WASHINGTON, November 4, 2026 | Breakwater Strategy, a leading strategic insights and communications consultancy, announced today that Leslie Freeman has joined the firm as a Managing Director. Leslie brings more than 20 years of experience connecting brand, reputation, and communications strategy, significantly expanding the firm’s capabilities in corporate narrative, strategic positioning, integrated communications, and campaign development.
Commenting on the announcement, Breakwater Strategy CEO Arik Ben-Zvi said, “More than ever, clients are asking a fundamental question: what is our story? At a time of incredibly rapid change and uncertainty, the ability to articulate those core narratives clearly and turn them into communications strategy makes all the difference. Leslie is as skilled as anyone I’ve ever worked with at helping companies craft and convey their stories, and we are thrilled to have her join our team at this critical moment for our clients.”
Leslie joins Breakwater from her independent advisory practice, where she has counseled emerging technology companies, founders, and major corporations on brand and business narrative, corporate reputation, positioning, and integrated communications strategy. Previously, she co-founded Fearless Unlimited, a strategy and creative agency helping organizations turn complex business and impact objectives into resonant brands, campaigns, and public engagement platforms, for clients including Twitter, Verizon, The Climate Reality Project, Bezos Earth Fund, The Salk Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and The College Board.
On joining Breakwater, she said, “Every company is operating inside a story it doesn’t fully control. The biggest opportunities come from understanding how and where that narrative is shifting, and how those shifts can expand or constrain what’s possible for the business. That makes corporate narrative a strategic opportunity, not only a communications one. Breakwater has an exceptional ability to look ahead and connect what’s happening across business, policy, markets, and culture. I’m excited to join and help clients turn what’s changing inside and around them into strategic advantage.”
Before founding Fearless Unlimited, Leslie joined The Glover Park Group to create and co-lead its Strategic Transformations practice, expanding the firm beyond traditional public and regulatory affairs into proactive reputation, brand, and integrated strategy. There, she partnered with C-suite leaders at clients including UnitedHealthcare, NPR, Airbus, and JPMorgan Chase on their most consequential business and reputational challenges.
Earlier in her career, Leslie held senior positions at some of the industry’s most celebrated agencies. As a Vice President at Crispin Porter + Bogusky, she led work for Gap Inc., Volkswagen, American Express, Activision, and MetLife. At TBWA\Media Arts Lab, she managed Apple’s global digital and social marketing and built a dedicated digital marketing capability within Apple’s agency of record.
Leslie’s work has earned industry honors, including a Grand Clio, multiple Jay Chiat Awards for Strategic Excellence, and Effie Awards. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Swarthmore College.
About Breakwater Strategy | Breakwater Strategy is an advisory partner on high-visibility, high-stakes public affairs, corporate reputation and capital markets issues for leading businesses, nonprofits and associations. The firm helps organizations navigate their most complex and consequential moments – minimizing risk and accelerating opportunity. Breakwater advises boards, C-Suite executives, and policy, communications, and investor relations leaders through a powerful combination of foresight, insight, strategy, and execution.