About Vanessa A. Friedman

Vanessa is an independent consultant with 15 years of experience working with a range of corporations, nonprofits, media outlets, universities and startups around the globe. Vanessa’s core area of expertise centers on helping clients handle complex communications issues including building relationships, managing crises and developing long-term strategies. She leads large-scale and multi-faceted public relations efforts in English-speaking and foreign language media on key issues designed to influence the press and shape public perceptions on both a national and international level. Vanessa implements major press conferences, media tours and high-level events for a range of clients. In addition, she helps her clients increase revenue through new business development including securing revenue through advertising, corporate sponsorships and special reports. Vanessa has worked with clients ranging from The Economist, Yale University, IndexUniverse and J.H. Whitney to Discovery Communications, Liz Claiborne, Idlewild Books, Council on Foreign Relations, Human Rights Watch and Shakira’s Barefoot Foundation.  She has appeared on CNN en Español providing expert commentary on key Latin American issues. She has also been published in Foreign Policy magazine, The Washington Times, Congressional Quarterly; Arizona Republic, Houston Chronicle and Financial Times. Vanessa is a Member of the Board of SpaceforGood and an Advisory Board member of Face2Face Aids Project.  Vanessa earned her Master’s in International Relations and Economics from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced Studies, and a Bachelor’s in Spanish and Latin American & Iberian Studies from University of Wisconsin – Madison. Vanessa has traveled, worked and studied throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe. She is fluent in Spanish and proficient in Portuguese, French and Italian.