UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — An important Penn State connection and a good dose of curiosity have helped one alumna build her career in the public relations industry, and her impact and success have helped others notice what she’s done.
Meghan Kelleher, the founder and chief executive officer of Corner Market Communications, was named to PRWeek’s 40 under 40 list that was announced in August. She previously had been listed among the Top Women in Marketing by Ragan Communications and PR Daily. Kelleher earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising/public relations from Penn State in 2008.
“Our agency has grown because of one question,” Kelleher said. “How can we help?”
After years as a communications manager and director at companies such as Waze and KIND, Kelleher said she was inspired to start her own agency. At Penn State, Kelleher participated in the PRSSA Bateman competition where she met Tina Clabbers. In what they both describe as “perfectly by chance,” the pair reconnected over a decade later in Austin, Texas.
A few months after reconnecting, Kelleher invited Clabbers to join her in taking her consultancy to the next level and forming a true agency. Corner Market Communications was officially born in 2023, and the firm has quickly become one of the top names in marketing for packaged food and beverages.
“Meghan is incredibly devoted to what she does,” said Tina Clabbers, the chief strategy officer for Corner Market Communications who also graduated from Penn State in 2008 with a degree in advertising/public relations. “If she believes in something, she will make it happen”
Although now specializing in the grocery market, Kelleher explains that throughout the variety of experiences during her career, “the core was always storytelling.” She credits her success to her team's ability to tell the story of each unique client. Being diverse in their ability to understand a brand message and “staying curious in the industry” are the keys, she said.
Kelleher said advice from a Penn State faculty member has helped influence her professional approach and that of her company. That includes an emphasis on adaptability and functionality.
She recalled Steve Manuel, an associate teaching professor in the Department of Advertising/Public Relations recommending to “be like a foldable chair.” A foldable chair is not flashy or fancy, but it fits in any space, and it does exactly what it needs to. That’s an idea Kelleher has held throughout her career, emphasizing the importance of learning the basics and foundations because “the rest of it will follow.”
Kelleher said one of the biggest areas of personal developments during her career has been in terms of confidence.
In her first job out of college, which she found at the Success in the City job fair sponsored by the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, Kelleher explains she needed her employer to “bet on” her. Once they took the bet, she spent the following years proving she was worth it. Later, she learned that “it's not always about having someone bet on you, it's about you betting on you.”
This change moved her from a mindset of “proving into being,” and helped her become the confident professional she is today.
Having known Kelleher since their undergraduate years, Clabbers said she has watched her grow into a confident and creative business owner. She said Kelleher’s never-ending passion and vision for her clients sets her apart, stating she “never puts ideas to bed.” Clabbers explained that Kelleher's mindset to “never quit” has influenced the rest of the staff, creating an environment of determined and creative work. And, earning some accolades for Kelleher.