Global Team

Dafna Tapiero, Co-Founder

Dafna Tapiero is the Co-Founder of Laurel Strategies. In addition to managing the firm, Tapiero specializes in private equity, alternatives, technology, and family office clients, among others. She focuses on strategy, financial communications, raising the profiles of leaders, crisis management, philanthropy, as well as ESG and sustainable investment.

Previously, for 20 years she served as an official at the World Bank Group, and its International Finance Corporation working on privatization in the Former Soviet Union. Following the Asian Financial Crisis, she founded and managed the Financial Sector Reform and Strengthening (FIRST) Initiative, a US$ 66 million global fund established to provide direct support to countries in reforming and developing their financial systems. At IFC, she established a corporate responsibility initiative for private sector investors, primarily in large infrastructure, high impact sectors like Oil, Gas and Mining. In 2014, she was on assignment as Senior Advisor on Innovative Financing in the Office of the Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, forging partnerships and financing mechanisms to build resilience and increased preparedness for climate-induced natural disasters.

Tapiero proudly serves as an Advisory Director of Carnegie Hall and as a Director of Fund II Foundation. She is a Member of the Jane Goodall Legacy Foundation’s Council for Hope and a Trustee of the Lauer Philanthropic Foundation.

Tapiero received an MA from Johns Hopkins’ School of International Studies and a BA from Johns Hopkins.

H.E. Iván Duque Márquez, Senior Global Strategic Advisor

H.E. Iván Duque Márquez is a recognized global leader and expert on climate action, international development, and geopolitical analysis. He is a Transformational Leadership Fellow at the Oxford University Blavatnik School of Government, a Distinguished Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center, and an International Leadership Fellow at the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom at Florida International University.

Duque Márquez served as President of Colombia from 2018 to 2022, during which time he led Colombia to achieve its highest historical economic growth and the most ambitious climate action policy framework in the Americas. Amid the unprecedented COVID-19 global pandemic, he led the country in creating the most robust social safety net in its history and becoming the leading country in Latin America in COVID-19 management.

Duque Márquez is a decorated leader and recipient of multiple international awards including the National Geographic Planetary Leadership Award, the Theodore Roosevelt Global Conservation Award, the Concordia Leadership Award, and the Council of the Americas Global Leadership Award. He is also the Chairman of the Concordia Amazon Initiative, whose objective is to raise awareness around the intricate link between the health of the Amazon and the health of the planet, and the kinds of commitments the private sector can make to preserve the rainforest.

He is recognized as one of the most impactful speakers and leaders in Latin America. He is the author of more than 12 books and serves on a number of boards.

Duque Márquez is married to María Juliana Ruiz, with whom he shares three children. He holds a Master in Policy Management from Georgetown University, a Master in International Legal Studies from American University, a JD in Universidad Sergio Arboleda with a Major in Philosophy. He also holds an honorary Doctorate in Economics from Yonsei University in South Korea.

David Barber, Senior Advisor

David is a Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies, providing unique perspectives and advice in the food and hospitality sectors, among others. David is co-owner of Blue Hill–a working farm, restaurant, and consulting company supporting agriculture that positively contributes to the world’s food system. The 138-acre farm in Great Barrington, Massachusetts has been in the Barber family for four generations. Blue Hill restaurant has locations in Greenwich Village and Pocantico Hills, New York.

David is a founding partner of the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Westchester County. This unique nonprofit advances community and ecologically based food production-demonstrating alternative ways to farm and eat. Stone Barns Center works in association with Blue Hill’s second restaurant located on the campus.
Blue Hill (NYC) received the James Beard Outstanding Restaurant Award in 2013. Blue Hill at Stone Barns received the same honor in 2015 and was added to the San Pellegrino World 50 list.

David is an early stage investor in the food and hospitality space through Almanac Investments and advisor to S2G Ventures and Acre Investments. He serves on the Board of BlueCart Corp, and is a Trustee for Stone Barns Center, Caramoor Center for the Arts and the Collegiate School in New York City.

Joseph Becker, Senior Associate

Joseph Becker is a Senior Associate at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Joe brings to Laurel experience in research, data analytics, qualitative analysis, and international affairs.

Before Laurel, Joe worked as a research assistant for a staff writer at The Atlantic. He previously served as a legislative intern at the US House of Representatives, in the office of Rep. Tom Malinowski; the treasurer of Princeton Tower Club; and a marketing intern for Loyal Solutions, a software company based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Joe received a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in History from Princeton University. He is a proud alumnus of both Princeton and the United World College of Costa Rica.

Joe is professionally proficient in Spanish.

Mark Bezos, Senior Advisor

Mark Bezos, Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies, is the founder of DemoMode Marketing a branding and customer experience consultancy. Previously, Bezos served as the head of communications and events at the Robin Hood Foundation in New York City. Mark has held senior positions at global advertising agencies developing branding efforts for numerous Fortune 100 companies. Mark is the Captain of a volunteer fire company and delivered a talk on the subject at the main TED conference in 2011.

Cole Borin, Design Director

Cole Borin is a Design Director at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Cole is passionate about crafting designs that enhance user experiences by thoughtfully considering both client needs and end-user perspectives.
Before joining Laurel Strategies, Cole honed his skills in UX/UI design while working in real estate marketing and via his freelance graphic design business.

Cole received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of British Columbia.

Adam Chassin, Senior Advisor

Adam is an investor and advisor to technology companies and has spent over 15 years in senior executive roles at leading technology companies in both the US and Europe. As the Head of Business for Uber in Europe, Adam was responsible for all partnerships and investments that supported Uber’s growth In Europe’s major markets. Adam established groundbreaking partnerships with leading financial institutions, credit card networks, mobile carriers, rail companies and airlines to drive Uber’s growth while also establishing partnerships with the largest European automakers to secure access to vehicles at affordable prices for Uber drivers.

