We are passionate about celebrating the clients we admire.
It began with an idea to share everything we have learned about successful marketing + PR.
In 2020, the world turned upside-down. Jessica Coughlin dedicated herself to supporting beloved small businesses in a time of crisis along with her longtime collaborator, Chef Irene Li. Together they started the Unsung Restaurants campaign to rally their community around Boston’s favorite under-the-radar restaurants through fundraising and awareness.
Now, Onward & Upward provides consulting and training to businesses and organizations with the goal of paying forward all the valuable marketing and storytelling lessons we have learned. Our passion for promoting the companies and missions that we know deserve to be heard and celebrated is what drives our work.
About Jessica
“Media is in my blood - my parents met as journalists at WBZ, the CBS affiliate in Boston. In college I tried working in every medium from radio at NPR to television production for Discovery Channel, film at National Geographic, and print for The Phoenix. Ultimately, I pursued marketing as a way to bring together storytelling and my love of business.
My background includes sponsorship consulting, event production, direct sales and nonprofit fundraising, all fueled by a passion for marketing communications and organizational development. Working in media, technology, hospitality, live music, and the social sector all have provided me with an incredibly wide range of experiences, as well as an extremely diverse network of close relationships in Boston and beyond. I hold an MBA in Leadership and Organizational Transformation from Boston University Questrom School of Business and BA in Anthropology from George Washington University.
I have volunteered my expertise as a board member, artistic advisor, event chair and more for organizations including Jewish Arts Collaborative, Pine Street Inn, Project Restore Us, and The Food Project. Collaborating with people I believe in and supporting impactful missions is the North Star of my career.”