JUSTYN HARKIN | Chicago
SUMMARY
Senior thought leadership writer — I translate dense expert material (SME interviews, first- and third-party research, analyst data, technical reports, etc.) into clear, credible, search-optimized content for the executives and practitioners who need it. Cybersecurity, AI, enterprise tech.
Senior thought leadership writer — I translate dense expert material (SME interviews, first- and third-party research, analyst data, technical reports, etc.) into clear, credible, search-optimized content for the executives and practitioners who need it. Cybersecurity, AI, enterprise tech.
SKILLS
Strategy & Positioning: Content Strategy & Architecture | Brand Journalism | Thought Leadership | Positioning & Messaging | Editorial Strategy | Go-to-Market (GTM) Content | Content Systems & Amplification
Copywriting & Execution: Executive Ghostwriting | Expert Profiles | SEO & AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) | White Papers | Data Storytelling | Case Studies | Campaign Content | Social & Multi-Format Copy | Accessibility Copy
Process & Synthesis: Subject-Matter Expert (SME) Interviews & Translation | Research Synthesis | Long-Form Content Development | Content Translation
Domains & Tech: Cybersecurity | Threat Intelligence | AI Security | Generative AI | Enterprise B2B | SaaS | Fintech | HR Tech
EXPERIENCE
Senior B2B Copywriter (Associate Creative Director)
VML — Seattle, WA (Remote) | April 2022 – July 2026
Long-form thought leadership writer on the Microsoft Security account, spanning Microsoft Security Insider and the broader cybersecurity and AI portfolio.
VML — Seattle, WA (Remote) | April 2022 – July 2026
Long-form thought leadership writer on the Microsoft Security account, spanning Microsoft Security Insider and the broader cybersecurity and AI portfolio.
- Produced long-form thought leadership on AI security, including the four-part “Securing the AI-Powered Enterprise” guide series (2025–26) and the Agentic SecOps white paper (2026), from SME and research sources.
- Developed the narrative architecture and wrote “State of the SOC,” Microsoft Security's flagship 2025 research report—shaping raw survey data and SME input into a copy-forward executive narrative.
- Wrote SEO-optimized copy—headlines, summaries, and articles to target keywords—and produced the social and campaign amplification that distributed each flagship asset across the portfolio.
- Contributed to 601% year-over-year growth in Security Insider engagement (FY24) as sole content writer and exceeded scope by up to 31%—28 articles, 63 social assets, and 4 video assets.
- Developed the narrative architecture and wrote “State of the SOC,” Microsoft Security's flagship 2025 research report—shaping raw survey data and SME input into a copy-forward executive narrative.
- Wrote SEO-optimized copy—headlines, summaries, and articles to target keywords—and produced the social and campaign amplification that distributed each flagship asset across the portfolio.
- Contributed to 601% year-over-year growth in Security Insider engagement (FY24) as sole content writer and exceeded scope by up to 31%—28 articles, 63 social assets, and 4 video assets.
Senior B2B Content Writer & Copywriter
Self-Employed — Chicago, IL & Paris, France | February 2016 – April 2022
Independent B2B copywriter for growth-stage SaaS and technology companies across HR tech, fintech, edtech, and accessibility. Based in Paris (2016–2021), then Chicago.
Self-Employed — Chicago, IL & Paris, France | February 2016 – April 2022
Independent B2B copywriter for growth-stage SaaS and technology companies across HR tech, fintech, edtech, and accessibility. Based in Paris (2016–2021), then Chicago.
- Delivered a full website rewrite for BenchPrep (2021) that contributed to a doubling of monthly demo requests, with pages-per-session up 70% and bounce rate down 60%.
- Produced a 2020 research report for RevenueWell that ranked first for the year and second among all gated assets in company history — plus the landing pages, email, and social content that promoted it.
- Pitched and led a 2018 Harris Poll survey report for Yello that generated 70%+ of the year's marketing leads and lifted site traffic 10%.
- Ongoing work for SaaS clients including Jellyvision, M1 Finance, Evive, and AudioEye; boutique B2B agency contract work (+Intention) and event-marketing content (Freeman Company) after returning to Chicago.
- Produced a 2020 research report for RevenueWell that ranked first for the year and second among all gated assets in company history — plus the landing pages, email, and social content that promoted it.
- Pitched and led a 2018 Harris Poll survey report for Yello that generated 70%+ of the year's marketing leads and lifted site traffic 10%.
- Ongoing work for SaaS clients including Jellyvision, M1 Finance, Evive, and AudioEye; boutique B2B agency contract work (+Intention) and event-marketing content (Freeman Company) after returning to Chicago.
B2B Copywriter & Content Marketer
Jellyvision — Chicago, IL | February 2012 – February 2016
Part of the original ALEX team, helping build the content marketing function from the ground up for an HR-tech and benefits audience.
Jellyvision — Chicago, IL | February 2012 – February 2016
Part of the original ALEX team, helping build the content marketing function from the ground up for an HR-tech and benefits audience.
- Created the ALEX Benefits Communication research series — began with the Olinger Group and grew to Harris Poll — a flagship thought-leadership program that generated earned media across HR and benefits publications.
- Published bylined articles in HR and benefits trade press under my own name, including Strategic HR Review, and served as a named subject-matter source quoted in outlets such as PLANSPONSOR and PLANADVISER.
- Created Jellyvision's first external brand guidelines for partners, resellers, and enterprise clients.
- Published bylined articles in HR and benefits trade press under my own name, including Strategic HR Review, and served as a named subject-matter source quoted in outlets such as PLANSPONSOR and PLANADVISER.
- Created Jellyvision's first external brand guidelines for partners, resellers, and enterprise clients.
EARLIER EXPERIENCE
Senior Writer & Marketing Strategist, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (2010–2012)
Instructional Designer, Kaplan University (2004–2008)
Copy Editor, GIA Publications (2003–2004)
Managing Editor, Ziff Davis Media / GameNOW, Expert Gamer (1999–2002)
Assistant Editor, Emmis Communications (1998–1999)
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts, Writing — School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), 2009
- Trustee's Merit Scholar
- Trustee's Merit Scholar
Bachelor of Arts, Program of Liberal Studies; Spanish — University of Notre Dame, 1998
- Meghan Beeler Memorial Scholar
- Meghan Beeler Memorial Scholar