Chief Communications Officer
Experienced in PR and storytelling from three distinct angles: #1 As a journalist who's interviewed 35,000+ people and evaluated thousands of PR pitches. #2 As Director of Communications for a U.S. agency in the Obama administration. #3 As a fellow founder. Don't know the right timing in your product-life cycle to get press? Stumped how to write a media pitch? Bring me your PR questions and you'll get answers.
Another strategy for attracting journalists. We can talk about how to figure out what topics to write about | Creating your message | Message and content review | Structuring the article | Promotional ideas | Creating an overall content strategy plan that meets your business goals
Figuring out what's in the way | Addressing limiting beliefs that keep you stuck | Giving your goals an identity | Setting up rhythms for success | Separating the essential from the non-essential
I've been a journalist so I know exactly what they want and how to engage them. I also have led national PR campaigns and have pitched to journalists. Whether it's a PR launch strategy, or new/ongoing reporter relationship building, or editing content, I am a media value add.
Social media is a major part of your media strategy. Journalists use it to scout companies and find new topics to write about. Most founders leave this piece of their media plan behind or don't know how to include it.
Listening with a compassionate and strategic ear | Getting to the heart of the issue | Finding the opportunity in the pain point | Putting a plan together for next steps | Being an empathetic partner to the difficulties since I'm on the startup journey too
Using this public relations software to search for media on a topic, create a media list, engage with the reporters on the list through email and digital platforms for relationship-building and pitching.
->My superpower is listening to anything you say and hearing the story that you cannot figure out on your own. ->Storytelling expert who has interviewed more than 38,000 people. ->Keen understanding of how media works, as an ex-journalist. ->Knowledgeable and experienced in pitching to media and brand storytelling, as a PR director at public agencies. ->Love helping to demystify media and helping founders and professionals clarify your story
I help professionals make sense of where they are and what’s next in their careers. I’m especially good with messy, uncertain, or seemingly stuck situations—when nothing feels clear but something needs to move. This work is independent and done outside of government working hours.
We teach storytelling with purpose that moves others to action so that startups and founders in tech and social impact ventures can change the world through their work. Creator of Life After Journalism, a 10-week online for journalists to launch new careers.
Using storytelling skills developed as a journalist and senior communications leader, coached professionals from a range of industries to grow their confidence and transform their layoffs into a new narrative of their professional skills and ability, covering the full suite of career services.
Appointed to serve by the White House Office of Presidential Personnel at NEH as Director of Communications to promote and safeguard the agency's work awarding cultural grants to nonprofits and universities. Managed communications across print and digital platforms, and in-person events through a 13-person team. Planned and executed national media and digital PR campaigns and advised nonprofits on communications strategy.
Chief promoter and defender of the charter school brand by directing and managing all strategic communications, legislative affairs, and community outreach for the quasi-government agency, which had oversight of 100+ startup nonprofits with nearly half of the public school market share. Responsible for day-to-day management of staff and all administrative duties including budgeting, hiring, and vendor contracts. Provided strategic communications counsel as a member of the executive team.
Where I developed my spot-on filter for effective and action-oriented storytelling. I edited stories, interviewed people from all walks of life (35,000+), and wrote thousands of stories. Traveled the world – Haiti, England, France, Iraq, Jordan.
Wrote about trends in African American religion publishing for trade magazine of book publishing.
