Anurag serves as a 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. and Brazil. 

Rob is an Associate Director at Breakwater Strategy. He brings experience in corporate communications, advocacy, and issue management. Throughout his career, he has helped advocacy organizations, government agencies, and corporations find effective messages and deliver them to key audiences.

Prior to Breakwater, Rob was an Account Director at CLYDE, a communications and public affairs agency based in Washington, DC. At CLYDE, he worked in the healthcare space alongside Fortune 500 companies and a government initiative and spearheaded an agency podcast. Before CLYDE, Rob served as a Senior Manager, Digital Media and Communications at the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform. He earned an M.A. in Media and Strategic Communication and a double major B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication/Political Science, both from George Washington University.

When not in the office, you can find him watching the New Jersey Devils, New York Yankees, and New York Giants, reading the latest history book, or looking for his golf ball in the woods.

As a Senior 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. 

Leveraging her keen analytical acumen and diverse experience in business strategy, Kim is focused on delivering impactful solutions to our Capital Market clients’ most critical challenges.

Kim joined Breakwater with extensive experience in financial services where she has held roles advising senior executives across Strategy, Business Intelligence, Finance, Product, and Market Intelligence. Over her career, Kim has developed multiyear business strategies for divisions ranging from $5B to $50B in AUA. She is adept at identifying growth opportunities and designing business plans to capitalize on those opportunities through redefining target segments, product offerings and distribution channels that have stronger market fit. She understands the tradeoffs ever present in the business environment and has designed mathematical and financial models to understand the most efficient use of capital to achieve desired results.

Kim graduated summa cum laude from the University of Connecticut, with a B.S. in Marketing and a B.A. in English. In recognition of her academic success and professional experiences, she was a student inductee to the School of Business Hall of Fame. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut School of Business with concentrations in Management and Marketing.

Expertise:

• Market Research & Competitive Intelligence
• Business Strategy
• Financial Planning & Analysis
• Product and Business Development

Arik is the President, CEO and founder of Breakwater Strategy, 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. 

Leveraging her deep and broad experience in research, Tina designs market-leading approaches to develop research-driven intelligence that enable clients to best address the needs of corporate stakeholders through sharpened strategic communications priorities and best practices.

Prior to joining Breakwater, Tina was a Director at a leading data-driven investor relations consulting firm working closely with project directors and managing research workflow for the core perception study business. Previously, she worked in several research-oriented roles, including investigative research and as a librarian in both public and university libraries.

Tina received her Master of Library Science from Southern Connecticut State University and her Bachelor of Arts in English & Cinema Studies from Northeastern University.

Expertise:

• Capital Markets
• Investor Relations
• Sell Side & Buy Side
• Perception/Shareholder Research
• Process Excellence
• All Sectors and Market Capitalizations

Henry Brill is an Associate Director 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. His academic work has been published by Columbia University Press. Based in Washington, DC, he can often be found at dLeña for dinner, Jane Jane for craft cocktails, and the Mount Vernon Triangle farmers market for Saturday morning shopping.

Joe Carberry is a Partner at Breakwater Strategy, a strategic insights and communications consultancy focused on helping organizations navigate high-risk, high-reward moments with a combination of research-driven insights and strategic counsel at the intersection of business strategy, public policy, the capital markets and the public conversation.

For more than 25 years, Carberry has built a strong track record helping organizations engage their most important constituencies, manage complex issues, and drive measurable business outcomes. His experience spans virtually every aspect of communications and marketing across various industries, in markets around the world. He has led initiatives that define and differentiate brands, build reputation, drive growth, manage risk, shape policy, engage employees, and navigate change.

Carberry’s experience includes working with some of the world’s leading brands, both in-house and as an external advisor. Before Breakwater, Carberry led the Corporate Relations function for The Charles Schwab Corporation, and co-led the firm’s marketing department. Prior to Schwab, Carberry was head of global communications for eBay Marketplaces; head of global public affairs at Visa Inc.; a partner at Brunswick Group; and President of the Western U.S. Region at MSLGROUP. He has worked extensively in financial services and technology as well as various other sectors. Carberry began his career in politics, working on the re-election campaign for California Gov. Pete Wilson and serving as deputy press secretary to San Diego Mayor Susan Golding.

He holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a BA in journalism and graphic design from San Diego State University. He is a member of the advisory board for the SDSU School of Journalism and Media Studies.

An associate with Breakwater, Michael supports clients with day-to-day media and communications needs, including content development, coverage monitoring, and ad-hoc research requests.

Michael joined the Breakwater team in February of 2024. Prior to coming aboard, he worked as a Corporate Communications intern with the Zeno Group, where he helped identify and articulate thought leadership and media relations strategies for clients ranging from leading biotech firms to top skincare brands.

In addition to PR and communications experience, Michael has a variety of experience in content marketing and social media strategy. In 2023, he spearheaded social media strategy for the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, a professional association of over 15,000 members; while in college, Michael worked as a content development specialist for Credibly Retail Capital, where he developed and executed organic social content and thought leadership pieces on behalf of the mid-sized credit firm.

Michael graduated from Columbia University in 2022 with a major in History and a concentration in Economics. While in school, Michael served as an editor for the Blue & White, Columbia’s oldest literary magazine as well as a content supervisor for the Columbia Journal of Politics and Society. Additionally, he worked as a research and tech assistant in Columbia’s library system, where he connected students and faculty with scholarship resources in support of their academic work.

Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Michael is a die-hard Chicago Bears fan, in spite of their long history of mediocrity.

Patrick serves as a Senior 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.

As a Director at Breakwater Strategy, Maggie brings with her a passion for emerging technologies across industries and navigating complex regulatory environments.

Maggie is an MBA candidate at Georgetown University with a concentration in non-market strategy. She is honored as a Social Business Fellow and Impact Investing Fellow where she has performed research ranging from altruistic investment in disaster zones to the economics of agricultural supply chains in the Upper Midwest.

Most recently, Maggie worked as a consultant with the Department of Energy (DOE) managing the Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) which aims to accelerate the commercialization of innovative energy technologies. Previously, Maggie served as the Technical Lead to the CEO of Nanoracks where she provided thought leadership for program development and market expansion, led the externally hosted payloads program for the International Space Station (ISS), and ran SBIRs under the Advanced Concepts program for a novel cislunar, autonomous data relay platform.

Lastly, Maggie worked as an Embedded Systems Engineer at Boeing to develop command and data handling systems for the ISS and test flight computers for the Space Launch System (SLS) at Marshall Space Flight Center. Maggie spent her early career working as a NASA intern developing real-time control systems for rocket engine test stands at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Maggie graduated Magna Cum Laude from Loyola University in New Orleans and received a double major Finance and Computer Science with a concentration in Computational Science.

Based in Washington, DC with her husband and puppy, Maggie spends her time enjoying all things jazz, oysters, and DIY home improvements.

Mark is the Founding Partner of Breakwater Capital Markets, a division of Breakwater Strategy, and Head of Capital Markets Advisory, Investor and Geopolitical Intelligence.  He advises Pre-IPO, Public Companies, Private Equity, and Investment Partnerships on how to elevate valuation, business, and communication strategies. Additionally, Mark provides counsel to boards, management teams and investor relations officers on how to act on investor intelligence, strategic communications (including, Investor Days and Non-Deal Roadshows), IR Advisory, capital structure (including private credit), IR Advisory, hostile and complementary transactions, management change and other special situations including activist and short seller defense and complex business strategy.

Leveraging his diverse background, Mark engages effectively at all levels of an organization with agility and partner to develop highly differentiated strategy and operating plans.  He is deeply invested in the success of his clients and keenly focused on delivering transformational innovation that elevates value.

Before joining the firm, Mark was the Executive Vice President and Chief Client Officer of a globally oriented investor relations company where he led the development and execution of the rapidly growing business.  Earlier in his career, Mark held executive leadership roles in Strategy, Finance, Operations, Technology, Marketing, Communications,  Sales, People, Process and Organization and Product development driving significant improvements in operating performance and P&L results through industry leading levels of employee engagement and breakthrough innovation for impact, many of which set new benchmarks for their respective functions, most recently at a Fortune 15.

