Name: Andrea Aker
Twitter: @andreaaker
Facebook: facebook.com/akerink
Instagram: @andrealynnaker and @aker.ink
Website: www.akerink.com
City you live in: Scottsdale
Current job/Employer: Aker Ink, President & CEO
A typical day in my life includes… a great variety of work (even on the weekends) and some sort of outdoor activity or workout such as running, biking, swimming, hiking or stand-up paddle boarding.
I was born… in Tucson, though my family moved to Prescott when I was 2, and that is where I was raised. Arizona native!
My favorite thing about my city… I absolutely love Scottsdale and its amenities. I live near the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and have 200+ miles of trails in my backyard. I’m also a stone’s throw from shopping, great food and nightlife.
I’m currently listening to… about a dozen books and podcasts at one time, depending on my mood. As I’m writing this? Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker. I also follow dance/electronica playlists on Spotify.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be… right now, I’d like to pick the brain of one of my favorite authors, David Brooks. The Social Animal and The Second Mountain helped me reframe my path and purpose.
One thing I cannot live without is… in reality, my computer. Running shoes are more aspirational.
When I was younger, I wanted to be… a graphic designer. By the time high school rolled around, I knew journalism was my path.
My first job was… a tutor for elementary school students.
Always… keep an open mind. You’ll be amazed at how much more you learn, grow and succeed when you step outside your comfort zone and listen to viewpoints different than your own.
Never… underestimate what you’re capable of. My biggest life accomplishments (to date) came after a long and windy path where I learned to remove limiting beliefs.
Favorite quote: If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them. – George Orwell
More About Andrea Aker:
Andrea Aker is the president and CEO of Aker Ink PR & Marketing, a full-service PR and marketing agency that helps companies increase brand awareness, enhance thought leadership, and generate leads. She founded the company in 2007 with a solid foundation in both print and broadcast journalism.
Andrea earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Arizona and a Master of Mass Communication from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism with a specialization in online media. She graduated summa cum laude from ASU and was inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, the National Honor Society of Journalism and Mass Communication, an honor reserved for the top 10% of graduates nationally. In 2018, Andrea launched the annual Aker Ink Scholarship at ASU to support undergraduate journalism or PR student.
Andrea is highly active in the community, supporting numerous charitable and leadership organizations. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in North Scottsdale, which is one of the largest urban preserves in America. Additionally, Andrea was a long-time partner with Social Venture Partners Arizona, a network of philanthropists who take a venture capital approach to funding nonprofits. She is a former member of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Communications Committee. She is also a past member of the Board of Directors for Scottsdale Leadership, a nationally recognized leadership, and community stewardship program. She graduated from the Scottsdale Leadership core program in 2014 (Class 28).
On a professional level, Andrea is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, Phoenix chapter. She previously served on the Board of Directors and has volunteered on numerous committees to help advance the association and profession. Further, Andrea is a member of the Arizona Innovation Marketing Association (AZIMA), where she currently serves on the marketing committee. In 2015, Az Business Magazine recognized Andrea as one of the state’s top business leaders under 40. The Arizona Republic declared her among the Top 35 Entrepreneurs Under 35 in 2016. As well, Andrea’s work has earned accolades from the AZIMA and the Phoenix Chapter of the American Marketing Association.
