Anurag serves as an Associate Director within Breakwater Strategy’s Research and Insights team. He develops and manages strategic quantitative and qualitative research projects to mine valuable insights for clients looking to navigate the vast landscape of public opinion. He is experienced and adept at producing research proposals, surveys and discussion guides, data infrastructure and analysis materials, and insights reports in a wide variety of mediums and styles. 

Prior to joining Breakwater Strategy, Anurag worked for several years in the market research and analytics space, at firms such as GfK, Greenwald Research, and IRi, where he oversaw and supported a plethora of diverse research projects and initiatives. He also spent four years in the creative writing and publishing space. While earning his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of Colorado, Anurag served as a graduate research assistant with the Ritual Arts and Pedagogy Lab, as well as a graduate teaching assistant with the English Department. During his three-year tenure at the university, he published multiple short stories and wrote his first book, Submarine (Split/Lip Press, 2022). 

Anurag holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. He was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up in Bridgewater, NJ. He is a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan, still clinging (tenuously) to the glory of Superbowl LII. In his spare time, Anurag enjoys watching and talking about football, writing fiction, and spending time with his wife, friends, and family. 

Shea Agnew is a Vice President at Breakwater Strategy, where he leads the firm’s earned media strategy and executive positioning work. A storyteller by nature, clients turn to Shea for creative ideation, speechwriting, byline composition and placement, and corporate narrative development. 

Shea joined Breakwater after spending four years in Suva, Fiji, where he headed communications for the Fijian government. As speechwriter to the Prime Minister and advisor to the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, he projected the voice of Fiji and other Small Island Developing States on the global stage, amplifying the stories of the world’s most climate-vulnerable populations. 

Of note, Shea’s portfolio includes remarks at the United Nations General Assembly, the UNFCCC Conference of Parties climate summits (COP23, 24, and 25), World Bank Group Annual Meetings and Small States Forums, the Asian Development Bank Annual Meetings, the inaugural UN Habitat Assembly, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the World Urban Forum, and the Pacific Islands Forum. His audiences have included some of the world’s most influential figures –– various heads of state and government, royalty, secretaries-general, and major corporate leaders. 

Shea’s experience covers issues of immense geopolitical significance and complex intercultural sensitivity, from climate change to interfaith healing. He worked on the ground in the wake of the mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand and Easter bombings in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He represented Fiji in the planning of its country exhibition at EXPO 2020 Dubai, and was a member of the Fijian delegation at landmark international climate negotiations in both Tuvalu and Spain. 

His career in strategic communications began at Edelman, where he specialized in executive positioning, C-suite thought leadership, and corporate branding. He worked to publicize the creation of the Star in Frisco, the multi-billion-dollar headquarters and practice facility of the Dallas Cowboys, from groundbreaking to ribbon-cutting. 

Shea majored in international studies and government at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. While there, he studied marine biology in Culebra, Puerto Rico, Eastern culture in Beijing, China, and ancient history in Greece. He now splits his time between the U.S., Portugal, and Brazil. 

As an Associate at Breakwater, Carly assists staff in the development and execution of strategic communications campaigns for a broad array of clients. Her main responsibilities include content development, media monitoring, research, and analysis. 

Prior to joining the Breakwater team, Carly worked as a legal writing and revision specialist at Hudson Business Immigration, an employment-based immigration law firm, where she prepared legal documents for clients’ green card applications. She has experience communicating around technical scientific research in a variety of industries, including energy, medicine, technology, and more. 

Carly graduated from Carleton College with distinction in Religion. While at Carleton, Carly worked at the Center for Community and Civic Engagement, interned with an environmental non-profit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and studied global security and religious pluralism in Dakar, Senegal. Originally from Chapel Hill, NC, she is a Tarheel, born and bred. 

Amy Benziger is a Vice President at Breakwater Strategy. A trusted leader at the intersection of advocacy, innovation and policy, she is passionate about the future of technology regulation, platform transparency and maximizing user control in pursuit of a healthier digital world. Most recently, she worked with the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) out of UC Berkeley leading a project on the future of digital community creation and content regulation.  

