Profile
I Help Companies Tell Their Stories
Every company has its own unique language to organize its priorities and address its markets. But when a company's language and stories are inconsistent, your external and internal stakeholders will be less engaged - and perhaps just plain confused about what the business does and what it stands for. That's a disaster for growth that will affect everything from recruiting and retention to sales and M&A.
That's where I come in. I work across companies to find the right stories to deliver in narratives that deliver clarity to and compel action from customers, prospects, media, employees and recruits. Most crucially, I do this with a voice that's on-brand and conveys respect to everyone in your ecosystem.
What I Do
Public Relations
Earn attention for your company's achievements and thought leadership. I've placed stories in outlets like The Wall Street Journal, Businessweek, ANA Forward, Bloomberg West, Adweek, Ad Age, Broadcasting & Cable, and Ad Exchanger.
Internal Communications
I work with executives throughout the organization to build company culture with clear, consistent employee messaging.
Executive Communications
Collaborate with senior executives to develop thought leadership messaging and deliver it compellingly in speeches, trade show events, blog posts, placed articles, videos, and other formats
Content Development
Conceive and create attention-getting pieces like press releases, case studies, white papers, original research, web and ad copy, lead gen and social media campaigns, blog posts, brand books, executive bios and head shots, FAQs, webinars, and sales presentations
Market Research
Execute original customer research for evaluating product plans, assessing company impact, and providing a credible basis for materials like white papers, blog posts, and thought leadership articles.
Sales Enablement
Supply frontline team members with the materials and stories for winning business, including presentations, one-sheets, speeches, social posts, recruiting materials, newsletters, and customer service scripts
Employment Highlights
Head of Corporate CommunicationsRakuten Americas
2019
Leading external, internal, executive and crisis communications for a multi-national, multi-business 3500-employee technology conglomerate
Director, Corporate Communications at WideOrbit
First-ever dedicated communications executive for mature technology company with revenue of over $130 million. I helped the company net unprecedented media attention and activate its owned media capabilities.
Public Relations Executive at TallGrass Public Relations
Supervisor on multiple accounts and 'San Francisco office' for boutique PR firm. My clients ranged from pre-IPO ‘unicorns’ to early stage startups
Director, Marketing Communications at PeopleBrowsr
B2B and B2C communications for social analytics startup. I generated multiple media and thought leadership opportunities from the company's then-exceptional access to the full Twitter firehose.
Principal at Doxagle
Sole proprietor marketing consultant for B2Bs and non-profits. My projects ranged from white papers for a startup B2B tech company to developing a digital presence for a plastics manufacturer,
Marketing Director / Business Manager at Future US
Operated marketing department supporting ad sales teams in the Games, Consumer Technology, Maternity, and Music verticals.
Marketing Manager at Ubisoft
Led product launches for PC, handhelds, and console video games.
Education
Masters of Business Adminstration | University of Washington
Bachelor of Arts | University of California, Berkeley
Testimonials
I had the privilege of working with Shawn for 4 years – he’s proactive, detail-oriented and an amazing team player. I leaned on Shawn for his incredible story-telling ability for my product marketing initiatives. He played a vital role in the successful launch of our business intelligence solution, which won the Best of Show in Technology award at NAB. Shawn goes the extra mile to educate and mentor his team members. He is an enviable asset for any team. I hope I get the opportunity to work with him again in the future!
Lauren Hakim - Product Marketing Manager at WideOrbit
I reported directly to Shawn while he was at Future US.He communicated his goals and expectations easily and clearly. Shawn always made the time to hear people out and encouraged people to bring good ideas to life. He always told me that no idea was a bad idea. Any organization would be lucky to have someone like Shawn.
Andrea Garabedian - VP, Advertiser Marketing at Twitch
Shawn was an essential contributor and thought driver in many campaigns including product launches, awareness and nurture initiatives, client updates, lead generation, and thought leadership. He tactfully balanced promotion and truthful information to drive interest and conversations, which ultimately led to sales. He was also a true asset within the company, helping align all departments with industry news and corporate communication.
Arianna Todero - Product Marketing Specialist at WideOrbit
had the pleasure of partnering with Shawn to develop all content for the rebranded and restructured WideOrbit Connect user conference. He was vital in leading the charge with all content leads and did a stellar job in architecting tracks that were balanced, forward-leaning, and brimming with usable information. Both the company and attendees benefitted from his thoughtful approach to the material. I wouldn't hesitate to work with him again on another conference program.
Rudy Geronimo - Director of Event Marketing at WideOrbit
Shawn was an exceptional manager who brought a lot of great ideas to the table. He had a deep knowledge of the business and sought to make marketing an essential part of the company. His business acumen is top notch and will benefit any company greatly.Michael Basilio - Senior Manager, Corporate Communications at PagerDuty
Shawn crafts thoughtfully arranged words to convey complex ideas and abstract concepts. He is a hard worker, mindful collaborator, amiable colleague, all the while exuding professionalism and sharpness. Whether it's in the capacity as mentor, copywriter or marketing communications specialist, consider yourself privileged to have Shawn on your team.
Nazir Agah - Designer at DIY.org