Prior to Uber, Adam was the Head of Strategic Business Development at Amazon where he worked across the entire portfolio of Amazon businesses. Adam led the team responsible for the evaluation and incubation of new businesses for Amazon to enter, oversaw the growth of Amazon Prime via strategic partnerships, scaled the distribution of the Amazon Video service via third parties, created the go to market strategy for the acquisition of streaming rights for live sports, as well as helped build out the offering for the Prime Now two-hour delivery service.

Prior to Amazon, Adam held various senior business positions at Yahoo in silicon valley and was a transactional attorney at AOL prior to that. Adam began his career as a banker and M&A lawyer on wall street. He graduated magna cum laude with highest honors from Harvard University and has a JD from the University of Virginia.

Franck Daphnis, Senior Advisor

Franck Daphnis is a Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies and a recognized leader in development finance, bringing his housing finance, microfinance, urban development, housing and infrastructure rehabilitation, municipal services cost recovery, and urban environmental management expertise to Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and beyond. He has authored and edited two books on housing finance, including the seminal work Housing Microfinance: a Guide to Practice (Kumarian Press, January 2004). He is the President and CEO of Development Innovations Group.

Alex Dubin, Director

Alex Dubin is a Director at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Alex advises clients across industries including technology, financial services, healthcare, and sports. He brings experience in policy and geopolitical analysis, writing and storytelling, strategic messaging, thought leadership, and social media strategy.

Before joining Laurel, Alex was a Fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation focusing on space policy, where his work on issues including the Artemis Accords, commercial space, and satellite Internet was published in The Hill, the National Interest, the New Atlantis, and elsewhere. Previously, Alex spent five years working on U.S. foreign policy and Middle East issues at several think tanks (including AEI and the Wilson Center), a political action committee, and for the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism at the State Department.

Alex received a Master in Public Policy degree from Harvard Kennedy School. He also received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley.

Emal Dusst, Senior Advisor

Emal Dusst brings expertise to Laurel Strategies in the field of education. Previously, Emal was Head of Strategy & Chief of Staff to the Founder, Chairman & CEO of Laureate Education, a global education company and a B Corp with a presence in 25 countries. Prior to Laureate, he was a Director focused on Strategy & M&A at Saint-Gobain, a $60 billion French industrial conglomerate, where he was also on the board of Corporate Ventures group. Emal has also worked in investment banking and private equity. Emal serves on the Board of Coursera.

Emal is on the Board of Trustees of the American University of Afghanistan where he also serves as the Chair of the Audit, Compliance & Risk Management Committee. He is on the Advisory Board of Working Metrics, a workforce analytics company in partnership with the Aspen Institute. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council in D.C. and on the Board of Advisors of ReCoded, a non-profit coding school for refugees in the Middle East funded by the UN. Additionally, he is a member of the Robert S. Brookings Society at the Brookings Institution.

Emal has published a book and writes for The Brookings Institution on global education trends. Emal holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from UCLA and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Lauren Fernandez, Executive Director of Operations, Office of the CEO

Lauren Fernandez is the Executive Director of Operations at Laurel Strategies. Lauren is responsible for internal management across the firm, advising on operations and logistics within the Office of the CEO. She also leads the firm’s special events arm, including its salon dinner offerings, and leads operations and execution at key global convenings and industry events, including the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Milken Global Conference, and pop up events at other major global convenings, including the United Nations General Assembly. Lauren also collaborates closely with Laurel’s in-house design team, leaning on her previous experience designing, distributing, and amplifying digital media including websites, graphics, social media, and email campaigns.

Prior to Laurel, Lauren worked at a number of renowned institutions based in Washington, D.C., including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Architect of the U.S. Capitol, where she worked closely with the public to understand how we interact with and interpret educational content at scale.

Lauren is a member of JUST Capital’s JUSTGen network, whose mission is to create a community of changemakers dedicated to furthering stakeholder capitalism and putting purpose-driven, values-based leadership into practice.

Lauren graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from The George Washington University with a minor in American Studies.

David M. Gruppo, Senior Advisor

After a career in investment banking and technology, David founded Indigo Capital Management & Strategy in 2015 to provide capital and advice to early-stage companies, primarily in the technology sector. As a Google Ideas Fellow in 2015 and 2016, David was an entrepreneur-in-residence to Alphabet’s in-house think tank.

Between June 2010 and January 2015, David was a Managing Director and Head of Latin America Corporate and Investment Banking for the Japanese banking group, MUFG, one of the largest financial institutions in the world. David was hired to develop and execute a strategy for the Bank to expand its business in Latin America. Under David’s leadership, revenues increased approximately eight-fold, the portfolio grew to approximately $20 billion, net revenues to over $250 million, and the team to over 90 professionals based in NY and seven regional offices in Latin America.

David joined MUFG from IBM where for 8 years he was involved in corporate strategy and business development for the healthcare and telecom industries, among other responsibilities.

Prior to IBM, he spent over 12 years in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Santander, building those firms’ businesses in Latin America. Earlier in his career, David was named a Henry Luce Scholar and spent a year working in Tokyo as a legislative assistant for a member of the Japanese Diet.

David began his career as a corporate lawyer with Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett in New York. David earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Wesleyan University, and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University. He has lived in Argentina, Brazil, France, and Japan and speaks Spanish, Portuguese, French, and English. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association and has Series 79, 24, and 63 Finra licenses.

David is a life member of The Council on Foreign Relations.

Eva Hauser, Executive Director, External Affairs

Eva Hauser is the Executive Director of External Affairs at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. She has extensive experience supporting executives in the public and private sectors, managing and advising on key priorities and coordinating logistics and preparation for principals and their staff. She co-leads the firm’s event planning arm and frequently leads strategy and on-the-ground execution at key global convenings and industry events, including the World Economic Forum.

Eva previously served as Executive Assistant at Brunswick Group where she supported multiple Partners, including the Global Lead for the firm’s Digital practice. She was previously Scheduler and Legislative Correspondent for Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV).

Eva received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Political Science from Colorado College.