Previously, she served as the Head of Projects in Cisco’s Innovation Lab, where she led their exploration into the future of work, industrial automation and digital identity. Prior to that, she was the Managing Director of Lovesocial, a digital agency creating global advocacy campaigns for clients including NPR, The Nature Conservancy and Nike Better World. She began her career as the Director of Content for the Social Capital Markets Conference, the largest global gathering around social impact and entrepreneurship with 3k+ attendees from 60 countries. Within that role, she was part of the launch team member of the Hub, an incubator for social entrepreneurs with 40+ locations worldwide. 

She is the Board Chair of the International Crisis Group’s Ambassador Council and is a certified design thinking instructor for The Design Gym. Amy holds a Bachelors in History and Psychology from Dartmouth College and a Master in Publics Affairs from UC Berkeley. 

Arik is the President, CEO and founder of Breakwater Strategy (BWS), a boutique strategic communications firm specializing in helping clients navigate the complex conversations of today’s turbulent environment. 

An experienced strategic advisor, Arik partners with client’s leadership teams and boards to solve critical business challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities. That work includes developing and communicating compelling enterprise-level narratives, managing complex issues and crises, and building strong two-way relationships and coalitions with diverse stakeholders. 

Formerly, Arik was an Executive Managing Director and a member of the founding team at The Glover Park Group (GPG). Arik’s clients included some of the world’s largest and most dynamic businesses as they undergo periods of historic change in their industries, markets and regulatory environments. Past and current clients include Disney, Anheuser-Busch, USAA, Verizon, Ford Motor Company, UnitedHealthcare and 21st Century Fox. 

Over the course of a his nearly twenty years of professional experience, Arik has helped dozens of clients secure key business objectives, including landmark legislative and regulatory outcomes, successful navigation of potentially damaging crises, and measurable improvements to reputation among consumers, opinion leaders, investors and employees. 

In addition to his client-facing responsibilities, as President and CEO, Arik is responsible for developing the firm’s growth strategy with a focus on innovation, new business partnerships, knowledge management, and continuous improvement of client service. 

Prior to founding Breakwater, Arik worked on domestic and international political campaigns, including the Gore-Lieberman campaign and Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s 2001 campaign in Israel. Arik holds a BA in History and Political Science from Tel Aviv University. Arik serves on the board of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Victoria, and three children. 

Henry Brill is a Senior Associate at Breakwater Strategy. At Breakwater, he leads daily media relations for a multi-billion-dollar company at the intersection of financial services and technology. His day-to-day media engagement includes proactive pitching in response to breaking stories, cultivating long-term relationships with financial and regulatory reporters at top-tier outlets, and thought leadership positioning for C-suite executives. In addition, Henry also develops messaging and strategy for a broad portfolio of clients across the firm in sectors ranging from entertainment to technology.  

As a communications strategist, Henry has worked across some of the most contentious issues in the public square, including the intersection of religion and politics. Prior to joining Breakwater, Henry served as Communications Associate with the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, a think tank based at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. At Georgetown, he led editorial strategy and development for an online publication that has been quoted at length in major media outlets, including the New York Times and the Washington Post. His work also included hand-in-hand collaboration with leading scholars and senior government officials to amplify thoughtful dialogue on complex issues of global concern — from the rise of religious nationalism to the refugee crisis.  

Previously, he studied Turkish in Baku, Azerbaijan, through a Critical Language Scholarship sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. 

A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Henry holds an A.B., summa cum laude, from Kenyon College, where he wrote an award-winning honors thesis on early modern Islamic history. He has academic work forthcoming from Columbia University Press. Outside of Breakwater, he enjoys the DC food scene, international travel, and cooking.   

