Barry Waldman

The Word Whisperer Who's Rewriting Charleston's Narrative

Barry Waldman is the kind of guy who walks into a room and has you wondering, "Is this a business meeting or a stand-up comedy night?" Not because he's got a rubber chicken hanging out of his briefcase, but because he brings levity and human connection to the often-stuffy realm of business gatherings. Trust me, if business networking were a sitcom, Barry would be the fan-favorite character.I first encountered Barry's unique brand of professionalism at a 1 Million Cups event a few years back. Over time, I grew increasingly impressed with his tireless efforts to uplift our community. Eventually, we found ourselves at a coffee shop, where I had the pleasure of delving into the intriguing backstory of Charleston's most down-to-earth influencer. You see, Barry isn't just a "pen for hire"—he's a wordsmith wizard. As a copywriter and journalist, he transforms ho-hum messages into compelling calls to action for his clients. But wait, there's more! Professor Barry, as his students affectionately call him, holds court at the College of Charleston. There, he's twice received the Adjunct Professor of the Year award while teaching PR, marketing, and writing. The man's basically the Yoda of effective communication. Barry's expertise isn't an overnight phenomenon. We're talking about 30 years of hustling in journalism, public relations, and marketing. Seventeen of those years were spent as VP of Communication at United Way. In 2015, Barry took the plunge and founded his own firm, Big Fly Communications, proving that you can teach an old dog some pretty spectacular new tricks. Although a native New Yorker with academic laurels from Columbia University, Barry has chosen Charleston as his sanctuary. For a decade, he served in various roles, such as radio news director, business newspaper reporter, and even as the Capitol correspondent for the Associated Press Radio Network in Albany. However, it's in Charleston that you'll find him tirelessly making the rounds at professional events, ever eager to offer his wisdom—or at least a good dad joke. So, the next time you see Barry Waldman at an event, say hi and stick around. You might just get some life-changing advice—served with a side of humor, of course.

And that's why Barry is a Lowcountry Influential.

You can contact him via LinkedIn at Barry Waldman | LinkedIn