Susan Magrino

Experience and a steady hand mattered more than ever this year, which means Susan Magrino and her company were in high demand. Perhaps drawing on its experience through other crises over its 28 years in the business, Magrino was also among the swiftest to pivot once the pandemic atomized old ways of operating. The firm hosted more than 50 virtual events in the first three quarters of 2020; managed to attract more than 200 media people to an online version of its annual “First Look” client preview in September; rolled out an à la carte menu of services for clients who couldn’t afford hefty retainers; and managed to rope in 35 new post-pandemic clients in the process. “Our longevity, at this point, is an advantage,” Magrino said. An understatement.