Patrick serves as an Associate on the Research and Insights team, which analyzes public opinion, investor relations and long-term trends for clients facing complex uncertainties. He supports quantitative and qualitative survey development, primary and secondary research, and strategic planning projects.

Before joining Breakwater, Patrick completed internships with non-profits working in anti-corruption and conflict prevention, and worked on democracy and governance organization IRI’s Southern Africa team. In the latter role, he attended and helped organize political party trainings ahead of Angola’s 2022 General Elections and a regional party summit in Johannesburg.

Patrick was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin and graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in Political Science and African Diaspora studies. He spent four months studying in Accra, Ghana and travelled to Togo, Kenya and Tanzania after finishing his semester. He enjoys following Wisconsin sports teams, professional tennis and Brighton & Hove Albion.

John Fogarty joined Breakwater Strategy as a Director, where he brings along extensive experiences working at the nexus of business and public interests. His prior work includes building public-sector facing startups, covering policy and regulations in Europe, and driving coalition-building and legislative policy in the United States Senate. 

Most recently, he served as an advisor to a Y Combinator startup – building out their public sector vertical, partnerships, policy, and get-to-market strategy. Prior to that, John helped launch a real estate finance startup in Washington, DC to provide better and more secure paths to homeownership for public servants in prohibitive markets, with debt-free assistance. He leaned on his prior policy experiences of 6+ years in the U.S. Senate to better create more sustainable opportunities and mutually beneficial economies that could address familiar societal challenges. 

In the U.S. Senate, John covered economic policy-related issues for Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), including tackling the affordable housing gap, creation of apprenticeship and job-training tax credit programs, and work on international trade and competition policy. He was staff on the Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee, where he led research and helped drive hearings on access-to-capital for underrepresented small business owners. John began his start on the Hill on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and later in the personal office of Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). 

He describes his first professional experiences working at a small business aerospace company outside of Seattle, WA and his work for a civics leadership program for high school students as catalysts for his continued passions in policy, the entrepreneurial drive, and value-creation through creative problem-solving anchored in diverse experiences and voices.  

John earned his Master in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a Bachelors in International Studies from the University of Washington. 

Mark Hayes is a Partner at Breakwater Strategy.   

An experienced strategic advisor, Mark collaborates with boards and senior executive leaders to identify, design, and execute transformational strategies to significantly elevate and sustain business and capital markets performance. 

At Breakwater, Mark advises private corporation, private companies, private equity, investment partnership and non-profits across a broad range of stages, sectors, and market capitalizations. 

Prior to joining Breakwater, Mark was the Executive Vice President and Chief Client Officer of a global capital markets advisory firm where he advised clients across a broad range of investor matters. Earlier in his career, Mark held a diverse range of leadership roles in strategy, finance, technology, large scale operations, product development, strategic marketing, and communications; across a diverse range of industries, including health insurance, direct delivery healthcare, financial services, and property casualty; and during different phases, including turnaround, start-up, transformation, strategic pivots and new business entry. 

As a Senior Associate on the Research and Insights team, Jin works on all things research, from custom quantitative survey development to qualitative focus group execution and beyond. He is particularly passionate about public opinion research and considering viewpoints that challenge his own opinions.   

Before joining the Breakwater team, Jin was a Director at Accelerant Research, where he led the quantitative research function and designed custom market research surveys for clients to help them better understand their brand perceptions. Prior to that, Jin worked with fellow Breakwater team member Ben Williams at High Lantern Group, where he gained an appreciation for strategic communications and the scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the Asheville, NC office.  

Jin is a graduate of the UNC Chapel Hill, where he majored in Economics and Psychology and minored in Business Administration. As a Chapel Hill native and UNC-alum, Jin remains a die-hard Tar Heel fan, and is known for annoying his co-workers with his hot takes and bold claims about all things Carolina sports.

