Laura Wilkinson is the Senior Vice President, Head of Communications at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. In this role, she serves as the primary media contact for SVLG, sets the Leadership Group's communications strategy, manages executive communications for SVLG CEO Ahmad Thomas, and also leads communications and marketing strategy for the organization’s signature initiatives around Race, Justice, and Equity, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship issues.
Laura Wilkinson is a communications and public affairs strategist with more than 20 years of experience as a trusted advisor to leaders on complex business, reputation, and policy issues. She most recently served as the Founder & Principal of Purpose Communications Consulting LLC, where she counseled business and nonprofit clients on media strategy, thought leadership, and stakeholder outreach. She served as a senior communications and public affairs professional across a range of private sector organizations, including EVgo Inc., Gap Inc., and Ketchum. Laura previously served as Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, where she primarily focused on promoting the Senator's energy, environmental, foreign affairs, and appropriations agenda. She held several external affairs roles at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a leading bipartisan national security think tank based in Washington, DC.
Laura earned her undergraduate degree in International Relations from Brown University, and a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University in Political Communications.
Laura is based in Los Angeles, where she lives near the water with her rescue terrier mix. She is passionate about social justice, the environment, and making a positive impact through her work. Laura also enjoys swimming, tennis, hiking, reading, painting, and cooking.