Lindsey Elman
Washington,DC
Summary
With over 15 years of experience in diverse communications-based project roles, proactive, self-directed strategic communications professional. Successfully led government clients through significant change management initiatives. Expertise in distilling and curating complex technical subject matter into digestible information for external and internal audiences through various communication products. Demonstrated ability to execute time-sensitive, high-profile efforts in challenging environments. Building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders is a strength, possessing excellent interpersonal skills and extensive interaction with senior clients, including senior U.S. policymakers and senior foreign government representatives. Known for ability to develop and implement effective communication strategies. Fostering team collaboration and consistently achieving results by adapting to changing needs are also key strengths.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Management Consultant
Guidehouse
08.2014 - Current
- Designed, developed, and implemented an iterative communications strategy for the Office of Network Technologies to navigate a large-scale, year-long organizational change management initiative affecting over 1000 people and included migrating nearly 80% of legacy services to the new office. Through this communication campaign, DoS end users reported – as a result of ONT communications - the ability to more quickly understand the implications of the change, where to access resources, ID POCs maximizing time to value for IT services in support of their missions.
- Serves as strategic communications advisor to Office leadership
- Drafts content for monthly internal newsletter; developed branding and templates for Office; created and maintains content management system. Nearly 1000 people receive the newsletter; the newsletter features a different priority project each month; a team spotlight (different teams in the office and what they are focused on); the directorate priorities for the month; an article written by the Office Director that I edit; an interview with a different team member to build our network. The intent of the newsletter is to share all of the work that the Office is doing and the impact that our team has on diplomacy. Network Infrastructure is “behind the scenes” work the newsletter elevates the work and has directly led to broader attention and buy-in for initiatives that are priorities for Bureau and Department leadership.
- Curates and drafts hundreds of compelling stories, briefings, articles, and other types of communication products for senior, non-technical audiences including Office leadership and senior executives in the Department of State and for external audiences, leveraging technical inputs and data from engineers and subject matter experts to drive greater senior leader support for ONT initiatives by reaching greater numbers of non-technical leaders.
- Collaborates with stakeholders across the Department of State to communicate to principles and other internal audiences, using deep understanding of the subject matter and organizational norms employing a range of communication tactics, including visual storytelling, briefings, and memos. Through my efforts - including communications templates and best practices - have led technical experts to dramatically streamline and improve their initial input, ensuring that communications are more publication ready, faster. What previously took weeks of iteration with technical experts now takes an hour.
- Developed and delivered media training to clients to equip the senior executives with tools and techniques to handle tough questions, manage their image and protect their organization’s reputation, communicate succinctly and deliver key messages under pressure and leading to successful media engagements leading to new invitations for these executives to appear in media again.
- Supported VA’s OI&T ITSC External Communications Team Lead through a major change management initiative, developing talking points, presentations, and other communications for the CIO to deliver at external speaking engagements, including with the media and Congressional briefings
- Identified opportunities for process improvement in the speaking engagement process, which helped to streamline the effort for senior executives and high-level stakeholders
- Conducted extensive stakeholder analysis and subsequent communications strategy and products targeted at each stakeholder group to gain buy-in and help ensure the initiative’s success
- Supported clients through a significant change management initiative
Federal Consultant
Beacon Associates
11.2013 - 08.2014
- Provided Departmental leaders with weekly briefing and products updating them on dozens of regional internationals program activities; prepared memoranda and other communication for review and approval by relevant USG officials
- Represented and communicated the Bureau’s foreign assistance program and policy objectives to other State Department and U.S
- Government offices involved in programming foreign assistance funds
- Managed a portfolio of regional grants and interagency agreements, improving monitoring and evaluation of taxpayer-funded programs and driving targeted Department of State site visits to audit performance; establishing systematic methods of project design, execution, and advocacy; assessed activities to determine funding requirements; and analyzed program and budget proposals. Through these efforts, > 95% of grantee programs ran in compliance with grant requirements.
Political Associate
Department of State, U.S. Embassy Berlin
08.2011 - 10.2013
- Skillfully supported the Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission’s public engagements and senior-level meetings through expert analysis, strategic communications and briefings; frequently represented the Ambassador as the U.S. representative to meetings and events with foreign counterparts.
- Generated new opportunities and enhanced diplomatic engagement for the Mission and Department of State through expert analysis and reporting on the full range of German political issues, military issues, security issues, and social and humanitarian programs related to Latin America, Asia, and Africa, based on regular contact with German officials, think tanks, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), parliamentarians and scholars.
Strategy Specialist
Organization of American States (OAS)
09.2006 - 02.2011
- Led over 300 bilingual operational improvement workshops for the OAS’ senior staff to formulate annual operating plans, including strategic planning and goal-setting, portfolio management, and budgetary allocation
- Provided technical input to over 50 department directors on the development of a results-based budget, linking OAS institutional mandates, operational and strategic goals, and associated financial resources
- Helped to craft and implement a new OAS policy, consisting of quarterly controls on annual operating goals set by each department; reviewed annual goals and on-going projects with departmental representatives to manage performance and assess progress
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Anthropology, French
University of Wisconsin
Master of Arts - Public Policy
Johns Hopkins University
Skills
- Project management
- Strategy development
- Internal communications
- Content development
- Email campaigns
- Focus groups
- Message development
- Creative direction
- Crisis communications
- Speech writing
Foreign Language Capabilities
Full professional proficiency, Minimum professional proficiency, Minimum professional proficiency
Languages
Spanish
Full Professional
French
Professional Working
German
Elementary
English
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Management Consultant
Guidehouse
08.2014 - Current
Federal Consultant
Beacon Associates
11.2013 - 08.2014
Political Associate
Department of State, U.S. Embassy Berlin
08.2011 - 10.2013
Strategy Specialist
Organization of American States (OAS)
09.2006 - 02.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Anthropology, French
University of Wisconsin
Master of Arts - Public Policy
Johns Hopkins University
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