Alexandra Williams
Senior Account Executive
Having honed her writing chops studying languages at University College London, Alex has over 10 years’ progressive communications experience at nonprofits, foundations and social enterprises as well as in corporate communications roles at established and start-up technology companies. An avid linguist and passionate internationalist, Alex hails from England, speaks Spanish and Italian fluently and continues to work on her French language skills.
Alex is most at home translating complex concepts – from the effects of neonic pesticides on farming communities to tips for navigating Web3 – into accessible language. An advocate at heart, Alex thrives on diving into issue areas at the intersection of the environment and human rights. From preparing to launch the Equitable Food Initiative, a project of Oxfam America, through its digital channels ahead of a feature in the New York Times gaining over 4,000 followers within two weeks of the article’s publication to encouraging fellow colleagues to donate over $15,000 through NEXT Insurance’s first internal fundraiser, Alex is well-versed in inspiring broad audiences towards action.
Alex is proud to include event production – both on and offstage – in her skills toolbox. She led the Goldman Environmental Foundation’s first-ever livestream of their annual ceremony, garnering the highest number of actions taken on behalf of Prize winners in the organization’s 30-year history. More recently, she ran internet services company Rakuten Americas’ weekly all-hands meeting for over 3,000 teammates worldwide, resulting in the Executive Communications function being rated ‘most improved’ by her colleagues. Having served as communications counsel to leaders of all stripes, she enjoys empowering changemakers to deliver messages that move.
A firm believer in the power of visuals to win hearts and minds, Alex has volunteered her video production skills towards social causes, including helping Dharma, a participant of CodeYourFuture, find fulfilling work. Her knack for blending words and images led to a single Facebook video post receiving 2.7 million views.
Alex is proud to have counted the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine among her clients at Spitfire who Spitfire worked with to drive attention around their report “Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States.”The nerve center on this project, Alex worked across Academies staff, the report authors, and Spitfires to share one-pagers, web copy, briefing materials – including a deck presented to Congress – as well as new media and environmental justice contacts to expand their reach, resulting in positive coverage from NPR, Grist and the Washington Post.
When not helping clients drive their audiences to action, Alex enjoys drawing, hip hop dancing and birdwatching; using her BirdNET app to capture her observances of shorebirds up and down the Bay Area, including around her home base of San Francisco.