Selected Work
Across enterprise change, federal infrastructure programs, civil-rights advocacy, scale-up strategy, and organizational launches — the throughline is the same: strategy that has to actually work.
Leading enterprise change at one of the world's largest hospitality companies — bringing structure, narrative, and operating discipline to complex organizational change at scale. The goal: make change land for the people doing the work, not just be announced from above.
In progress
A coherent, well-governed change experience for an organization in the middle of a consequential operational shift — designed to land, not just be announced.
Embedded inside a federal consulting practice supporting two of the most consequential infrastructure investments in a generation — CHIPS for America and Internet for All. The work translated tens of billions of dollars of program ambition into narrative the public could trust and structure the government could execute against. When the CHIPS Office faced a reduction in force mid-program, I led the team restructure that let the work — and the team — survive intact. Inside the firm, I co-built the Trusted Advisor curriculum delivered to 200+ consultants and led the firmwide Communications & Change Management Community of Practice.
Outcome
Clear, accountable messaging for federal programs that touched every state — and a team structure, training program, and firmwide practice that held up under public scrutiny and congressional attention.
At one of the country's leading AAPI civil-rights organizations — during the surge in anti-Asian hate, landmark voting-rights battles, and the post-pandemic reckoning on race — I architected the narrative for Fighting for Our Future, the flagship Heritage Month campaign, and built the rapid-response infrastructure that let the organization speak authoritatively the moment a story broke. The campaign reached celebrity testimonials and audiences far beyond the civil-rights base, while a 33-member coalition stayed aligned on shared statements and joint op-eds across the year.
Outcome
A national organization with a unified voice, disciplined rapid-response capability, and a flagship campaign that broke through to audiences well beyond the civil-rights base.
Joined a fast-growing Arlington-based café as a communications hire; within weeks I was the CEO's day-to-day strategy partner. Together we authored the post-pandemic narrative — "your everyday oasis" — and the operating discipline that turned a single location into a multi-site brand a landlord would bet on. By the end of the engagement, RĀKO had tripled its locations, secured two Amazon HQ2 retail spots, and built the press and social presence that anchored its next chapter.
Outcome
From one café to a multi-site brand a landlord would bet on — with the narrative, press, and operating foundation to keep growing.
Serving on the board of a national affinity bar association in its inaugural year — advising on vision, member engagement, and programming, and leading the strategy and run-of-show for its founding moments. The launch year delivered a sold-out 500-seat gala, a national conference, and the operating foundation to carry the organization into year two.
Outcome
A 500-seat sold-out inaugural gala, $250K+ raised, and a national organization with the foundation, the narrative, and the operating discipline to build on.