Ronni Burns

Biography

Ronni Burns understands the need for persuasive communication in business and life. She believes that audience-focused communication is the key to achieving more positive outcomes. Ronni spent 17 years at Citigroup as a Senior Vice President serving in roles that included Director of Business Practices, Global Spokesperson, and National Sales Manager for Citicorp Investment Services. Today she is doing the work she loves most; teaching, consulting, and coaching.

Ronni Burns has been an adjunct Professor of Management Communications at the Stern School of Business/NYU since 2010. She was an Adjunct Professor of Communications teaching Executive MBA students, at the Smith School of Business/UMD from 2002-2020. Previously, she taught communications to Executive MBA students at the Wharton Business School/PENN. Internationally, she taught students in India and China, guest lectured at the Graduate School of Business Administration in Zurich, taught a course at Bogazici University in Istanbul, and students from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Ronni worked in industries including biotech, film, plastics, technology, energy, and government contracting. Her clients included GE, Corning Glass, Houston Biotech, Schlumberger, Hewlett Packard, SAIC, Entergy, United Technologies, DHS, and Marriott, as well as many leading financial services companies.

Consistently rated as a top speaker, Ronni has delivered workshops and seminars to thousands of executives in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Latin America on presentation skills, consultative selling, and management communications. She considers herself a "simplictor". Her talent is helping others make complex concepts easy to communicate and implement. She loves both the art and science of effective communication. She is delighted to be a consultant in NYU's STEP program (Stern Teacher Effectiveness Program), working with professors to improve classroom presence and teaching effectiveness.

She served as a Trustee at the Securities Industry Association (now SIFMA) for 10 years, was on the Board of the Albert Ellis Institute for Rational Living, and has been a pro bono consultant to Save the Children. Elected to the Board of NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork) she served as their Treasurer.

Ronni volunteers at the Fortune Society, working with the formerly incarcerated. By sharpening their interviewing skills and building confidence they are more able to find success in re-entering the workforce, and turning their lives around.

What I have learned from formerly incarcerated men and women

Her article, “Communication Will Enhance the Doctor-Patient Relationship” was published in Physicians Practice Magazine and she contributed to the Forbes article: Secrets to Great Online Presenting.

Ronni Burns holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts in Communication Science from the University of Connecticut. Ronni is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC). She has held FINRA licenses 7, 24 and 63. In her book, Communication Essentials: A Sell-abration, she shares her insights into the complicated business of building relationships.

http://www.ronniburns.com/

Courses Taught

• Business Communication
• Management Communication

Academic Background

BA and Masters
University of Pennsylvania

M.A., Communication Science
University of Connecticut

Selected Publications

Michelle Greenwald (Ronni Burns, collaborator) (2020)
9 Secrets To Great Online Presenting In Corporations And Academia

Ronni Burns (2019)
What I have learned from formerly incarcerated men and women

Ronni Burns (2018)
Communication Will Enhance the Doctor-Patient Relationship

Ronni Burns (2000)
Communications Essentials: A Sell-Abration