The PR Week

The PR Week: 9.3.2026 - Kelly McGinnis

Episode Summary

The recently retired chief communications officer at Levi Strauss & Co. talks about her graduate class at the University of San Francisco, life as an amateur equestrian and the work that still inspires her.

Episode Notes

 Kelly McGinnis has worked across technology and consumer PR, most recently as chief communications officer at Levi Strauss & Co. Now, she’s teaching students about having a seat at the table in a graduate course at the University of San Francisco. 

On the agenda for this week’s episode: 

• Why she’s inviting current and former top communications executives to interact with students on the topic of problem-solving. 
• What most people don’t realize about the San Francisco PR market. 
• The work that inspires her. 
• Her away-from-work life as an amateur equestrian. 

PRWeek reporter Jeremy Sodergren discusses the top PR and communications news of the week, including:

• His upcoming feature about Microsoft chief communications officer Frank Shaw. 
• New comms executive appointments at Stellantis and Airbnb. 
• Chipotle’s influencer push. 
• Campaigns and brands at the US Open.