Caryn Leahy is a Vice President at Breakwater Strategy. A passionate, trusted client leader, Caryn is in a state of flow when helping clients creatively solve problems and navigate complex, challenging, and rapidly evolving situations. At Breakwater, she leads results-driven corporate reputation, public affairs, and issues campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and cutting-edge leaders in tech, food, healthcare and more. She leverages her background in broadcast journalism to help clients develop, sharpen, and amplify their voices with the power of earned media. 

Most recently, Caryn was a Vice President at Ketchum where she oversaw comprehensive communications programs, including strategic planning, earned media, digital and third-party partnership strategies to move key stakeholders and the general public. In this role, she managed multimillion-dollar budgets and acted as a rapid-response public affairs, issues and crisis counselor for clients across all 14 Ketchum sectors in the agency’s global network. 

Previously, Caryn served as Senior Director at Rational 360, a full-service public affairs firm, and was an associate producer for Middle East Broadcasting Networks. Caryn received her Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Bates College. 

When Caryn isn’t supporting her clients through a crisis or challenge, she’s probably spending time with friends and family or running on one of the DMV’s finest trails. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband Kevin and son Julian. 

Alex joined Breakwater Strategy in 2023 as a Vice President. Drawing on her experience in global capital markets advisory, Alex uses research-driven insights to advises clients on how to best address the needs of corporate stakeholders through sharpened strategic communications priorities and best practices.

Prior to joining Breakwater, Alex worked as the director of research at Rivel, a data-driven investor relations consulting firm. During her time at Rivel, Alex oversaw the workflow and research activities for the company’s investor perception research business. In this role, she provided senior executives and investor relations professionals with customized communications solutions, distilling complex data into actionable insight.

Alex received her MS in international relations from Royal Holloway, University of London and her BA in political science from the University of Connecticut.

As an Associate Director at Breakwater Strategy, Lydie works with a range of clients across industries including tech, financial services, education, media and entertainment on strategic communications challenges and initiatives. 

Since 2019, Lydie has worked on Breakwater Strategy’s strategic communications accounts, supporting clients in crisis and reputation management, corporate and executive communications, and media campaigns. Her work includes conducting media landscape analysis, background research, content analysis, message development and proactive media outreach. As just the second employee at Breakwater, she plays a central role both in overseeing the firm’s day-to-day operations and in safeguarding its culture. 

Prior to Breakwater, Lydie worked as a Strategic Communications Associate at FGS Global (legacy Glover Park Group) where she supported client teams with background research, media monitoring and client deliverables. 

Originally from North Carolina and currently based out of Raleigh, Lydie is a graduate from UNC Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in Media and Journalism and a minor in Hispanic Studies. She can typically be found reading the latest book between commercial breaks of UNC Basketball games or walking around the triangle with her dog Mack. 

As an associate, Haley supports the Breakwater team in identifying and executing client goals. She supports senior staff on research needs, media analysis, content drafting, and administrative tasks.  

Haley began her time at Breakwater as a communications and research intern before joining the team permanently as an associate. Prior to that, she interned for Kantar, a leading data, insights, and consulting company. She additionally took part in tech giant Watch Mojo’s media and finance internship.  

Haley graduated from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. She was granted distinction in the major by the department due to her grade point average and senior thesis. Her passion for politics and women’s rights can be seen through her thesis entitled Sexual Harassment on The Hill: How Partisanship and Polarization Condition Reactions to Sexual Impropriety in Congress. At Yale, she worked for the Office of Development and Alumni Fund. Her work as an Alumni Fund student liaison led her to be selected as the Chair for the Class of 2022. Additionally, Haley co-founded a Students Demand Action chapter at her university to support gun control advocacy work. She also served on the board of the Yale Women’s Leadership Initiative. Throughout her college experience she was heavily involved in other service initiatives and her sorority.  

Born and raised in Washington D.C., Haley found interest in politics before many other age-appropriate things. When she is not working, she is probably making a new friend out of a local cafe barista or Uber driver.  