Ankur Jain, Senior Advisor

Ankur Jain is an entrepreneur and investor, who is the founder and CEO of Bilt Rewards, the first loyalty program that allows you to earn points on rent. Jain has grown the company to a valuation of $1.5 billion since its launch in June 2021.

Prior to launching Bilt, Jain was the founder and CEO of Kairos, a venture studio for young entrepreneurs that helped launch and grow its partner companies to over $6.5bn, solving problems from housing to healthcare.

Before joining Kairos in May 2017, Jain was the Chief Product Officer at Tinder. He joined Tinder after it acquired his company, Humin, where he served as Founder & CEO.

Jain has been recognized for a variety of achievements. In 2017, he was named a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum. In 2011, Inc. magazine named Jain the “Best Connected 21-Year-Old in the World” and awarded him “30 Under 30”. In 2012, he was named “30 under 30: Solution Broker” by the Christian Science Monitor. In 2015, Forbes also named Jain to their “30 under 30” list.

Matt Kennedy, Senior Advisor

Matt Kennedy is a Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies and a founder of Kennedy Merchant Partners (KMP) and has worked in over 20 countries on six continents. Previously, Matt served in senior roles in the Obama Administration at the Department of Commerce, Department of the Treasury and the White House. He is a board member of the John F. Kennedy Library and the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights.

Delila Khaled, Senior Advisor

Delila Khaled, Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies, brings 25 years of experience as an executive manager, business owner, and technical expert in the international development and foreign policy arena. She has worked with governments, NGOs, and the private sector in more than 20 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Ms. Khaled is an urban development specialist with diverse, cross-sectoral expertise in the design and implementation of multi-million dollar programs focusing in development finance and economic growth, inclusive governance and municipal service delivery, as well as gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.

Deborah Lehr, Senior Advisor

Deborah Lehr, Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies, serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Basilinna, a strategic business consulting firm focused on China and the Middle East. In addition, Deborah is a Senior Fellow of the Paulson Institute, a think tank founded by former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson located at the University of Chicago. Deborah previously managed a successful consulting business, representing Western and Chinese companies such as Tory Burch, Goldman Sachs, Pfizer, and Boeing. She was also President of Stonebridge China, a global consulting firm, overseeing offices in Beijing and Shanghai, and a partner at Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, a top global law firm. Deborah also served in the US Government as a lead negotiator at the Office of the US Trade Representative for China’s WTO accession, and a Director of Asian Affairs at the National Security Council. She is a founder and Chairman of the Antiquities Coalition, which combats the looting of cultural heritage by organized crime and terrorists, with a focus on the Middle East.

Robert C. McNally, Senior Advisor

Robert C. McNally is a Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies and the founder and President of The Rapidan Group, an independent energy consulting and market advisory firm, and has served in senior financial market and official posts spanning economic, security, and environmental aspects of energy market analysis, strategy, and policymaking. Under President George W. Bush, Robert served as the top international and domestic energy adviser on the White House staff, holding the posts of Special Assistant to the President on the National Economic Council and, in 2003, Senior Director for International Energy on the National Security Council.

Michael Melamed, Executive Vice President

Michael Melamed is Executive Vice President at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. He has extensive domestic and international experience consulting leaders, businesses and organizations on the development and implementation of new initiatives, products, and ideas.

Michael was one of Laurel’s first hires and focuses on advising clients in private equity, financial services and technology sectors. He has served the leadership teams for clients ranging from global private equity firms and their portfolio companies to newly launched MMA promotions on their strategy, messaging and positioning. Michael has managed crisis communications strategies, CEO and leadership transitions, the launch of new funds and strategies, deal announcements, individual and organizational profiles, and internal and investor communications strategies.

Prior to Laurel, Michael worked in the World Bank’s education practice, helping to expand the reach of the Systems Approach for Better Education Results (SABER) initiative across global development and education communities. Before joining the Bank, Michael worked with the global corporate affairs team at Anheuser-Busch InBev on their community initiatives.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Macalester College and his Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Economics from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

Michael is fluent in Spanish.

Nelson Ortiz, Senior Advisor

Nelson Ortiz, Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies, has more than three decades of leadership experience in the financial services and private equity arenas, and is recognized as one of Latin America’s most successful investors and respected thinkers on regional and global economic policy. Nelson is founding partner of Incus Capital, a private equity fund specializing in distressed assets in Spain and Portugal, with more than 500 million euros in assets under management. He is also a founding partner of Fondo de Valores Inmobiliarios, a real estate fund that manages over $400 million in assets in Latin America, and serves as an advisor to Oaktree, a California-based fund with over $80 billion in assets under management. Between 2000 and 2007, Nelson was president of the Caracas Stock Exchange, where he oversaw the performance and operations of one of Latin America’s largest exchanges in terms of daily trading volume and market capitalization. Nelson has on two occasions served as Technical Secretary for Venezuela’s Economic Cabinet. He has also been a member of the President of the Inter-American Development Bank’s Advisory Board for Private Sector Issues, and worked extensively with the Latin American chapter of the World Economic Forum.

Sophia Pennex, Director

Sophia Pennex is a Director at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Prior to Laurel, Sophi was a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Vietnam, where she taught English in a high school and worked with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi to promote STEM programming. Sophi has also worked with consulting and international diplomacy firms including McGuireWoods Consulting and WorldChicago.

Sophi received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Studies and a minor in English Literature from Northwestern University. She was awarded the Frank Safford Award for Best Honors Thesis and was a Senior Marshal for Northwestern’s International Studies Department.

Shannon Powers, Executive Vice President

Shannon Powers is an Executive Vice President at Laurel Strategies based in Washington, DC. A lawyer and academic by training, Shannon brings a distinct perspective to devising strategies and solutions for her private and public sector clients. At Laurel, she serves on the leadership team for various clients, from private equity to trade associations and higher education.

