Client Reviews: What They Are Saying About Ann O’Leary’s Leadership

“Proven Advisor. Navigating Crisis. Strategic Policy Change”

Ann O’Leary’s reputation as a proven advisor, crisis navigator, and strategic policy strategist is built on the real-world results she provides her clients. Whether it’s high-level government sector leadership or private and non-profit sector management, Ann has helped organizations build from the ground up, weather storms in turbulent times, and create lasting, positive change. Check out some client and colleague recommendations for working with Ann O’Leary.

A New Kind of Leadership for Government

Ann O’Leary’s steady leadership during the worst moments in California was unparalleled. Leading our administration as Chief of Staff, she guided us through wildfires, a public health crisis and unprecedented economic fallout in everything we did, always with clarity and determination. Her ability to distill information and build consensus among disparate stakeholders was critically important to our success. She has my deepest appreciation for her service and guidance.

– Gavin Newsom, California Governor

Crisis Management that Makes an Impact

When faced with an incident that hit service to millions and nearly wiped out the company, our public utility needed a true innovator to help restore order to chaos. Ann O’Leary came in and immediately developed a coordinated effort with agencies and other officials, crafted our entire communication strategy, and ultimately helped restore confidence. When the pressure was on, Ann provided an extremely calm demeanor in the most chaotic of situations and applied her extensive experience as a seasoned communicator to handle a high-stress situation at our company. As a direct result of her efforts, we came through stronger and more resilient than before.

– Maria Thompson, Former General Counsel, Pacific Energy Group

Strategic Advice for Complex Policy Issues

In navigating contentious policy reform in the early childhood education world, Ann was a strategic partner. She delivered our non-profit tangible policy analysis; built multi-partisan coalitions; and messaged effectively to families and policymakers. Ann’s grasp of the Care Economy and dogged advocacy made a profound impact on the lives of children and caregivers in every corner of our state.

– Lisa Hernandez, Executive Director, StartStrong California

Promoting Corporate Responsibility

With Ann O’Leary, we co-created a best-in-class paid family leave plan that broke new ground in the tech space. Ann’s data-driven expertise and skillful methodology of link-to-business value helped us transform a regulatory obligation into a strategic business advantage for attracting top talent. Her strategic advice not only resulted in better retention of employees but also lent our company powerful equity brand recognition.

– Derek Lin, Chief Human Resources Officer, Innovexa Technologies

Policy Expertise and Thought Leadership

Covering public policy, I’ve turned to Ann’s insights time and again. She consistently has a rare ability to clarify complex legal and policy matters and help them make sense. As an analyst also covering the Care Economy, Ann’s thought leadership has been instrumental in defining the national conversation, and spurring leaders on both sides of the aisle to act. Whenever I need considered, nuanced coverage of government and social issues, I look to her first.

– Priya Patel, Senior Policy Correspondent, The National Observer

Mentorship and Academics

Ann is unmatched in her passion for teaching the next generation of policy leaders… and as one of Ann’s students in her Stanford Law seminar, I was pushed to think critically and creatively about current legal challenges. Ann made every class insightful and practical; she worked tirelessly to provide us with these opportunities. She continues to be a strong mentor and inspiration in my own practice as I embark on my policy career.

– Jacob Stein, J.D. Candidate, Stanford Law School

Multi-Sector Approach for Societal Impact

Bringing public, private and not-for-profit partners together is always a challenge. Yet Ann O’Leary uniquely has the capacity to build trust and concerted action. She delivered powerful and systemic solutions to ensure economic inclusion and early learning in her work with the Opportunity Institute. Ann’s vision in action and executive leadership enable her to drive real change for our communities.

– Monique Adams, Director of Policy Partnerships, Opportunity Institute

Want to make a difference? Contact Ann O’Leary

Ann O’Leary combines decades of proven leadership and strategic insight on behalf of clients, whether they are a government agency, a corporation or non-profit, or in need of expert commentary. Fulfilling her clients’ objectives and maximizing opportunities for impact is captured in the stories they tell. To discuss your needs or schedule an engagement with Ann, contact [email protected], call (917) 346-9882, or go to annoleary.com. Ann O’Leary works from California and New York and serves clients throughout the country. Let Ann’s skill guide you when it matters most to accomplish change and get results. If you’d like to reach out directly, please visit the Contact Ann O’Leary page.