Beard Equipment, Michigan Ross School of Business, University of Arkansas, Pace Suburban Bus, Avantax, CFA Institute, Centers for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE), Northwell Health, LivaNova, Merck Life Sciences, Heinz U.S.A., Carrier Corporation, Bayer Corporation (now Covestro), and American Eagle Outfitters. Susan is a respected leader in the local community and has been honored as a personal and professional role model for young women. She was a founding member of the One Young World Pittsburgh Partnership, is a board member for St. Lucy’s Auxiliary to the Blind, and is the lead organizer of Gatesman’s Parents for a Pause initiative addressing youth mental health. Susan enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, and their pets — a timid but loveable wheaten terrier and timid but speedy Russian tortoise.
