Public Affairs →

• Executed top tier media relations campaigns to support a smooth transfer of power during the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections with nation’s premier nonpartisan institution designed to help presidential candidates prepare for a new administration or for a president’s second term.
• Conduct strategic communications for a coalition of 20+ leading civil society organizations working to strengthen and invest in the institution of Congress and the people who serve there following the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol.
• Managed global strategic communications, partnership engagement and media relations strategy for influential prime ministers of European and Near East sovereign governments during times of international crisis.

Issues Advocacy →

• Developed and manage global sustainability and climate change thought leadership platform for foodtech startup offering the world’s first carbon-negative plant protein and oil food ingredients.
• Execute integrated communications campaigns to engage federal lawmakers on access to care issues that impact across chronic and rare disease communities for a coalition of 20+ patient advocacy groups.
• Reach, inform and persuade lawmakers, the media and key stakeholders to support large-scale criminal justice reforms in Washington, D.C. on behalf of Black-led team of legal policy experts.

Healthcare →

• Launched major national health awareness day and lead execution of annual advocacy initiatives, stakeholder engagement and digital marketing campaigns.
• Agency-of-record for top 50 healthcare non-profit, responsible for comprehensive marketing communications and public affairs in support of access to care and charitable assistance.
• Develop external communications program on access to care for coalition of 20+ patient advocacy organization.

Social Justice →

• Represent Black-led team of policy experts advocating for racially equitable and community-rooted criminal justice in Washington, D.C.
• Launched giving initiative that connects corporate and individual donors to the most impactful Black-led nonprofit organizations.
• Execute thought leadership campaigns that promote inclusivity in the workplace and hiring individuals with disabilities.

Technology →

• Manage enterprise global marketing communications for groundbreaking food tech startup.
• Lead external communications for technology platform that promotes inclusivity and diversity in the workplace.
• Launched national publicity campaign for major crowdfunding platform, recruiting institutional and organizational partners to build awareness and credibility.

Vasuki Vadlamani Wilson
Cofounder and CEO →

Vasuki is a senior public affairs professional and digital advocacy expert with 15+ years of experience developing and managing integrated campaigns. She provides comprehensive communications counsel that increases awareness, enhances reputations and mitigates risks. During her career, Vasuki has been a senior counselor to Fortune 500 C-suite executives facing federal regulatory inquiries and media scrutiny. She has also conducted nuanced digital content audits for member organizations and provided detailed analysis and action plans for sustaining long term audience growth. Vasuki has developed global engagement programs for several sovereign governments to promote economic development initiatives and support modernization and transparency efforts. She is experienced in establishing coalitions and coordinating government relations initiatives with localized surrogate and third-party advocate activities to achieve policy objectives. Vasuki is also a former Adjunct Professor in Advanced Digital Marketing at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Justin Lance Wilson
Cofounder and Managing Director →

Justin Lance Wilson drives strategic communications campaigns for the world’s leading non-profit organizations, corporations, start-ups and foreign governments. He has extensive experience in crisis management, issues advocacy and public affairs. Justin supports non-profits achieve organizational objectives, heads of state overcome major international crises, corporate CEOs and boards advance their business interests, and technology start-ups gain prominence for market innovations.
As co-founder of Rise Public Strategies, Justin provides integrated communications support to major U.S. and international non-profits, private corporations, political and foreign affairs think tanks and trade associations. He develops and implements short- and long-term strategic planning, messaging and response that achieve clients’ organizational and reputational objectives. Before founding Rise Public Strategies, Justin served as Director at the well-regarded D.C.-based crisis communications firm LEVICK. He has extensive earned interview, op-ed placement and editorial board meeting experience with major top-tier media including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, TIME, Politico, Financial Times, NPR, CNN, NBC News, ABC News and Fox News. Earlier in his career while living in Pune, India he interned as a journalist with Daily News and Analysis, a popular English-language newspaper.
Justin earned a BA in International Media from American University in Washington, D.C. and a MSc in International Strategy and Diplomacy from the London School of Economics.

Paul Wind
Art Director →

Paul Wind is a graphic designer and art director who leads communications and creative support. He has wide experience in digital and print advertising, social media executions and branding. Paul has developed ad campaigns for the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Good Days and Chronic Disease Day. Wind earned a B.F.A. in Graphic Design and a B.A. in English from James Madison University.

Hannah Olson
Senior Content Strategist →

Hannah is an experienced digital marketer, specializing in social media management and strategy, brand experiences and development for the next generation of forward-thinking organizations.