A New York native, Rachel Walensky is a brand strategist and integrated marketing communications professional with nearly 15 years of experience working with, and building, award-winning brands in the food, beverage, travel, lifestyle, and tech sectors. She got her start at the hospitality-focused PR agency Wagstaff Media & Marketing, where she spearheaded campaigns for over 25 high-profile accounts. Rachel then moved in-house as the Director of Communications & Marketing for Michelin-starred Chef George Mendes, where she drove all aspects of media relations, branding, social media, marketing, and strategic partnerships for the chef and restaurants. She went on to become the first Director of Communications & Marketing for The Bastion Collection, helping to grow the hospitality investment firm’s portfolio to eight brands with 10 properties across New York, Miami, and Houston, with chefs including Joël Robuchon and Jonathan Benno. Most recently, Rachel launched her own consulting practice before joining the team at Carbonate in Spring 2021. Rachel holds a B.S. in Communications and Legal Studies from Northwestern University. A brief kitchen stage at Alinea and front-of-house trail at Eleven Madison Park led her to forgo a planned career in law and follow her passion for hospitality—and she’s never looked back.