Dawn Speed
Vice President, Strategist
Some of the clients I’ve worked with
Dawn once drove her dream car, the Audi R8 V10, on a Los Angeles racetrack, and can attest to its exceptional acceleration and precision. As a consultant, Dawn helps clients deftly navigate organizational twists and turns with confidence.
About Dawn
Contra Costa County, California
Dawn Speed discovered her passion for communication early in life. As a teen, she was a reporter/photographer for her hometown newspaper and, during college, interned with a local New York television news organization, which led to a full-time role as news producer.
Fast forward, Dawn currently has more than 30 years’ experience helping clients identify and articulate their most compelling stories. “Many people think writing is simple—that anyone can do it. Not true,” she says. “Strong writing takes skill and practice. To engage today’s ultra busy audiences, our efforts must be concise, compelling, and easily accessible.”
Dawn joined ROI in 2019 from Woman Within, a global nonprofit focused on women’s empowerment, where she served as a board member and Director of Communications. Previously, as Vice President, Internal Communications and Employee Engagement at Ketchum, she led a team that revamped how the global PR firm engages and communicates with its 2,500 employees in 70 countries.
Prior to her tenure at Ketchum, Dawn served as Associate Director, Internal and Executive Communications at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. In that role, she helped enhance collaboration among the company’s 42,000 global employees by tapping into the emerging power of social media. Earlier, she held increasingly senior communication roles at PepsiCo, the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Cadbury, and Mastercard.
“The last few years have reminded us of the immense power of communication,” Dawn says. “Who tells the story, who shapes the narrative often determines critical outcomes. And relationships are at the center of what we do—trust and integrity are essential in a fast-moving industry that’s always changing. We’ve gone from desk drops and bulletin boards to social media, podcasts, and A.I. The ongoing opportunity to drive meaningful change is so rewarding.”
Dawn earned a BA in Communications from the State University of New York. Her industry awards include IABC’s Gold Quill Award and the Communicator Print Media Award of Distinction. After moving to the Bay Area from New York City in 2018, Dawn and her husband plan to return to the East Coast to enjoy grandparenting, continue advocating for social justice, and watch sunsets over the Atlantic.