People

Matthew Doering

As CEO and Founder of Global Gateway Advisors, knowing what works and what doesn’t is important to me. Over the last 17 years, I have advised governments, non-profit organizations and private companies across industries, working closely with each to develop flexible, responsive strategies to communicate through times of crisis, transition or transformation. In the process, I have learned that effective communications counsel is grounded on two factors: knowing how to connect distinct assets, networks and ideas into solutions that resonate, and looking around the corner to anticipate when it’s time for a change. I work within the intersections of global policy, reputation management, economic development and social impact and strive to provide clients with well thought-out, comprehensive solutions that move the needle.

Carol Harrison

When it comes to client management, I believe business is personal. I approach every client as if their business is my own, working closely to understand their industry and the challenges they face. As a founding Senior Partner at Global Gateway Advisors, my goal is to build savvy teams able to provide tailored, reliable counsel grounded in experience and research. Over the last 16 years, I have advised a diverse portfolio of companies and non-profit organizations across a range of industries, including health, nutrition, education, media and technology. I am motivated by organizations committed to making a positive impact and working in partnership with clients to identify and activate the audiences and influencers driving the conversation. Prior to joining Global Gateway Advisors, I was Senior Vice President and Partner at FleishmanHillard and began my career on Capitol Hill developing and promoting legislative agendas related to healthcare and national defense policies.

David Fishman

I am passionate about helping companies and organizations develop and implement communications strategies that enhance their brand and reputation. I focus on helping clients prepare for, respond to, and recover from issues, crises and periods of change. I also help organize global conferences and events that bring together government leaders, business executives, and issues-based advocates to discuss innovative approaches to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. For more than 10 years, I have worked with leading companies and non-profit organizations to navigate today’s fast-changing business and media environment. Prior to joining Global Gateway Advisors, I was a Vice President in the corporate communications teams at FleishmanHillard and Ruder Finn.

MaryJo Fitzgerald

I am motivated by work that has a positive impact on the world. I specialize in partnering with public and private companies, startups, and executives to translate and distill complex concepts for a wide range of stakeholders. Rooted in the technology industry, my expertise lies in finding innovative ways to bring stories to life. With more than a decade of strategic communications experience in both agency and in-house settings, I bring unique experience in executive communications and collaboration, thought leadership, public relations strategy, and data storytelling. Before joining Global Gateway Advisors, I led communications and public relations initiatives at IBM Research in New York and Glassdoor in San Francisco. Prior, at H3O Communications (acquired by Grayling), I helped early-stage startups come to market through earned media strategies. I am passionate about mentorship and career development, partnering with colleagues to build an effective, thoughtful, and highly-skilled team.

Jordan Band

The words, phrases and nuances that organizations and executives use to communicate matter. While this has always been true, the wonders of technology mean that the staying power of what they say and do is infinite. That’s why I’m committed to working with our clients to craft strategic communications approaches to advance their top organizational priorities. There are always unknowns, gray areas and minefields of complexity and context to navigate. I am determined to ensure clients have the right team at their side to provide the sound guidance they need to make tough decisions with confidence. Prior to joining Global Gateway Advisors, I was a Vice President at BerlinRosen. Earlier in my career, I led engagements with corporate and government partners at Hill+Knowlton Strategies.

Laura Lowery

I am inspired by the connection between great design and communication. Strategic communications is essentially the practice of connecting people—it’s the business of helping organizations get where they want to go by engaging with the people whose attention and participation will take them there. Over the last 18 years I have advised non-profit organizations, public and private companies to help them think creatively and develop strategic communications programs that elevate ideas, deepen dialogue and create experiences that invite and lead to more genuine connection with their audiences. I am passionate about creativity, empathy, conscientious leadership, cultivating optimism and seeing the good in people first. I believe a well-designed whisper can be more powerful than a shout, and asking beautiful questions is the secret to generating exceptional ideas.

Scott Nolan Smith

Communications advisory is a truly international field. I always bring a global lens to my work and specialize in integrated communications strategy—guiding projects across communications planning, media and digital engagement, partnerships, crisis management, and public affairs.

Before I joined Global Gateway Advisors, I served as an independent consultant and held senior roles with communications consultancies including Clyde Group and Portland Communications. I’ve led and supported projects for global institutions and brands, such as the governments of Australia, Benin, France, and Scotland, the Corporate Council on Africa, UN Population Fund, Qatar Foundation, Pacific Advancement for Diplomatic Leadership Program, Rover.com, Convrygs, and the UN Foundation, among others. I formerly served as Head of Digital at the British Embassy in Washington. In addition to my professional experience, I am a co-founder of the Digital Diplomacy Coalition, a volunteer-run community that brings together the tech and foreign affairs sectors to find ways to better leverage technology for international engagement and social good.