In her over 20 years of communications experience, Shannon has advised CEOs, non-profits, and associations on strategic positioning, messaging, crisis management, and thought leadership. She has counseled government agencies, critical infrastructure corporations, technology startups, and university administrations through leadership transitions and crises, helping them emerge with a stronger image in the aftermath. Her primary focus areas include emerging technologies including Web3 and AI, ESG, health, education, and finance.

Prior to joining Laurel, Shannon ran a boutique communications firm, held various leadership roles in communications agencies, and taught public international law and humanitarian law at George Washington University.

She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and son and serves on the DC Jewish Community Center Board of Directors.

Shannon holds a BA in Political Science from Hebrew University and George Washington University respectively, and a JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

Shannon is a fluent speaker of Hebrew with working proficiency in French.

Dan Prieto, Senior Advisor

Daniel B. Prieto is Director for Cybersecurity Policy at the National Security Council since September 2014.

He served as the Director of Cybersecurity and Technology, and as the Director of the Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity and Information Assurance (DIB CS/IA) Program in the Office of the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer (DoD CIO).

Dan previously served as a vice president for IBM Global Business Services, Public Sector, in Washington, D.C. from 2007 to 2013. In that role, he led a strategy consulting practice and directed thought leadership on a range of issues including information sharing, critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, and IT transformation. Dan also served as IBM’s senior executive for work in Afghanistan with the DoD to identify, train, and develop Afghan technology and business entrepreneurs in Herat and Kabul.

Dan has been published widely on national and homeland security issues. He holds an M.A. degree in international economics and international law from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington D.C., and a B.A. from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn.

Jeff Rosenthal, Senior Advisor

Jeff Rosenthal is Co-Founder of Summit, a cutting-edge organization best known for hosting global ideas festivals and events, and is the owner/designer/developer of Summit Powder Mountain and Powder Mountain ski resort in Eden, Utah.

He is also Co-Director of Summit Action Fund, which makes investments in startups that drive innovation and positive market disruption, such as Uber, Warby Parker, Katerra, Clover Health, Classpass, Ready Responders, Rubicon Recycling, Change.org, among others.

Jeff and is a Founding Partner at the Drawdown Fund with Paul Hawken, and a Senior Advisor to TPG Rise, one of the world’s largest Impact Funds.

Jeff is a founding board member of the Summit Institute, as well as the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, and currently serves on the boards of Beyond Conflict and Street Soccer USA, and the Leadership Council at Conservation International.

Stephanie Rudnick, Senior Advisor

Stephanie Rudnick is a Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies and a seasoned brand management and communications strategist with over 20 years’ experience working across numerous industries – sports, entertainment, lifestyle, technology, travel, luxury, advertising, experiential and marketing. Rudnick previously ran global communications for Wasserman Media Group. A native of Chicago, Rudnick is a graduate of the University of Southern California and lives in New York City with her two children.

Ralph Simon, Senior Advisor

Ralph Simon is a Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies and one of the founders of the global mobile & social media industry, a visionary & innovator popularly known as “the father of the ring tone”. An expert on smartphone lifestyles, multi-screen creativity & a specialist in providing mobile health delivery systems, he founded the world’s first international global commercial ring tone service in the Europe, Africa, North America, the UK & Australasia. One of the world’s top 50 mobile executives since 2005, Ralph relentlessly searches the world for the smartest new mobile & wireless apps, mobile health platforms, Virtual Reality, mobile business creativity & ‘positive disruption’ strategies. His expertise & companies are experts in mobile social media, mobile health & wellness, mobile games & VR, global mobile business strategies, ‘positive disruption’ strategies for large companies & effective mobile execution. He knows that the future belongs to “Screenagers” everywhere, & expertly advises large companies on best commercial application of mobile multi-screen & smartphone implementation & strategic use. Mobilium recently launched Africa’s first-ever mobile health delivery network, working closely with the African Leadership Network in Africa to grow mobile health & connected health tech across Africa. Mobilium is also involved in: Mobile Games – making the first-ever John Lennon mobile Virtual Reality experience, Sports: developing the 1st-ever British Professional Basketball League in the UK; Positive Disruption for Companies: Building specialised “Positive Disruption” strategies for large companies, through their Helsinki, Finland company. He’s responsible for curating & programming some of the world’s most important start-up & future tech gatherings worldwide, including : the Pioneers (Future Tech Festival), Vienna; The African Leadership Network in Africa ; The Mobile World Congress keynote stage, CTIA’s Mobile Convention, Las Vegas in the USA, The “All That Matters” annual digital & mobile convention in Singapore. He is a Global Judge & board member of the United Nations’ World Summit Awards, the world’s leading mobile apps competition. Known internationally as a prominent & provocative public speaker & moderator, & developer of start-ups & innovation initiatives, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in the UK, a member of the National Academy of Recorded Arts & Sciences in the USA & CEO/Founder of Mobilium Global, the international mobile cool hunters. Ralph is based in London, or on a plane to where ground-breaking mobile innovation calls for discovery, development & investment.

Gracie Sun, Senior Advisor

For the past 15 years, Gracie Sun, Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies, has represented and advised multinational corporations on market access, intellectual property, and investment issues in China. Prior to her work with Laurel Strategies, she was Managing Director for China with Stonebridge International, a consulting firm headed by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former U.S. National Security Advisor Sandy Berger. During her time at Stonebridge, she served as China Representative to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and represented major U.S., European and Chinese firms in the market. She also worked for MBP Consulting, a consulting practice of Mayer, Brown, a Chicago-based law firm. Gracie lives and works in Shanghai.

Susan Toffler, Senior Advisor

Susan Toffler is a Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies and a leader in the field of communications consulting with more than 25 years of booking guests for CNN, ABC News Nightline and Good Morning America and nearly a decade of working with the nation’s top CEOs on messaging, training, crisis strategy, coaching and broadcast placement.

Ryan Velasco, Senior Advisor

Ryan Velasco is a Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC.

Ryan brings more than 16 years of experience in strategic communications, advising a range of public and private sector clients on issues from crisis messaging and brand reputation to stakeholder engagement, government relations, ESG, resilience planning, and public-private partnerships. At Laurel, he serves on the leadership teams for a number of clients ranging from healthcare to technology to consumer services. He also utilizes his extensive background in public speaking to provide bespoke media training and executive coaching for clients across the firm.