Mark has been an active member of the nonprofit community for over three decades and currently serves on the Board of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, where he is a member of the Executive Committee, Chair of the Governance Committee and past Chair of the Finance and Development Committees. Mark is also a past Executive Board Member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, Juvenile Diabetes of Greater Hartford, the Campaign Chair for the oldest continuously operating food bank in the United States and the Campaign Chair for a best-in-class Annual Giving Campaign for a Fortune 50.

Expertise:

• Capital Markets and Investor Relations
• Investor & Geopolitical Intelligence (Perception), Strategic, Transaction & Financial Investor Communications, Strategy & Reputation, Special Situations and Crisis Management, Valuation
• Investor Relations Strategy & Process Development and Execution
• Sell-Side/Global Buy-Side/Retail Investors
• Board, CEO & Management Team Advisory (Business Strategy & Operations)
• Transformational Business Strategy & Breakthrough Innovation
• All Sectors and Market Capitalizations

Simone Jackenthal is a Director at Breakwater Strategy. She brings a passion for strategic communications, crisis support, and reputation management. Simone has substantial experience leading and executing public relations, public affairs, and other strategic communications campaigns for high–profile clients in highly regulated sectors. Her work includes media relations, thought leadership, crisis management, internal and external communications strategies. Simone’s experience spans several industries including political advocacy, technology, consumer products, health, nutrition, fintech, fashion, entertainment, and crypto, among others.

Most recently, Simone was a Director at Trident DMG where she largely advised clients on crisis communications and reputation management. She organized strategic communications campaigns for clients across various sectors, advised Fortune 500 companies on media trainings, and recommended approaches to C–suite executives for crisis mitigation. Simone led various funding announcements for technology startups, securing media coverage in top–tier national outlets, local media, and trades. She also coordinated with legal teams when necessary to create cohesive media strategies for clients engaged in litigation.

Previously, Simone served as an Associate at Weber Shandwick where she supported the Public Affairs team with government relations, marketing, internal communications, media relations, and social media. In this role, Simone organized events on the Hill to engage various clients with Members of Congress, drafted press releases for distribution, and secured media coverage with reporters. She also assisted with health and nutrition clients and supported the paid media and digital advertising team.

Simone earned a Master of Arts in Media and Strategic Communications and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Communications from The George Washington University. Her published thesis focuses on media framing effects of the Black Lives Matter movement, and she currently lives in Potomac, Maryland with her wife and two dogs.

As an Associate Director 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.

Meredith currently serves as an Associate Director within the Breakwater Strategies Capital Markets practice.

Prior to joining Breakwater, she worked at Capstone LLC for almost three years, working as an associate and then senior analyst on the private market teams. She was a generalist, assisting all of Capstone’s policy vertical teams on over 30 due diligence and consulting projects for private equity and corporate clients. On the projects she has worked on, Meredith has covered a wide variety of topics such as organic waste policy, satellite-based emissions monitoring, and international debt collection laws.

Before joining Capstone, she attended Indiana University, Bloomington and received a degree in Finance and Public Policy Analysis from the Kelley School of Business. She currently serves on the Board of the Envision Capital Management, a student organization and 501c3 non-profit student investment fund she helped create while at Indiana University.

Expertise:

• Private Equity
• Market Research
• Public Policy
• Strategic Marketing

Caryn Leahy is a Managing Director 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. 

Kate is a Senior Associate at Breakwater Strategy based in Washington, D.C. She works closely with the team to assist in all client needs, including drafting messaging, coordinating communications campaigns, researching client-specific policy and media opportunities, and providing additional support as needed.

Prior to Breakwater, Kate worked at Allison+Partners on the Global Reputation Risk + Public Affairs team. In this role she specialized in supporting clients through proactive and reactive crisis and reputation management, in addition to designing and executing national, state, and local level public affairs campaigns. Her work included conducting media landscape monitoring and analysis, background research, message development, and proactive and reactive media outreach. She brings a breadth of experience working for some of the biggest brands across various industries, including consumer tech, commercial real estate, health and health tech, nonprofit and government agencies, defense, aerospace and more.

Kate graduated with honors from East Carolina University with Bachelor of Science in Communication, concentrating in public relations and media studies. She is currently working towards a Master of Science in Strategic Communication from Columbia University. In her free time, she can typically be found exploring new restaurants in DC, cheering on the Capitals, or visiting parks around the DMV with her dog Nox.