Mariana Rodrigues

With more than 12 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies, governments and non-profit organizations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Southeast Asia, I bring a unique cross-sector global perspective to communications strategy development and execution. I have worked closely with governments in developing countries to advocate around key global health and development issues, with international non-profits to maximize impact and with private companies to drive consumer and stakeholder buy-in across a range of industries. I have served as Communications Director for Axios International, a global health consultancy based in Paris, France, and as Vice President at FleishmanHillard.

Alexa Bilankov

With the current pace of innovation, our industry’s need for effective healthcare communications has never been in greater demand. I pride myself in being a strong, detail-oriented strategic advisor, collaborator and partner in solving challenges facing present day health companies. I bring a decade of global agency experience partnering with brands across the healthcare sector, from pharma/biotech, medical devices, professional associations, provider and payer groups, and more. I have worked in multiple therapeutic areas—including oncology, immunology and neurology—and on varied integrated communications programming, from public health and disease awareness campaigns, advocacy partnerships, issues management, product launches and data/regulatory milestones.

I am passionate about telling stories which drive distinction and success for my clients, as well as understanding and showcasing the impact of health advancements for patients and other end users. Prior to joining Global Gateway Advisors, I worked in the healthcare client experience group at Weber Shandwick.

Leah Cox

I value cultivating strong relationships and empowering others while driving growth and development within organizations. As a Certified Professional in Human Resources (SHRM-CP), I bring over a decade of well-rounded experience in operations, project management and HR. Striving for an equitable, connected and motivated culture is essential in order to grow the most important part of Global Gateway Advisors’ business – our people.

As a strategic advisor and business partner to all stakeholders, I thrive on establishing creative solutions and culture-based initiatives while providing essential tools, resources and processes. I love building a company culture that celebrates and deliberately considers how differences build a better community. Hiring and retaining strong and happy talent depends on this type of culture. Prior to Global Gateway Advisors, I have worked with other PR professionals, consultants and startups to build an open, inclusive and engaged environment. 

Phoebe duBell

I am an experienced health and social impact communications professional with a passion for helping our clients unlock the value they bring to society. My background includes more than seven years of global agency experience partnering with clients spanning health, wellness, CPG, financial and nonprofit sectors. My expertise is in integrated global communications, with a focus on social impact, global public health and health equity. I’ve overseen the development of global and national campaigns, including those that target hard to reach communities in the US, Sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Prior to joining Global Gateway Advisors, I worked for McCann Global Health and Weber Shandwick.

Sasha Kalra

The communications landscape is constantly evolving, and I’m passionate about helping create effective digital strategies that cut through the noise. I’m motivated by the principle that our work should mean something while simultaneously delivering exceptional results that support our clients and their top-level goals. I develop platform-specific strategies, ideate content themes, and monitor data to provide actionable insights.

I bring nearly a decade of experience working in the digital space across industries. Before joining Global Gateway Advisors, I was the global social media lead for Tilray and its subsidiaries in North America, Europe, and Australia. Prior to that, I oversaw Canadian audience development strategy at VICE Media, managing social media teams in Toronto and Montreal, while implementing a data-driven growth strategy to help inform the editorial and agency teams. I’m committed to mentorship and community outreach, and during my time at VICE, I helped create the company’s first Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Franny Chudner

I thrive in fast-paced environments. Inherently curious and a natural problem solver, I enjoy immersing myself in new situations and assessing clients’ competitive landscape from every angle to provide thoughtful strategic counsel. My experience is in crisis and issues management, executive visibility, thought leadership and corporate social responsibility. I have worked on initiatives to bring gender bias awareness to Fortune 500 company boardrooms, introduce foreign-based businesses to the U.S. market, and highlight the societal benefits of AI technology. Prior to Global Gateway Advisors, I was a senior account executive in Zeno Group’s corporate affairs practice.

Spencer Dandes

I am a voracious consumer of news and pop culture who brings timely, topical thinking to the table. I am passionate about developing creative narratives that resonate with key stakeholders. My experience includes media relations, event management and activation planning/execution for tech platforms such as Tinder and Etsy, and travel destinations such as the British Virgin Islands. Before joining Global Gateway Advisors, I worked on the brand marketing team at M Booth.

Megan McDonough

I’m a writer and storyteller to my core. I help our clients break through the noise, and find and tell timely stories that resonate with stakeholders, consumers and journalists. Leveraging audience research, analytics and cultural insights, I help leaders and companies efficiently and effectively connect with key audiences in authentic, purposeful and impactful ways.

Before joining Global Gateway Advisors, I was an editorial strategist at Edelman, where I specialized in executing stories for brands, companies and associations across earned, owned and digital channels. Prior to that, I was a staff writer for The Washington Post’s Features section and wrote front-page stories for Book World, Lifestyle, Magazine, Obituaries, Outlook, Travel, Weekend and more.