Ryan has continually worked at the forefront of risk communications. As Vice President at Ogilvy, he led elements of a $130M communications contract supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). His private sector portfolio included the development of an executive visibility program for a major agriscience company. He also served in the Obama Administration at the White House Council on Environmental Quality as a Deputy Associate Director on the Land and Water Team, leading a key initiative of the President’s Climate Action Plan.

Ryan is a Member of the Board of Directors for the College of Charleston Alumni Association.

Ryan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Historic Preservation and Community Planning from the College of Charleston.

Leigh Wedell, Senior Advisor

Leigh Wedell is a Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies and a veteran facilitator of U.S.-Chinese business relations. She most recently served as Chief Sustainability Officer at The Paulson Institute, a think tank encouraging US-China collaboration on economic and environmental challenges, founded by former US Secretary of the Treasury Hank Paulson. Leigh has advised U.S. and Chinese companies on market access, profile raising, and government relations for the past decade, working with more than forty companies from twenty business sectors. She has served as Vice President for Albright Stonebridge Group, a leading global consulting firm, and Managing Director for MBP Consulting, a consulting practice of Mayer Brown, a top global law firm. Prior to her consulting work, Leigh was the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong‐U.S. Business Council, a private‐sector initiative administered by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She began her career at the International Republican Institute (IRI), working to implement programs related to China’s political and economic reform.

Isaiah West, Senior Director

Isaiah West is a Senior Director at Laurel Strategies. Isaiah has extensive experience researching, developing, and writing about solutions for complex business challenges, such as talent attraction, retention and training, and navigating major philanthropic giving. He supports clients across the education, technology, and private equity industries, and also has a deep background in research and the healthcare industry.

Before joining Laurel, Isaiah was a Senior Analyst at Advisory Board, a health care best practices firm, and later served as a consultant to a financial wellness start-up.

Isaiah received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Predictive Health from Emory University.

Elisha Wiesel, Senior Advisor

Elisha Wiesel is a Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies. A former Wall Street executive, Elisha retired from a twenty-five year financial markets career at Goldman Sachs at the end of 2019 and has since dedicated his time to his entrepreneurial, consulting, and philanthropic pursuits, primarily at the intersection of technology and finance.

While on Wall Street, Elisha raised millions of dollars for New York’s neediest through “Midnight Madness”, a puzzle contest he rebooted and grew at scale beginning in 2012. Midnight Madness convened hundreds of finance professionals for an all-night event on the New York City streets, solving elaborately designed puzzles and raising over $3.1 million for Good Shepherd Services. Sponsored by Goldman Sachs Gives, proceeds from the event supported the construction of a state-of-the-art community center in East New York that serves over 1,000 families with programs and services to strengthen the Brooklyn community.

Following his retirement from Goldman Sachs, Elisha volunteered to lead a technology team at Hawkfish, the digital arm of Mike Bloomberg’s presidential campaign.

Elisha is a board member of Zioness and the Elie Wiesel Foundation. After his father, Elie Wiesel, passed away, Elisha realized the continued impact his father’s legacy could have, and how many others missed his voice. As opportunities present themselves for impact, Elisha spends his time speaking on his father’s legacy and message and how these carry into the present day.

Alix Boulud, Senior Director

Bio needed….

Dan Kaplan, Senior Advisor

Dan Kaplan is a Senior Advisor at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Dan brings to Laurel Strategies over 25 years of digital strategy, content development, and marketing experience, including website messaging, Google rankings, social media, SEO, and online reputation management. He also specializes in managing and improving team communications with behavior, science-based approaches.

Most recently, Dan was the Managing Director of Corporate Communications for IMPAQ International, a 400-person public policy research and data analytics firm, where he oversaw all aspects of branding, marketing, internal communications, events, publishing, public relations, and corporate social responsibility. Through his wide-ranging career, Dan has been a college writing instructor, travel writer, fundraiser, Federal program manager, entrepreneur, and owner of a digital marketing agency. He is also an advisor to Climb for Hope, a non-profit supporting cancer and MS research through mountain climbing.

Dan earned a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Maine as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Business from the University of Maryland.

Steven Lloyd Parker, Managing Director

Steve Parker is a Managing Director at Laurel Strategies. An experienced advisor, Steve brings to Laurel a proven record of excellence under varied, unstructured, and adverse conditions around the world, leveraging over two decades of executive leadership and program management experience in the US military, the federal interagency, and national nonprofit organizations.

Previously, Steve was an Army Operations and Foreign Area Officer, he has deep experience in change management and in motivating a diverse workforce.

Steve helped launch WorkMerk, a privately-held, software-as-a-service company focused on helping digitize workflow for the deskless, remote, and disconnected frontline workforce.

Steve has worked in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East; in US embassies in Zimbabwe, Djibouti, and numerous other countries across Africa, including service as a United Nations Military Observer, monitoring the cease-fire conditions between Morocco and Western Sahara. A direct advisor to the US Ambassador in Djibouti, Steve helped establish the only permanent US Military installation in Africa, and served as the Aide and Deputy Exec to Africa Command’s first, four-star Commander. He was selected as a White House Fellow and worked in the office of First Lady Laura Bush; then served as a speechwriter for the 35th Chief of Staff of the Army.

Previously, Steve commanded Soldiers from the Army’s famed 10th Mountain Division, Light Infantry; during year-long combat operations in Iraq. After nearly three years as Chief of Operations, Plans and Simulations for Fires Center of Excellence, Steve returned to Washington DC to work for First Lady Michelle Obama and (then Second Lady) Dr. Jill Biden as Executive Director of the White House Veterans & Military Family initiative, Joining Forces. Steve was Senior Advisor to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies and Director of the State Department’s Africa Military Education Program with responsibilities across 25 countries.