Leveraging her deep and broad experience in global capital markets advisory, Alex uses research-driven intelligence to advise 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 a leading data-driven investor relations consulting firm. While there, she oversaw the workflow and research activities for the company’s investor perception research business. In this role, she provided boards, management teams, 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.

Expertise:

• Capital Markets
• Investor Relations
• Sell Side & Buy Side
• Perception/Shareholder Research
• Board & Management Team Engagement

Caroline joined Breakwater Strategy in 2024. As a Senior Associate, she harnesses quantitative analysis and geopolitical comprehension to improve the investor relations strategies of Capital Markets clients.

Before joining Breakwater, Caroline was at Marathon Strategies, where she focused on media strategy and opinion writing. Prior to Marathon, she worked in various parts of the political ecosystem—including communications, fundraising, research, and digital advertising—at firms like Precision Strategies and Tucker Green & Company. In college, she led a student news outlet with over 20,000 readers.

Caroline graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Human Rights. In her free time, she enjoys true crime podcasts and American history.

Expertise:

• Market Research
• Strategic Communications

As a 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. 

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.

Taylor Pearson is a Director at Breakwater Strategy. She brings a wealth of experience in crisis communications, litigation communications, corporate communications, and broadcast media. Most recently, Taylor was a Director at Trident DMG where she led communications campaigns ranging from a local charter school to one of the most read newspapers in the world.

Before Trident, Taylor was a booking producer at CBS News and a production assistant at MSNBC. During her tenure, she field produced the 2021 March on Washington, the 2020 State of the Union, and the 2020 South Carolina primary, among other historic events. Taylor also has experience in the policymaking world, including internships with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars’ Africa Program and the late Congressman Elijah E. Cummings.

Taylor received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (previously known as the “Woodrow Wilson School”), with a minor in African American Studies. There, she earned accolades for her work with the Association of Black Women and the Latinos y Amigos student groups as well as for her original reporting on racial discrepancies in time off taken from the university. She is likewise proud of a musical she helped write using archival documents from the Princeton & Slavery Project.

Taylor spent a semester in Paris studying French history, politics, media, and art at L’Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (colloquially referred to as “Sciences Po”). While abroad, she also independently researched and proposed policy solutions to the Greek economic crisis with a Princeton task force.

Taylor has lived in various states but feels the most at home in the Princeton, NJ, area where she went to boarding school and college. She currently resides in the Northwest Corridor of Washington, D.C., and, in her free time, you can find her at Busboys & Poets’ Open Mic Night or at the DuPont Circle Farmer’s Market.

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.  

Reagan Putnam is an 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

Kaylee Richards is an Associate at Breakwater Strategy, supporting teams and their clients in their day-to-day goals. She supports senior staff with content drafting, media monitoring and analysis, research, and administrative tasks. Her journey at BWS began as an intern in January 2024 before transitioning to an Associate role in Summer 2024.

Prior to Breakwater, Kaylee interned at KPMG, an international professional services firm. She honed her skills in internal communications and led the creation of the company’s weekly Advisory practice newsletter.

In May 2024, Kaylee graduated Cum Laude from Penn State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications & Media Industries. At Penn State, Kaylee was the lead teaching assistant for the school’s flagship communications law course. In this role, she oversaw the classwork, homework, and exams of over 700 students across three semesters. This experience ignited her passion for both legal and policy communications.

Kaylee participated in several internships and part-time jobs throughout her college career. She served as a social media intern for PSU’s Sustainability Institute, worked as a licensing intern for PSU’s Office of Strategic Communication, and worked retail at a local boutique. Her diverse set of experiences allows her to understand the important frameworks of several industries.

Outside of her role, Kaylee finds the most joy in her dog, Pippa, whose name reflects her other interest, the British Royal Family.

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. 

Sonia is an Associate at Breakwater Strategy based in Washington D.C. She works directly with senior staff to support all client needs including research and media analysis, as well as supporting the internal operations team of the company.

