I am a creative communications strategist who brings brand stories to life through social media. Combining strategy, artistry, and audience insights, I create engaging campaigns that strengthen brand reputation. I have over a decade of experience in design, public relations, and social media; working with a wide range of stakeholders, from government organizations to international NGOs, cause-driven tech startups, and non-profit student associations.

Nicole Machado

I am a creative communications strategist who brings brand stories to life through social media. Combining strategy, artistry, and audience insights, I create engaging campaigns that strengthen brand reputation. I have over a decade of experience in design, public relations, and social media; working with a wide range of stakeholders, from government organizations to international NGOs, cause-driven tech startups, and non-profit student associations.

Available to hire

I am a creative communications strategist who brings brand stories to life through social media. Combining strategy, artistry, and audience insights, I create engaging campaigns that strengthen brand reputation. I have over a decade of experience in design, public relations, and social media; working with a wide range of stakeholders, from government organizations to international NGOs, cause-driven tech startups, and non-profit student associations.

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Language

English
Fluent
Portuguese
Intermediate
Hindi
Advanced

Work Experience

Social Media Manager at Innovate UK
October 1, 2023 - Present
As Social Media Manager, responsible for shaping public perception of UK innovation through social media. Engaged with over 500K followers with strategic planning, social listening, crisis management, and community management.
Communications Account Manager at Impact and Influence
July 1, 2021 - October 1, 2023
Managed relationships with clients in environmental and social sectors, developed communication strategies, and expanded client reach through effective storytelling.
Digital Content and Marketing Lead at University of South Wales Students’ Union (USWSU)
May 1, 2018 - October 1, 2022
Led communications through the pandemic, maintaining digital engagement, managing social media content, and executing campaigns on sensitive topics.

Education

Masters in Public Relations and Global Communications Management at Cardiff University
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2021
International Degree - Diploma in Communication Design at National Institute of Creative Communications (NICC)
January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2013
Women in Leadership Training at Ask Europe
January 1, 2025 - January 28, 2026
Project Management Training at Association for Project Management
January 1, 2024 - January 28, 2026
Certification in Digital and Social Media Marketing at University of Arts London
January 1, 2018 - January 28, 2026
Certification in WordPress at Pitman Training
January 1, 2018 - January 28, 2026
Masters in Public Relations and Global Communications Management at Cardiff University
January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2021
International Degree - Diploma in Communication Design at National Institute of Creative Communications (NICC)
January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2013
Women in Leadership Training at Ask Europe
January 1, 2025 - January 28, 2026
Project Management Training at Association for Project Management
January 1, 2024 - January 28, 2026
Certification in Digital and Social Media Marketing at University of Arts London
January 1, 2018 - January 28, 2026
Certification in WordPress at Pitman Training
January 1, 2018 - January 28, 2026

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Government, Non-Profit Organization, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services
    paper Corporate campaigns - The challenge of communicating reports

    In early 2024 Innovate UK, the UK’s Innovation agency revealed: The 50 new technologies that could shape the future. From innovations like, a real-life invisibility cloak and worm-like robotics for disaster recovery, the report highlights technical advancements with major potential to transform lives.

    A campaign was launched to promote the report on LinkedIn, using relatable examples to maximise reach to a non-technical audience.

    This resulted in a total of over 10K organic impressions and over 500 engagements.

    While the campaign met its KPIs, future recommendations included the use of creative videos and employee advocacy to maximise reach.

    See the full campaign here - https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Reputation building campaign - ‘Halloween Trick or Treat for your Local Foodbank’

    While reputation building and community engagement are two distinct campaign types, they are deeply connected - reputation building earns trust, and community engagement sustains it. The Halloween Trick or Treat for your local food bank is a campaign that ticked many boxes including, enhancing the organisation’s reputation, raising awareness of food poverty and engaging the community to contribute to a cause.

    Organised by the University of South Wales Students’ Union, the ‘Halloween Trick or Treat for your Local Foodbank’ campaign was a light-hearted attempt by student volunteers to tackle food poverty by going Trick or Treating for food donations on Halloween.

    The campaign had three main objectives:

    • To raise awareness about the Students’ Union
    • To engage a diverse student community
    • To improve the reputation of the Students’ Union within the local community (previously tarnished with complaints about noise and messy student nights)

    What was achieved?

    • Launched in 2018, the success of the campaign furthered in 2019 when neighbouring universities joined forces and helped generate food donations of over 163 kilograms in one evening alone

    • So far, over 550kgs of donations have been raised, positively contributing to the community, gaining a digital reach of nearly 35k, as well as building brand reputation

    • After pausing during the COVID Lockdown period, the campaign was re-launched in 2024 by Nicole Machado with the help of a group of independent volunteers.

    See the full campaign here - https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Mental health Awareness & Engagement campaign - ‘Look After Your Mate’

    ‘Look After Your Mate’ is a student-led mental health awareness campaign delivered by the University of South Wales Students’ Union (USWSU), in collaboration with Student Minds. It’s designed to give students the tools, confidence, and language to support their peers through everyday struggles and mental health challenges.

    Leading the creative direction, channel strategy, and promotion of campaign, my approach was to create a warm, student-friendly visual identity aligned with a tone of voice with openness, empathy, and empowerment. For the launch of the campaign, notes of positivity were placed around campus; followed by a video montage of students finding these notes . A range of events followed, including coffee mornings, A Day to Vent, games/movie nights, the hugely popular Pet a Pooch and a social media post series featuring pointers on, ‘How to reach out without saying “How are you”.

    The campaign reached over 20K students on social media. See the campaign here - https://www.twine.net/signin