Ashley Etienne is one of the nation’s premier communications strategists—widely known as the “queen of the war room” and a force multiplier in the moments that matter most. Today, she advises Fortune 500 CEOs, corporate leaders, and institutions navigating transformation, reputational risk, and high-stakes decision-making where public perception and business outcomes collide. She also serves as an NBC Meet the Press Contributor.
For more than two decades, Etienne has operated at the apex of American political power, social and cultural change, and the evolving modern marketplace—architecting some of the most defining moments in recent history. She has advised Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, shaping narratives that move public sentiment, influence outcomes, and win at scale.
She led the communications strategy behind Democrats’ 2018 midterm victory, defining the “culture of corruption” framework that helped retake the House and return Pelosi to the Speakership. She went on to direct communications for some of the most consequential congressional investigations in modern history—culminating in running the war room for the first impeachment and trial of Donald Trump, a historic effort that galvanized public opinion and helped reshape the political landscape heading into 2020.
Her work has also shaped national discourse on some of the most consequential issues to reach the Supreme Court, including the Affordable Care Act, marriage equality, and reproductive rights, where she led integrated communications and messaging strategies that transformed public opinion and helped deliver affirmative outcomes at the Court.
Today, as founder of Etienne & Saint, she brings that same strategic discipline to the private sector—advising CEOs, boards, and executive teams through moments of disruption, scrutiny, and transformation. Her work spans high-stakes labor disputes, multi-state crises, and complex leadership transitions, including CEO departures and reinstatements—ensuring alignment across stakeholders, media, and markets when the margin for error is zero.
She prepares executives for defining moments—from high-profile media appearances to congressional testimony—and advises on navigating regulatory pressure, public scrutiny, and rapidly shifting narratives. Across every engagement, she helps leaders align strategy, narrative, and execution to deliver maximum impact. She brings a war room mindset to the boardroom—helping leaders navigate complexity, manage stakeholders, control the narrative, and make decisions that hold when it matters most.
Etienne also serves as a senior advisor to Weber Shandwick and is an NBC Political News Contributor. She has been published in The New York Times and is a sought-after speaker on leadership, power, and navigating defining moments.
She was recently recognized by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum for her groundbreaking career 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.
Etienne 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