Prior to joining Breakwater, she gained a handful of skills from several internships within non-profit organizations in the area spanning the education and healthcare sectors. She is very interested in legislative advocacy and policy, especially in healthcare, and further interned for Point32Health as a Health Policy intern working directly with the Head of Federal Affairs. Most recently, she interned for The Messina Group, a full-service consulting firm in DC, where she was exposed to corporate communications and client-facing work within the private sector.

Sonia graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Government and Sociology. During her time at Georgetown, she participated in various cultural clubs and organizations for first-generation, low-income college students where she advocated for and supported her community’s needs on campus.

Sonia was born and raised in Washington D.C. and is of Salvadoran decent. When she is not at work, you can find her at a local coffee shop with a pastry in hand or going for a stroll in the city.

Fatou Sow is a Senior Associate at Breakwater Strategy. She is a creative writer, professional speaker, and communications professional with years of experience in strategic communications, consulting, and public relations. Before joining Breakwater, Fatou worked as an Associate at Wachsman, a leading strategy and communications firm, advising clients in blockchain technology, fintech, and venture capital industries.

Born and raised in Detroit, MI with Senegalese roots, her background in strategic, legal, and management communications from Howard University propelled her to continue her education at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Italy. There, she received her master’s in international relations with a focus on International Economics and African Studies.

Fatou seeks to leave a global impact on her academic and professional career. One of her main goals is to bridge the gap between Black diasporans through social and economic dimensions such as professional development, mentorship, and travel. Her work has spanned across industries, including higher education, fashion, beauty, the creative arts, non-profit, defense, technology, and business. Fatou is also an Adjunct Professor at Howard University Cathy Hughes School of Communications Annenberg Honors Program, instructing students on communication research topics such as social identity, media, economics, race, and gender, among others.

Stephanie Swartz is a Vice President at Breakwater Strategy. Stephanie has spent her career helping companies tackle their most intricate and sensitive policy issues. She leverages that expertise to help clients facing complex challenges at the intersection of corporate reputation, business strategy, corporate social responsibility, and technology policy.

Stephanie most recently built the policy and public affairs team from the ground up at The Pill Club, a direct-to-consumer telehealth and pharmacy delivery company dedicated to expanding access to contraceptive care. During her tenure, she worked as part of The Pill Club’s leadership team to advance corporate interests and build the company’s reputation with advocates, researchers, government and elected officials, and insurance providers and payers.

Prior to that, Stephanie served as Uber’s lead on Safety and Consumer Protection as part of Uber’s global public policy strategy team. She drove the creation and launch of Uber’s groundbreaking Safety Transparency Report, which provided a detailed account of safety incidents, including sensitive issues like sexual assaults on the platform. Stephanie began her career on Google’s global policy strategy team, where she gained valuable experience in addressing global privacy issues that affect billions of users, shaping her path towards becoming a recognized authority in the field.

Stephanie graduated from California State University Long Beach with degrees in German Studies and International Studies and holds an MPhil in International Relations from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. Stephanie lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and dog and enjoys exploring the vibrant DMV area. As a native of San Diego—and a huge Padres fan—her heart still holds a special place for surfing, a passion that continues to draw her back to the West Coast.

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 a Senior 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 Washington D.C., where she continues to defend her Massachusetts roots, and more importantly, sports, proudly. 

Nora Wahlbrink is a 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 Breakwater, 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. 

Fleet Wilson is an Associate at Breakwater Strategy. Based out of Washington D.C., he brings an extensive writing background to a strategic communications role that includes research, content development, and direct support of senior leadership.

Fleet arrives to Breakwater by way of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — where he was a Morehead-Cain Scholar majoring in journalism and political science with a minor in philosophy, politics and economics. During his time at UNC, Fleet served as the editor in chief of the Carolina Political Review, the Executive Director of the Eve Carson Scholarship Fund, and gained global experience studying democracy and digital media in both London and Buenos Aires.

Prior to joining Breakwater, Fleet interned at FGS Global in the Washington D.C. office. He has also contributed to the Hardaway Wire, a weekly digest published by the former Communications Director for Hakeem Jeffries and served as the writer/editor of the Daily Pnut, a global politics newsletter with 200,000+ subscribers.

Outside of work, you can find Fleet obsessing over Carolina sports, biking around DC, or hosting a raucous game of Family Feud with his friends.

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