He is a graduate of West Point and Yale. An avid mountain biker, Steve lives in Arlington, Virginia with his wife and their 3 sons. His daughter Zoe is an Environmentalist in Austin.

Suta Kavari, Senior Vice President

Suta Kavari is the Senior Vice President at Laurel Strategies, based in London. Suta brings broad and diverse experience to Laurel Strategies, with his background in political economy analysis and investment strategy. Suta leads Laurel’s thought leadership and sector research, delivering market analysis and data insights that are critical in addressing our clients’ evolving needs.

From our office in London, Suta and his team closely monitor and analyze media coverage across a broad range of platforms—gathering and analyzing industry data on key issues, events and commercial developments.

Prior to joining Laurel, Suta was a researcher for Oxford University’s Net Zero Initiative and worked with financial services firms on strategies to embed social and environmental factors across their operations. Suta previously worked in the Namibian Presidency on economic policy issues and served as an adviser to the delegations to UNGA, G20, and other high-level international forums. Suta brings this wide-ranging experience to Laurel, giving us a global and comprehensive perspective on our research function.

Suta holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Oxford. He received his Bachelor’s in Economics and Risk Management from the North-West University, South Africa and earned a graduate degree in Sustainable Development with top honors from Stellenbosch University.

Jessica Carmona, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives, Office of the CEO

Jessica Carmona is an Executive Director in the Office of the CEO at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Jessica specializes in project management, organizational DEI strategy and programming, and major conference and event engagement.

Jessica also brings with her to Laurel experience in nonprofit advocacy and stakeholder management. Before joining the firm, she served as a Member Board Relations Manager at the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), advocating, and promoting the organization’s architectural standards, programs, and services to its various stakeholders. Jessica also previously worked at the National League of Cities, and for the cities of Huntsville and Eden, Texas and in the United States Department of State’s Office of Civil Rights.

Jessica received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sam Houston State University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Virginia Tech.

Jessica is fluent in Spanish.

Adam Basciano, Strategic Director

Adam Basciano is a Strategic Director at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Adam has experience in social impact and philanthropy, cross-sector partnerships, and vision and strategy setting and execution.

Adam’s writings have appeared in numerous outlets, and he was recognized as a “36 under 36” by the Jewish Week for his advancing support for the two-state solution. He is a Board Member of Story Tapestries, a Strategy Consultant for Compass Pro Bono, and is on the Advisory Council of Heart of a Nation.

Adam received his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Colgate University and his Master’s in Global Business Administration from the Fletcher School at Tufts University.

Jaren McKinnie, Director

Jaren McKinnie is a Director at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Jaren focuses on advising clients across racial equity, DEI, and philanthropic initiatives, and provides hands-on expertise related to podcast and radio show production and major event support, including at national events such as SXSW and for campaigns surrounding national awareness months.

Prior to joining Laurel, he worked in offices in the New York State Senate and the U.S. Senate. He also served as a Leonard D. Schaeffer Fellow in Government Service in 2019 while working in the U.S. Senate.

Jaren received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs as well as a certificate in French Language and Culture.

Alexandra Hubbard-Gourlay, Vice President

Alexandra (Allie) Hubbard-Gourlay is a Vice President at Laurel Strategies, based in New York City. Allie advises clients on strategic positioning, global public affairs, executive communications and thought leadership, as well as navigating global crises and geopolitical events. She also leads strategy and execution at key global convenings and industry events, including the World Economic Forum and Milken Global Forum, as well as firms’ Investor Conferences and anniversary convenings. She frequently leads planning for in-depth, long-form broadcast interviews, including multiple shows across Bloomberg, and has helped execute cover profiles in major magazines, including Forbes. She has overseen branding and website redesign, as well as SEO projects, in collaboration with Laurel’s in-house design team.

Before joining Laurel, Allie helped build Slide, a SaaS technology startup, as the company’s Chief Financial Officer and a leader within the company’s Sales and People teams. Allie previously served as Chief Financial Officer of the Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union and has a deep-seated passion for public service. She is an active member of New York Women in Communications and serves on the Junior Committee of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Allie graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Politics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, with a minor in French and Francophone Studies and an Honors Certificate in International Business Diplomacy.

Allie is fluent in French.

Josh Horen, Senior Associate

Joshua Horen is a Senior Associate at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Josh provides support to clients on media engagement, thought leadership, and strategic positioning. He also has experience in external communications, including social media, press release, and reactive statement development.

Before joining Laurel, Josh served on a communications team for a political campaign and worked in various child-development research settings, including at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC.

Josh earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Politics and Family Science from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Nina Weiss, Associate

Nina Weiss is an Associate at Laurel Strategies. Before joining Laurel, she worked for NBC Sports as a researcher during the Beijing 2022 Olympics. She also interned for a Massachusetts based think tank and for Congressman Stephen F. Lynch.

Nina graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in International Studies and Sociology. Outside of work she enjoys barre fitness classes, long walks, and cheering for the Boston Red Sox.

Renata Sakaeva, Director

Renata Sakaeva is a Director at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Renata supports clients with strategic messaging and positioning, with experience in navigating CEO transitions. Her work draws on her background in international and foreign affairs and legislative research.

Prior to joining Laurel, she worked at Morgan Stanley, the US House of Representatives, and MSD Partners.

Renata earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government with minors in Economics and Russian from Georgetown University.

Renata is fluent in Russian.

Daniel Araujo, Director

Daniel Araujo is a Director at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC.

Daniel brings over eight years of experience in public policy, with a strong foundation in legal analysis and governance. At Laurel, he advises clients on legislative strategy, stakeholder engagement, and policy development, drawing on his extensive background in stakeholder engagement, public administration, and institutional reform.

Before joining Laurel, Daniel served as Deputy Director at the Department of Public Service of Colombia, where he supervised and coordinated six technical divisions responsible for policy development, implementation, and evaluation. In this role, he led a team of 12 and oversaw over 250 personnel, driving key reforms that strengthened labor rights and improved public sector governance. He spearheaded negotiations during the State National Agreement of 2021, securing over 265 agreements that enhanced working conditions for more than one million public employees. Under his leadership, over 85% of these agreements were implemented within the first year, fostering trust and collaboration between the government and public sector unions.

