Deirdre K. Breakenridge is Chief Executive Officer at Pure Performance Communications. A veteran in PR and marketing, she is the author of five Financial Times books - her most recent book, Social Media and Public Relations: Eight New Practices for the PR Professional, was published in May 2012. Deirdre is an adjunct professor at New York University (NYU), an online instructor for UMASS at Amherst Journalism Department, and she speaks nationally and internationally on the topics of PR, marketing and social media communications. She also serves on the Board of the Social Network Association and is working with the founders on the #50Shows Empowering Women Movement giving women a voice and platform through media.