Michael Wick

Now more than ever, healthcare is at the forefront of everyday conversations, and as healthcare communicators, we play a critical role in ensuring patients, physicians and all stakeholders have the latest information at their fingertips.

For almost a decade, I’ve partnered with clients in the pharmaceutical industry across different therapeutic areas to implement disease awareness campaigns and develop strategic narratives to drive business growth. Furthermore, I’ve worked alongside leading experts at world-renowned medical research institutions to have their insights and perspectives featured in leading publications about some of the most pressing healthcare challenges we face today.

Prior to joining Global Gateway Advisors, I worked in the health sector at Hill + Knowlton Strategies.

Liz Frenaye

I am passionate about helping clients leverage strategic communications and innovative action to make a difference. Through a proactive strategy and clear goals, media and stakeholder relations provide seamless and efficient ways to engage audiences. Equally important is effective reporting and analysis. I use my certifications in three different digital analytic platforms to ensure the insider analytics and numbers coincide with client ROI and success metrics. Before joining Global Gateway Advisors, I was a digital marketing coordinator at a top-25 CPA firm, focusing on supporting thought leadership and executive positioning for governmental, technology and business transformation practices in the financial services industry.

Christina Raish

Dialogue, cooperation and an understanding of each other’s differences is the gateway to a more global and interconnected world. I am passionate about helping clients adapt to ever-changing and fast paced environments. Originally from Athens, Greece, I have always evolved in an international environment; my multicultural heritage and experiences allow me to approach strategic communications with an international perspective and a European take to problem solving.

Prior to joining Global Gateway Advisors, I lived in Paris, France, for over a decade, where I focused on international politics and affairs at UNESCO and the European Union. In 2018, I joined Hopscotch, a leading French communications agency, where I supported U.S. and China based technology clients.

Devan Gallagher

I am committed to telling stories that make an impact. I believe conducting in-depth research and listening to diverse voices leads to tangible, action-oriented solutions. My previous experience working in public policy, international affairs and technology help me support a range of clients at Global Gateway Advisors, as I understand how different industries intersect and influence each other.

Prior to joining Global Gateway Advisors, I worked for the International Association of Lawyers and helped their communications team leverage global contacts, organize major international events and support a larger team working to defend the independence and freedom of lawyers worldwide.

Elizabeth Georgakopoulos

I have always believed in the power of people to people experiences and how it amplifies the interconnectedness of the world around us. My previous experiences in public diplomacy and international affairs have showcased the importance of every individual and organization’s ability to make an impact. I am committed to working with clients to find new ways to stay connected with stakeholders on the pressing challenges facing our world today.

Prior to Global Gateway Advisors, I worked as an Associate for The Harbour Group, where I assisted in developing digital strategy and campaigns for foreign governments’ public diplomacy initiatives.

Sofia Headley

I am passionate about utilizing strategic communications to help build and amplify the reach and reputations of our clients. Through content creation, social media strategy, thought leadership development and trendspotting, I help leaders and companies engage existing and target audiences and anticipate new opportunities for impact.

Prior to joining Global Gateway Advisors as an Account Executive, I was an intern and independent contractor for the firm, where I supported clients in the healthcare, technology and music industries.

Abby Cosenza

I am passionate about building resilience in the unpredictable world we live in today. My goal is to help clients connect authentically with key stakeholders through partnership development, thought leadership, and broader CSR and ESG planning.

Prior to Global Gateway Advisors, I worked in health advocacy communications and did media relations event planning for American College of Cardiology. In addition, I held several internships in both the digital marketing and public relations space, supporting government, nonprofit and healthcare organizations. I graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communications and hold minor degrees in Environmental Biology and Entrepreneurship.

Trevon James

Community and continuous learning have inspired my career path, and helped me gain a deeper understanding of myself and others. I believe in the power of amplifying diversity, equity and inclusion, and am excited to work with clients to develop dynamic strategies that not only reach but engage and activate diverse audiences.

Prior to joining Global Gateway Advisors, I received a master’s degree in media management and gained extensive experience developing strategic communication strategies for clients across a broad range of sectors, including education, entertainment, consumer goods and health. I am a storyteller at heart and also have a passion for screenplay writing.

Maria Pinto

I am committed to using my diverse experience and skills to provide strong client service, and build solid and trusting relationships with clients, executives and team members. I excel in problem solving, planning, goal-setting and organizational skills. I enjoy developing and implementing new systems and processes, and refining them until they are as efficient and effective as possible. I take pride in making an impact in the workplace and use my positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others. Prior to joining Global Gateway Advisors, I supported the CEO of Rhodes Associates, an executive search firm. Earlier, I played an integral role supporting the Head of Office and serving as New York office manager for a successful start-up as it grew from 2 to 15 employees.