Ashley Etienne, widely known as the “queen of the war room,” is one of the nation’s premier communications strategists who architected some of the most defining political moments in modern American history. 

She advised the nation’s most powerful leaders – Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi – earning a reputation as a force-multiplier when the stakes were highest. 

In recognition of her exceptional contributions to the nation and enduring influence on American leadership, the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum recently honored Ashley’s groundbreaking legacy, as the first woman and person of color to serve as Communications Director for both the U.S. Speaker of the House and the Vice President of the United States.

Today, she leads Etienne & Saint, a full-service strategic communications firm advising CEOs, corporate leaders, and institutions navigating disruption, reputational risk, and transformational change. She serves as a NBC Political News Contributor, has been published in The New York Times, and has commanded major stages as a keynote speaker on leadership, power, and defining moments that shape institutions and leaders alike.

She holds a Master of Arts in political communications from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Sam Houston State University. In 2022, she served as a Fellow at Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service.