COFOUNDER

Kimberly Abbott is a global communications leader and former broadcast journalist with more than two decades of experience in news and nonprofit storytelling. She has spent her career advancing ideas and the people behind them to shape narratives and drive impact.

She began her career covering breaking news around the world as an on-air reporter, producer, and booker for CNN, as well as media outlets in Paris and Atlanta. That journalism foundation now informs her work with C-suite leaders, founders, and policy experts, whom she coaches to sharpen their message and show up with clarity, credibility, and presence across media platforms and audiences. 

Kimberly has led communications at organizations including the International Crisis Group, The Fuller Project, Women Moving Millions, InterAction, and World Learning, and has advised a wide range of mission-driven institutions. Her work sits at the intersection of foreign policy, global development, and underreported humanitarian issues, with a particular focus on post-conflict contexts.

She also partners with universities and think tanks to help faculty, researchers, and graduate students translate complex ideas into narratives that resonate beyond academic circles. Her work spans institutions including Princeton, Yale, and Georgetown, and topics ranging from modern-day slavery to climate change, philanthropy, and art.

At the core of her work is a close partnership with leaders, helping them find their voice, refine their message, and step into the spotlight with confidence and authenticity. Known for her sharp instincts and direct approach, Kimberly is often the force behind the scenes, ensuring her clients are ready to own the moment and truly shine. She is a cofounder and lead media trainer for Media Smart Global.

COFOUNDER

Linda Roth is an award-winning journalist currently serving as World Central Kitchen's Chief Communications Officer where she oversees brand positioning, creative content development, thought leadership, digital strategy, media relations, and events.

She joined the mission-driven organization after working at a global women's leadership organization and a non-partisan foreign policy think tank.

Previously, Linda was Wolf Blitzer’s trusted producer at CNN. As one of the top producers on The Situation Room, Linda covered every major domestic and international news story of the last two decades. Her honors include Emmy, Peabody, and Headliner awards.

A passionate advocate for press freedom and media development, she also teaches best practices to nonprofit communicators and journalists worldwide. She is listed with the U.S. State Department’s Speaker’s Bureau and a Fulbright Specialist in media literacy. She is a cofounder and lead media trainer for Media Smart Global.

Melissa Long is an award-winning communications leader with two decades of experience in corporate communications and local, national and international newsrooms as a broadcast journalist. Her deep expertise in impactful storytelling and media training comes from her time as an Emmy Award-winning news anchor/reporter. She has been as an on-air journalist for Atlanta’s NBC station, Bloomberg TV and CNN, HLN and CNN.com. In addition, Melissa has trained C-Suite executives and startup founders in effective communication, the art of interviewing and on-camera presentation. Melissa graduated from Syracuse University and was awarded an MBA from the University of Rochester.

Allison Tom has more than 15 years of experience in journalism and entertainment as an executive producer, broadcast journalist, and entrepreneur. Her expertise is in effective communication, storytelling, media training, public speaking, and developing diverse voices. Allison was an on-camera technology correspondent for CNN, and has produced network television shows for HGTV, The Travel Channel, CBS, and ABC. Most recently, she launched The Sims Spark’d, a reality show based on The Sims 4 game where contestants told their authentic and personal stories, which premiered on TBS, BuzzFeed Multiplayer and YouTube. For Media Smart Global, Allison focuses on media training and public speaking.

Donna Leinwand Leger is an award-winning journalist and communicator who specializes in thought leadership, crisis communications, and media relations. She is immediate past chair of the National Press Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides professional development for journalists and recognizes excellence in journalism, and past president of the National Press Club. She previously served as managing editor of USA TODAY, where she oversaw news coverage. She has taught digital journalism workshops globally, including newspaper groups in China, Singapore, the Balkans, Finland and Estonia. As a reporter for USA Today, she covered national and international crime, terrorism, war and disasters. She has also reported for The Miami Herald, Knight-Ridder and Gannett News Service. For Media Smart Global, Donna leads the Thought Leadership and Writing Masterclasses. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she serves on the Board of Visitors for the Hussman School of Journalism and Communications.

Mariyah Espinoza is a communications and marketing professional specializing in publications, digital strategy, and website management at the National Academy for State Health Policy. She brings expertise in interviewing, multimedia storytelling, video production, and research, with a focus on inequality and social justice issues. Mariyah has served as a communications officer for The Fuller Project, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to catalyzing positive change for women, and as a communications assistant for the School of Communication’s Diversity and Inclusion Team at American University, where she received her master’s degree in journalism and public affairs. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communications at Bethune-Cookman University. For Media Smart Global, Mariyah serves as a production assistant for projects in the DMV.

Jennifer Leonard is the CEO and co-founder of PACE Global Strategies, a woman-owned small business that produces incisive research, informed analysis, and actionable strategies to promote peace and mitigate risk and violence in fragile and conflict-affected environments. She has over 25 years of experience as a policy expert, thought leader, strategist and advocate on international affairs and conflict prevention. She has worked for the International Crisis Group, the World Bank, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the United Nations, and the U.S. government.

John Poirier is a veteran journalist, strategic communicator, and spokesperson with extensive experience in financial regulatory policy and government media relations. His work as spokesperson for the U.S. Office of Financial Research (OFR) within the Treasury Department focused on engaging journalists regarding potential risks to the U.S. financial system. Before that, he worked for 20 years as a journalist, including with Reuters, The Associated Press, trade publications and radio. At Reuters, his coverage of the 2008-9 financial crisis tracked fast-moving developments in the Executive branch and Congress. His beats also included the agencies and congressional committees regulating Wall Street and other financial services firms, as well as technology, media and telecommunications companies with stakes in domestic and international Internet regulation, mobile payments. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and Colby College.

David Andersson is a New York-based independent analyst and adviser covering issues linked to conflict, security, and sustainable development. He brings extensive policy and program experience with multilateral organizations, governments, and civil society, including in crisis-affected environments. He is co-founder and Chief Policy Officer of PACE Global Strategies, a mission-driven small business offering research, strategy and analytical services. David holds an MSc in Human Rights from the London School of Economics and a BA in Politics and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

Joyce Bukuru is a longtime human rights advocate and policy analyst in the multilateral and civil society space. She currently serves as Senior Advocate and Representative to the United Nations for Amnesty International, and previously covered gender and women’s rights issues at the United Kingdom Mission to the UN. Joyce is also an alumna of Human Rights Watch where she coordinated and conducted the organization's UN advocacy work with members of the Security Council, General Assembly and other UN bodies. She is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal.

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