Daniel has also held advisory roles at the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman of Colombia, the Office of the Inspector General, and the House of Representatives in Colombia, where he played a critical role in shaping legislative and policy initiatives. In addition to his policy work, he has served as a Professor of Law at Politécnico Gran Colombiano University, designing and delivering courses on criminal and constitutional law.

Daniel holds a Master’s in Policy Management from Georgetown University, an LLM in Constitutional Law from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and a Law degree from Universidad de los Andes. Bilingual in English and Spanish, he brings a global perspective to policy development, intercultural relations, negotiations, and institutional governance.

Jimmy Miotto, Senior Associate

James “Jimmy” Miotto is a Senior Associate at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Jimmy supports clients across the financial services, sports, and technology industries, and has experience in strategic messaging development, policy analysis, media relations, and thought leadership.

Before joining Laurel, Jimmy spent time as a political consultant, an international development contract, and a Senate campaign staffer. He also previously served as the Executive Editor of the Chicago Policy Review, where he shaped the editorial direction of the journal and established the Commentary section as an outlet for persuasive writing for graduate students at the University of Chicago.

Jimmy received his Master’s of Public Policy degree from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, with certificates in Political Campaigns and International Development. He also received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Economy from Williams College.

Katya Kopach, Director

Katya Kopach is a Director at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Katya advises clients across sectors in strategic messaging and positioning, including thought leadership, CEO transitions, major global convenings, and digital strategy.

Katya brings to Laurel experience in management consulting for public, private, and civic organizations, as well as project management, change management, qualitative analysis, and human-centered design and branding.

Previously, Katya worked with several organizations focused on social impact, including the Burnes Institute for Poverty Research, the Princeton University Center for Health and Wellbeing, and Special Olympics International. She is Co-Communications Chair of the Princeton Club of Washington. Katya received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Princeton University with certificates in Values and Public Life and Spanish Language and Culture.

Katya is an intermediate speaker of Spanish and Ukrainian.

Caleb Symons, Senior Director

Caleb Symons is a Senior Director at Laurel Strategies, working within the firm’s London-based research team. Caleb supports clients across Laurel in research and analysis, bespoke media monitoring and analysis solutions, policy research, and copywriting.

He is a former journalist with extensive experience reporting on Big Tech, investor-state relations, civil litigation and government. Caleb is also a Communications Advisor to the American Amputee Soccer Association.

Caleb received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Relations from Tufts University.

Sara Franks, Associate

Sara Franks is an Associate at Laurel Strategies.

Previously, Sara has worked with various nonprofits, think tanks, startups, and prestigious organizations such as the Fulbright Association. Most recently, she was the Director of Development for the youth-led think tank, the Onero Institute, where she executed programming with Heads of State, Foreign Ministers, Ambassadors, and activists. Sara is passionate about gender equity issues and technology.

Sara graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs with a specialization in Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies from The George Washington University.

Amy Rogers, Vice President

Amy Rogers is a Vice President at Laurel Strategies. An experienced strategist and writer, Amy works with clients to develop communications strategies and thought leadership platforms that connect with stakeholders, particularly in times of crisis.

Amy has a proven record of providing strategic communications and crisis counsel for clients across industries, including higher education, defense, and healthcare. Previously, Amy served as a Director of Content at a mid-sized communications agency in Washington, D.C. She also led executive communications for multiple presidents in the University of South Carolina President’s Office.

Amy serves on the UNG Young Alumni Board and as a lead instructor for English as Second Language community courses in her free time.

Amy received a Master of Arts degree in English and American Literature from the University of South Carolina and her Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors from the University of North Georgia.

Mercedes Keshinro, Senior Associate

Mercedes Keshinro is a Senior Associate at Laurel Strategies, based in London.

Prior to joining Laurel, Mercedes worked at the UN, Prosek Partners, the Nigerian High Commission and a grassroots in Lagos, Nigeria, transforming research into impactful strategy and communications.

Mercedes earned a Master of Science degree in International Social and Public Policy from the London School of Economics, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics and International Studies from the University of Warwick.

Duncan Edwards, Associate

Duncan Edwards is an Associate at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. He brings to Laurel experience in geopolitics, management consulting, and international affairs.

Duncan earned his Bachelor of Arts in History with departmental honors from Harvard College, where he also received a language citation in Spanish. Prior to joining Laurel, he interned at PwC Strategy& in New York, focusing on corporate strategy, due diligence, and compliance. He also studied abroad in Stockholm, Sweden, where he volunteered as an English teacher.

Duncan is fluent in Spanish, and is a beginner speaker in Swedish.

Charlie Keohan, Director

Charlie Keohan is a Director at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, D.C. His background includes roles in public and nonprofit organizations, with experience in communications, policy coordination, and internal operations. Before joining Laurel, he supported USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance as a program assistant and worked in the executive office at the Center for Global Development. Charlie holds a B.A. in Politics & International Affairs from Wake Forest University, with additional studies in Chinese language and global commerce.

Lily Kalish, Senior Associate

Lily Kalish is a Senior Associate at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. She brings to Laurel experience in international development, non-profits, and legal services.

Prior to joining Laurel, Lily was the program officer for the USAID-funded Farmer to Farmer Caribbean program at Partners of the Americas in Washington DC. She managed program implementation; coordinated between teams based in eight countries; and recruited expert volunteers for technical agricultural assignments abroad. She also has previous experience at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in client development and marketing, and at the International Rescue Committee in adult education management.

Lily received a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Cornell University, with minors in Spanish and Latin American studies, spending time during her undergraduate career in Seville, Spain.

Lily is fluent in Spanish.