Nick leads the Research & Insights team, developing, executing, and analyzing public opinion research to inform Breakwater’s strategic guidance. He crafts integrated research programs that leverage quantitative, qualitative, and digital methodologies to help navigate complex challenges and provide actionable findings. Nick advises wide-ranging strategy initiatives and public affairs campaigns for companies and trade associations across industries. 

Prior to joining Breakwater Strategy, Nick worked for several years at PSB Insights, a global research and analytics consultancy and member of the BCW Group. During his time at PSB, Nick managed expansive research engagements including dynamic crisis responses, global mixed-methodology studies, and stakeholder communications efforts for blue-chip corporations, leading non-profits, and prominent government agencies. Nick’s introduction to strategic communications research came as an intern at the Glover Park Group, where he learned to appreciate the value of learning what people think and why. 

Nick graduated from Colby College, with distinction in Government and Economics. Nick is a Beltway native. He was born in Glover Park, DC, grew up in Bethesda, MD, and is a long-suffering D.C. sports fan. When he’s not working, he’s probably checking the latest election polling on RealClearPolitics, or listening to his favorite podcasts from the Ringer. 

Karianna works with senior staff to create strategic communications campaigns and develop impactful messaging materials. Her main responsibilities include planning and producing social content, tracking and analyzing media, sharing insights from qualitative research, and creating written client deliverables. She has experience and knowledge of a wide array of industries including entertainment, tech, financial services, and non-profit. 

Prior to joining Breakwater, Karianna was an Education Relations Intern for C-SPAN where she created content for their education website and helped generate press coverage for C-SPAN’s 2019 StudentCam Competition. She also drafted blog post articles as a Community Contributor for SHE Media and managed the daily operations as an intern for DREAM Charter High School in East Harlem. 

Karianna graduated from Hamilton College with a bachelor’s degree in Literature and a minor in Mathematics as a HEOP Scholar. While at Hamilton, Karianna worked as a student assistant for Nesbitt-Johnston Writing Center, participated in Hamilton’s Washington D.C. program, and was an active leader of La Vanguardia, Hamilton’s Latinx cultural club.   

Karianna was born and raised in the Bronx, so of course she is a die-hard Yankees fan. Growing up she tried to memorize every train and bus route that ran through the Bronx so that she could traverse the whole borough with ease. She loves how the Bronx is full of diverse hard-working people. 

As an Associate at Breakwater, Adi works with clients and senior staff in the development of strategic communications and messaging materials. She engages her public policy-focused academic background to assist with policy research and content analysis, memo drafting, media relations, and more. 

Prior to joining Breakwater, Adi held several internships within the US federal government, including the House of Representatives, focusing specifically on criminal justice equity and policy. She graduated with a degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice and History from the University of Maryland, College Park. She was also part of Global Communities, an Honors living and learning program focused on global policy. As part of this program, she studied abroad in London and Vienna, focusing on the history and policy development of nuclear non-proliferation issues. She is fluent in Russian, and proficient in French. 

Born in Jerusalem Israel, Adi was raised in Newton, MA, a suburb of Boston, but currently lives in Orlando, Florida, where she continues to defend her Massachusetts roots, and more importantly, sports, proudly. 

Nora Wahlbrink is an associate director at Breakwater Strategy. In her role, Nora works directly with clients and senior leadership to manage emerging risks in the marketplace, on the Hill and with all stakeholders. As a skilled writer and communicator, she is responsible for crafting messaging and using it to develop a suite of public deliverables such as press releases, blog posts, and social content. Though she specializes in the entertainment and technology industries, she also has experience in health, telecommunication, financial services, news media and more. She is particularly passionate about the role of the media in public relations and preparing spokespeople for successful high-stakes public appearances and interactions with reporters. 

Prior to joining the Breakwater team, Nora worked at Levick, a D.C.-based crisis communications firm, where she addressed rapid response issues. She has experience communicating around high-profile litigation, mergers and acquisitions, executive transitions, data breaches, foreign policy, personal events, and other issues. Originally from Rockville, MD, Nora graduated with honors from the University of Alabama as a presidential scholar with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and a minor in Business. 

