Issue №04 … Vol. 2026
DMV × Monrovia × Worldwide
Strategic communications leadership for mission-driven organizations
When the work is strong but the story is fragmented, important moments lose momentum.
I help organizations turn complex work into one credible narrative, clear audience messages and a practical 90-day visibility plan, especially when funding, growth, leadership or reputation is on the line.
Hello / In Brief
13+ years · 4 continents · Global network spanning 80+ countries
I’m Vannette Tolbert, a communications strategist and fractional chief communications officer. I help organizations turn complex work into clear messages, credible stories and a practical plan for reaching the people who matter.
My experience spans Plan International USA, the United Nations World Food Programme and Women’s World Banking, with particular depth in gender equity, financial inclusion and global development. I help organizations serving women, girls and children communicate their work with clarity and credibility.
I use AI for listening, research and planning, helping teams understand stakeholder concerns and make better communications decisions.
I’ve led national content strategy for the United Nations World Food Programme, co-chaired DEIA at Plan International USA, ghostwritten op-eds for CEOs, and prepped execs for interviews with the Washington Post and New York Times. Brands hire me when they need a single voice that can hold all of it.
Selected Work … Across Four Continents
Institutions I’ve helped find their voice.
Global content strategy — UN World Food Programme
Editorial governance and gender-responsive storytelling from Liberia.
Executive comms — Plan International USA
CEO ghostwriting, change comms, op-eds, and a 170% reach growth on the back of an honest brand voice.
Business development — Ferrari · Veuve Clicquot · SoHo House · Virgin Hotels
Supported new business development for pitches and proposals across global luxury lifestyle brands.
What I Offer
How we can work together.
Every engagement starts with a 30-minute fit conversation. Sometimes it ends there, with a generous Google Doc and zero hard feelings.
… 01
Impact Narrative and Visibility Sprint
An eight-week strategic engagement for organizations approaching a consequential moment and needing their story, audiences and next 90 days to align.
8-week strategic engagement
… 02
Fractional Strategic Communications Leadership
For organizations that need steady senior judgment and ownership after the strategy is set. I lead the decisions, priorities and executive communications a full-time communications leader would handle, without adding full-time headcount.
Ongoing leadership retainer · six-month minimum
… 03
Executive Communications and Select Strategic Projects
Executive ghostwriting, stakeholder narratives, thought leadership and defined strategic communications projects when the need is clear and senior-level.
Defined-scope project or advisory engagement
The Track Record
Numbers I’m happy to defend in a room.
Updated Q2 / 2026
13+
years of comms
4
continents
80+
Countries in the global network I supported
170%
Growth in organic social reach
With 22% fewer posts
22%
Fewer social posts while increasing reach
7%
Sustained LinkedIn engagement rate
Earned Media
Washington Post · New York Times · Chronicle of Philanthropy · Devex · UPI · Brookings · The New Humanitarian
Sectors Served
Humanitarian · Global development · Public health · Fintech · Telecom · Luxury lifestyle · Federal government
In Their Own Words
What people I’ve worked with have actually said.
“Her ability to ideate and think of creative campaigns was addicting. She also knew what strategic questions to ask to get a better understanding of the ‘why’.”
Heidi Ashbaugh
Communicator · Strategist · Program Manager
Managed me directly
“Vannette brought a degree of professionalism and creativity that the company lacked … when business began pouring in and we grabbed the attention of celebrity chefs in New York, London, LA, it was obvious that what she was doing worked. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”
Jeanine M. Cooper
Minister of Agriculture, Republic of Liberia · Former Senior Partner, FABRAR Liberia
Client
“A great value addition to all marketing and branding projects and engagements she has undertaken for me and my related businesses. Her creativity, work ethic, commitment and tenacity are second to none.”
Joseph Crayton
Managing General Partner · Gemini Capital Partners
Managed me directly
About … In Brief
From Miss Liberia to the United Nations. To here.
First-generation American, born to Liberian parents. Former Miss Liberia in the US, Maryland, 2004 … platform: feminine hygiene and sanitation. Equinox-trained personal trainer. NYU-trained brand strategist.
I’ve written for senior leaders at the United Nations World Food Programme and Plan International USA, translating complex work into clear messages and credible stories. I coach women through the parts no résumé captures. And I do all of it from a kitchen table in the DMV.
Writing … Recent Essays
Things I’ve put down on paper.
Letters from the DMV
Two letters a week.
Essays on communications, women and power, plus The Gender Brief: what changed for women and girls in health, development, money and power.
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