Jacob Link, Director

Jacob Link is a Director at Laurel Strategies, based in Boston. Jacob supports clients developing their long-term strategic positioning, focusing on communications and geopolitical risk. He has supported executive communications and campaign design across a number of industries, including private equity, higher education, and professional services. He also serves as producer for Leadership Matters, a weekly radio show hosted by SiriusXM.

Previously, Jacob worked for Biden for President and the Texas Democratic Party.

Jacob received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Harvard University. He also holds a Master of Arts in European & Russian Studies from Yale University, where his research focused on organizational networks and state behavior in the Russian Civil War.

Andy Parker, Senior Counselor

Andy Parker is a Senior Counselor at Laurel Strategies. He is a lawyer, advisor, and public policy professional who has held leadership positions across the government and nonprofit sectors.    

Before joining Laurel, Andy served as Assistant Chief of Staff to Maryland Governor Wes Moore. In that role he oversaw major economic development projects for the state, including the successful negotiation of a 30-year stadium lease and renovation agreement with the Baltimore Orioles.    

Prior to working in Governor Moore’s administration, Andy was General Counsel and CFO at Baltimore Corps, a nonprofit that connects aspiring leaders with fellowship and career opportunities. He served in the White House during the Obama administration and worked on President Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns.    

Andy holds a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School, an MPhil in Public Policy from the University of Cambridge, and a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University. 

Alexandra Buck, Associate

Alexandra Buck is an Associate at Laurel Strategies based in Washington, D.C., bringing experience in executive communications and strategic research.

Prior to joining Laurel, Alexandra worked as a Senior Research Specialist at Gartner, where she regularly partnered with senior and C-suite HR leaders on topics such as total rewards, employee recognition, and change leadership. In this role, she contributed to large-scale qualitative and quantitative research studies, designed and fielded executive surveys, developed best practice frameworks for organizational leaders, and authored research publications for a global client audience. Alexandra also supported the development and delivery of executive conference presentations, translating complex research findings into actionable insights for senior leaders.

Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with an Honors Interdisciplinary Studies minor from James Madison University. Her honors thesis research examined the autonomy movements of the Carpatho-Rusyn ethnic group, and she is a beginner speaker of Russian.

Zach Coplan, Associate

Zach Coplan is an Associate at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC.

Before joining Laurel Strategies, Zach supported executive leadership at Public Private Strategies, a consulting firm focused on helping organizations engage the business community to advance policy and market change. There, he managed strategic initiatives, executive operations, and supported high-level convenings. Earlier in his career, he worked for Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves and Commissioner Goldsmith Romero at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, where he supported senior leadership on operational and policy priorities through stakeholder engagement, communications, logistics, and policy analysis.

Zach received a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs with a concentration in International Economics from George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. Zach is originally from the Chicago area.

Sabrina Robaczynski, Associate

Sabrina Robaczynski is an Associate at Laurel Strategies based in Washington, D.C., bringing experience in geopolitics, strategic communications, and policy analysis.

Sabrina’s previous experience includes work with the U.S. House of Representatives, the Justice Center of the Americas, and the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants, where she conducted policy research on refugee resettlement, judicial reform, and international development across the Americas.

Sabrina graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from American University’s School of International Service, with a minor in Spanish. Her capstone research focused on nuclear weapons systems, deterrence strategy, and international security, and she completed a semester abroad in Santiago, Chile.

Sabrina is fluent in Spanish.

Daniel Gal is a Vice President at Laurel Strategies, based in London. He advises clients on strategic positioning, executive communications, thought leadership, global public affairs, reputation management, and navigating complex markets, geopolitical change, and high-stakes moments.

Before joining Laurel Strategies, Daniel served as Global Head of Communications at Digital Turbine (Nasdaq: APPS), where he led integrated global communications and marketing strategy across PR, executive visibility, digital channels, regional marketing, events, and sales-aligned campaigns. He built international programs that strengthened brand positioning, supported commercial growth, and ensured consistent messaging across markets. He managed global agency relationships, secured coverage in leading publications, and played a key role in Digital Turbine’s company-wide rebrand following its acquisition of three companies, including Fyber.

Prior to Digital Turbine, Daniel served as PR & Communications Lead at Fyber, where he directed global communications strategy and managed strategic partnerships with industry organizations. During his tenure, Fyber scaled rapidly before being acquired by Digital Turbine in a $600M deal. Following the acquisition, Daniel joined DT’s leadership team as the company’s global communications leader, overseeing communications strategy across the combined organization.

Earlier in his career, Daniel was a Senior Associate at Laurel Strategies, partnering with Fortune 500 C-suite leaders on global engagements including the World Economic Forum Annual Meetings in Davos. He also worked as a journalist for Israel’s Channel 2 News, where he was an Associate Producer for the channel’s leading political show, later covering major international stories as a Contributing Correspondent in Europe.

Daniel graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Maastricht University. He is a native English and Hebrew speaker and fluent in Spanish.

Jane Mott-Palmer, Director of Scheduling

Jane (Jane) Mott-Palmer is the Director of Scheduling at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Jane brings more than 15 years of experience operationalizing strategic goals, optimizing enterprise performance, and advising C-suite executives across the corporate and public sectors. As a key member of the operations team at Laurel Strategies, Jane oversees scheduling, resource allocation, and strategic priority management to ensure flawless execution across clients, ecosystem partners, and internal teams.

Throughout her career, Jane has served as a trusted partner to executive leadership, specializing in translating high-level vision into cross-functional results. Most recently, she was Chief of Staff to the President of the National Policing Institute, where she directed enterprise planning, designed scalable operational processes, and spearheaded new business lines to scale impact. Previously, she served as Global Head of Business Services and Facilities and Chief of Staff to the CEO of Eurasia Group, managing customer-facing operations and performance metrics across international teams. Her executive leadership experience also includes serving as Chief Human Capital Officer for the Plastics Industry Association and Director of Scheduling and Advance for the Mayor of Washington, DC, where she orchestrated diplomatic engagements involving foreign embassies and the U.S. State Department.

Jane holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ithaca College.