As public relations professionals look to navigate their clients through ever-changing, volatile and uncertain times, Sykes Global Communications has emerged throughout the years as a leading PR agency for today’s complex, technologically expanding and extraordinarily challenging world.
As founding principal and Chief Executive Officer of Sykes Global Communications, Ronnie Oliva, has risen to the top of the proverbial call list for clients wishing to break through the cacophony of rapid and sustained informational stimulus and spin. Having successfully broken into a competitive, once male dominated field, she is one of the first women to start a political public relations firm in New York City. Oliva has kept her clients’ names in – or out of – the news previous to, during, and since the COVID pandemic with an astute attention to public presentation and a preparedness to respond to an array of potential feedback. Quickly gaining recognition with local politicians, community and international leaders, Oliva gained respect with major marketing firms, corporations, and not-for-profits from Ghana, Africa, to New York City and Long Island, to Jupiter and Palm Beach, Florida. Sykes Global Communications has led speech, presentation and debate strategy for a multitude of public figures, companies and governmental agencies, as well as both long-shot and frontrunner campaign victories. Among the firm’s most notable insurgent efforts was the successful campaign for Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, U.S. representative for New York’s 14th Congressional District. Earlier, the company was recruited by Former Congressman Charles Rangel, in what many considered the most challenging race of his political career, to cross the finish line ahead of his opposition and solidify his international reputation as a fiercely durable and historical political figure.
Partnering with some of the country’s largest Public Relations firms and well known individuals for the past 16 years, Oliva is known for promoting intellectual, artistic and demographic diversity throughout all of her projects from business ventures to crisis management.
Leading the way for people of color, Oliva prides herself on mentoring others to succeed in the exciting world of public relations: “I’ve been asked to work with some of the most high-profile PR ventures and crises of our time. I want my journey to inspire other young women and men to build their own businesses with passion and purpose. As our world changes the way we do business, I never stop learning and growing myself, and gaining lessons I can pass on to others through the example of our firm’s work. It’s an adventure that has been extremely rewarding to me. I can now imagine mentoring others as a key priority for the future.” In 2017, Ronnie married another highly acclaimed, successful political and PR strategist, Michael Oliva, prompting their professional merger to ascend the ladder of prominence among public relations professionals in New York City and surrounding states. Oliva is widely heralded as a bright and dynamic force in political campaigns and public interest ventures. Together in Sykes Global Communications, they have established a reputation as the PR firm for potential clients to call on when the going gets just too tough to handle.
Oliva has dedicated over 16 years to building Sykes Global Communications with acclaim. She was named to City & State New York’s Political PR Power 50, recognizing her as one of the most powerful New Yorkers in Public Relations, was selected to AM New York’s Political Power Rising list in 2022, and has received multiple other accolades and awards for her vast array of professional milestones and achievements.
For the future of Sykes Global Communications, the sky’s the limit. Here’s what was said around time about Sykes!
“Michael Oliva has gone on to win long shot races all over the city.”
-Errol Louis
“I have been in the labor movement for more than 40 years as a communications professional. I believe that half the battle in this business is that people have to like you. Ronnie scores a perfect 10 on that issue. There are only positive waves when Ronnie enters a room. Add in her vast experience at all levels of the labor movement, her connections to the political class, and her ability to connect the dots quickly between the issues of your organization and the path to achieving your goals, and you have a winning plan for success.”
-Jim Gannon, Transport Workers Union (TWU)
“I came to Sykes as an activist and a victim of cyberbullying. I wanted to tell my story. I wanted to bring about social change. I wanted to help empower and protect young women, and young girls, from abuse. In Sykes, I found a winner. Ronnie not only understood the issue but also understood me. They worked tirelessly and professionally–they didn’t stop until they delivered results.”
-Meaghan Jarensky-Barakett, Humanitarian, President & Founder of One Girl NY
“They’re consummate professionals—first-rate strategists. Sykes’ contribution to the campaign helped to make our demonstration a huge success; we were happy to have them on our team.”
-Debra Pucci, Chief of Staff, 1199/SEIU
“Michael Oliva was integral to the success of my campaign for Manhattan Borough President. His work ethic and good mind for strategy were essential to my electoral victory.”
-Gale Brewer, Manhattan Borough President
“Thank you both so much for your help and preparation! I wouldn’t have felt nearly as prepared without the two of you. Thank you both for your support and continued insight.”
-Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Congresswoman, New York’s 14th Congressional District
“She is smart and she is good at what she does. I was more than pleased with the work Ronnie Oliva produced for the campaign.”
-Charles B. Rangel, Former U.S. Congress Member
“In Sykes Global Communications we found a highly capable deadline-driven team to spread our message quickly, without compromising the quality of work. We could not have made a better decision in partnering with them. They delivered services and products beyond our expectations.”
-Letitia James, New York State Attorney General
“Ronnie and her team are truly amazing! They took me on during one of the most challenging times in my career and delivered time and time again. The burden they lifted from my life relieved my soul. I am forever grateful.”
-Sean Ringgold, Actor, One Life to Live