Nora loves to cook and explore the DC food scene. When she’s not working, she’s most likely reading about a new restaurant, searching for weekend reservations, or on a good night – making something delicious at home. If you’re in need of a restaurant recommendation in the DC area, look no further. 

As a Partner at BWS, Steve brings his core expertise in strategy and decision making to the most complex challenges facing organizations at the intersection of economics, technology, politics, regulation, and human understanding through narrative. 

Alongside a thirty-year academic career at the University of California Berkeley (where he has a joint appointment as Professor at the School of Information and in the department of Political Science), Steve has advised global firms, government agencies, and non-profit organizations around the world on risk analysis, strategy, and communications, using a diverse set of qualitative and quantitative methods fit to purpose. Recognized as one of the world’s most expert practitioners of scenario planning, Steve has worked with more than 50 companies and organizations to develop this discipline as a strategy planning tool in uncertain and turbulent business environments. He started his advisory career at the boutique consulting firm Global Business Network in the 1990s and in the 2000s worked with The Monitor Group to help clients navigate transitions in information technology, finance, health care, consumer goods, and other sectors transformed by digital and by evolving global and national political economy. 

Steve served as special political advisor to the first president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He was Director of the Institute of International Studies at UC Berkeley from 2003 to 2009, and in 2015 he founded the Center for Long Term Cybersecurity at UC Berkeley, where he directs a multi-disciplinary research program on emerging digital security issues at the intersection of new technologies, human behavior, and risk calculations made by firms and governments. His best-known book, The Success of Open Source, was the first extensive study of how the open source software community works. His most recent book  Bloc by Bloc:  How to Organize a Global Enterprise (2019) explains how economic geography is evolving around machine learning, and the consequences for multinational organizations in the post financial and Covid crises world. 

Steve brings a research-based innovation discipline to strategy and communications problems, along with a deep commitment to creative engagement with how people understand their environment, change their minds, and ultimately change the world through narrative. Steve lives in the Hudson River Valley north of New York City with his partner Regina and two Burmese cats named Napoleon and Mrs. Peel.  All four are life-long-suffering fans of the New York Football Giants. 

A Director at Breakwater Strategy, Ben brings a passion for brand positioning, leadership and policy to develop strategic communications programs across an array of issues and industries. His main responsibilities include strategic advisory, messaging and content development, media relations and internal and external project management. He has helped advise clients from Fortune 500’s to nonprofits, and collaborated with leaders to develop and execute strategies to position brands within complex political and regulatory environments, elevate profiles, launch new initiatives, successfully navigate crises and more.  

Prior to joining Breakwater, Ben got his start in strategic communications in the D.C. office of High Lantern Group, a strategic communications and positioning firm, where he worked on a number of global communications and issues management projects. From 2013-2016, he was on the research team at Correct The Record a part of the coordinated Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, where he helped shape the positive narrative around Secretary Clinton’s service at the State Department.    

A Massachusetts native and sometimes Mainer, Ben has a BA in history from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. When he’s not at home in DC with his wife, dog and cat, he can be found supporting his favorite Boston sports teams, relaxing in Maine, skiing or at a Pearl Jam show. 

Claire is an associate at Breakwater Strategy based in New York City. She works closely with the team to assist in all client needs, including drafting messaging, coordinating communications campaigns, tracking and analyzing media, and providing administrative support.  

Claire graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University with a bachelor’s degree in economics. In addition to her economics background and a wealth management internship at Morgan Stanley, she has held several internships focused on policy and communications, including as a corporate public relations intern and for a gubernatorial campaign in her home state of Illinois. While interning at the political tech startup Hawkfish, she helped write a newsletter titled “More Data,” focused primarily on polling data and advertising.  

While in college, Claire sailed for the Columbia Sailing team, and though she’s now been a New York resident for a few years, she will always consider herself to be most at home on the great lakes.