Whitney Keyes currently leads a consulting firm with a focus on strategic partnerships and communication. She was appointed as one of 15 women to serve on the National Women’s Business Council advising the President, Congress and Small Business Administration on issues impacting women in business. Whitney has received several grants from the U.S. State Department to empower women leaders and social entrepreneurs in Asia and Africa and received the Small Business Administration’s Women in Business Champion of the Year Award for Washington State. Whitney is the author of Propel: Five Ways to Amp Up Your Marketing and Accelerate Business (Career Press). She’s taught courses at numerous colleges and schools around the world and earned an MBA in Social Enterprise Leadership and an undergraduate degree in communication and journalism.

Whitney began her career managing her family’s art business and leading the local merchant association. Her passion for entrepreneurship and community engagement led her to work for the City of Tacoma’s Economic Development Department where she helped manage the Neighborhood Business District Revitalization Program, advocating for hundreds of small businesses across the city. She went on to work at Microsoft where she managed global marketing campaigns, including the launch of Office 2000, an $8 billion business. She helped create some of the company’s first global Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives and philanthropic programs including Unlimited Potential.

Addition leadership roles include Creative Services Director for a public affairs firm advising American Express on programs for women leaders and market research for a new digital payment platform. Whitney was also Director of Communication for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, overseeing strategic communication to over 2 million people about criminal justice and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. She recently served as Executive Director of Seattle CityClub, a 40-year-old nonprofit supporting democracy by providing access to civic information and leaders ranging rom WA State Attorney General and Governor to Indigenous youth advocates.