As a Vice President 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. 

Lauren Nixon is an Associate at Breakwater Strategy, where she combines her expertise in journalistic writing and strategic communication to support clients through media analysis and research. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she grew up, Lauren is passionate about exploring the intersection of advocacy and communication across various industries and mediums.

Prior to her return to California in June 2025, Lauren earned both her BA and MA degrees from George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs in Washington, DC. During her studies, she held multiple policy and communications-focused roles at organizations including the Smithsonian Institution and an affordable housing trade association, as well as at several PR agencies. Most recently, she served as a communications fellow at Scott Circle Communications, a boutique PR agency serving nonprofit and mission-driven clients.

In her free time, Lauren can be found playing with her two dogs, enjoying good food with her best friends, attending pilates classes, reading historical fiction novels, and dancing to her favorite music.

Marilyn Olson draws upon her robust background in corporate, internal, and crisis communications, as well as change management and M&A, to help clients educate, engage, and inspire their most critical audiences. She has extensive experience advising companies through the process of transforming their organization and audiences’ perceptions, including post-M&A integrations, complex financial transactions, and pivotal cultural change.

In both in-house and consulting roles, Marilyn has deep experience working with major global technology and financial services companies, including Dell Technologies, Visa Inc., and The Charles Schwab Corporation. She has led complex, integrated campaigns reaching multiple audiences across various industry sectors. She has driven successful internal communications programs and high-profile events, reinforcing her ability to influence corporate culture and enhance employee engagement.

A graduate of UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in History, Marilyn is an award-winning communicator recognized by the International Association of Business Communicators and co-founded a nonprofit focused on community development. She lives in her native San Diego with her husband, three children, and a very loved dog.

With a broad functional and business background in strategy development, go-to-market positioning, and driving execution, Jennifer is focused on supporting and elevating Breakwater’s capital markets strategy.

Prior to joining Breakwater, Jennifer worked for Fortune 100 companies in both healthcare and financial services across strategy, operations, product, marketing, research, and communications. Jennifer has experience leading through turnarounds, accelerating business transformation, entering new markets, and pivoting strategy to drive growth in existing markets. Additionally, Jennifer has experience standing up new strategic partnerships and supporting the integration of acquisitions.

Jennifer graduated from Wellesley College, with a B.A. in Political Science, and is active in the Hartford Wellesley Club. She is also the Chair of the FCC Simsbury Stewardship Committee, which is responsible for developing and executing the organization’s annual fundraising campaign.

Expertise:

• Market Research & Competitive Intelligence
• Business Strategy
• Strategic Marketing & Sales Enablement
• Internal Communications, Employee Engagement, & Change Management
• Program Management

As a Senior 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.  

Reagan Putnam is a Senior Associate at Breakwater Strategy within the Capital Markets practice, based in Washington D.C. She provides ongoing support for the team’s core research functions and helps develop actionable recommendations for stakeholders.

With a background in consulting and financial markets, Reagan has experience helping clients navigate the challenging intersection between strategy, finance, and market dynamics to achieve their goals and drive sustainable growth.

She joined Breakwater from the Palladium Group, which focused on impact investing projects for developing regions in southern Asia and coastal Africa, with a concentration on healthcare infrastructure and improving access to education for women and girls. Previously, Reagan also acted as an investment fellow with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the USDA, where she worked to advise clients on sustainable investment opportunities in emerging markets.

Reagan majored in International Affairs and Business (Finance) at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. She is a member of Kappa Delta and works with their national philanthropies. She also volunteers her time with the Junior League. In her free time, Reagan enjoys staying active through fitness and tennis, indulging her passion for writing, learning languages, and running her book club.

Expertise:

• Market Research
• Strategic Communications

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. 

Jessica Schneider is a Vice President at Breakwater Strategy, where she draws on more than two decades of experience as a television correspondent and attorney to guide clients through fast-moving and complex communications challenges. Jessica’s unique expertise in the media and legal affairs gives Fortune 500 companies and executives a powerful partner in public affairs, corporate reputation and crisis situations.

Prior to joining Breakwater, Jessica was CNN’s Justice Correspondent in Washington, D.C., where she covered the most consequential legal and political developments of the Trump and Biden administrations, and earned a reputation as one of the network’s most trusted on-air voices breaking down complex issues in real time. Before joining CNN, Jessica was a television reporter in New York City and Connecticut.  Earlier in her career, Jessica practiced law in New York, specializing in product liability and insurance coverage defense.

Jessica is a proud graduate of Boston University where she earned degrees in Journalism and Political Science.  She also graduated with honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

A native of Connecticut, Jessica is now happy to call Washington, D.C. home where she most enjoys spending time with her husband Adam, and their two sons Lincoln and Carter. While most of her spare time is spent chasing her two young boys around, Jessica loves to travel the globe — with regular trips to family spots in the Finger Lakes and Lake Michigan, run and practice yoga, and search for the best pizza the DC area has to offer (while still longing for the plethora of pizza options in her home state!)

Peyton Shelburne is a Senior Associate on the Capital Markets team at Breakwater Strategy. She supports the team’s research initiatives by developing actionable insights and tailored recommendations to stakeholders.

Peyton’s background includes marketing and content strategy roles at data-driven companies. Before joining Breakwater, she held a marketing position at Akkio, an AI-powered data platform for advertising agencies, where she contributed to ABM strategies and campaign development. Prior to that, she spent over three years at Morning Consult, a global data intelligence company, as part of the content strategy and operations team. In her role, she authored original content, streamlined internal processes, and analyzed survey data to update trend tracker webpages across various sectors, strengthening the company’s insights-driven offerings.

Peyton graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University with a B.A. in linguistics and a minor in Chinese.

Outside of work, Peyton enjoys following and playing tennis. She also loves volleyball, curating music playlists, and exploring hiking trails.

Expertise:

• Market Research
• Marketing

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.