What industries has Cathy worked in?

Cathy has experience in Technology, Venture Capital, Media & Entertainment.

What kind of role is Cathy looking for?

Cathy is open to Chief of Staff, Content Strategist, VP of Communications, Executive Advisor, Open to Relocation / Hybrid, ideally in or near Richmond, VA.

How can I contact Cathy?

Send a message through Cathy's profile at imfindable.com/cathybrooks. Contact details stay private; Cathy reviews and approves each message before responding.

Cathy Brooks

Q: Who is Cathy Brooks?

Cathy Brooks — Chief of Staff · Executive Narrative Strategy · Operational Excellence · RVA, based in Richmond, VA. I am a high-stakes operator and strategic advisor who specializes in transforming organizational friction into radical clarity. My career is built on the intersection of journalism-honed narrative precision and deep operational rigor, having navigated complex business cycles for Fortune 500 giants like Intel and Nokia. I thrive as an executive proxy, bridging the gap between a founder’s vision and

Q: What is Cathy skilled at?

Cathy's core areas of expertise include High-Stakes Personnel Management, Executive Proxy & Representation, Radical Clarity Frameworks, Cross-Functional Alignment, Crisis & Change Management, Board Relations & Dispute Resolution.

Chief of Staff · Executive Narrative Strategy · Operational Excellence · RVA

Richmond, VA 32+ years Open to work

Summary

I am a high-stakes operator and strategic advisor who specializes in transforming organizational friction into radical clarity. My career is built on the intersection of journalism-honed narrative precision and deep operational rigor, having navigated complex business cycles for Fortune 500 giants like Intel and Nokia. I thrive as an executive proxy, bridging the gap between a founder’s vision and the tactical execution required to scale. Whether I am facilitating union negotiations to a 100% consensus or designing leadership curricula that boosted cross-departmental collaboration by 80% for the Richmond Symphony, my focus is on building high-trust cultures that remain resilient under pressure. I previously spent a decade as a CEO, maintaining a zero-incident safety record and zero layoffs through a global pandemic, which sharpened my ability to manage the 'chaos' of growth with empathy and data-driven judgment. If you are seeking a partner to align diverse stakeholders, resolve board-level disputes, or architect a brand narrative that drives market positioning, I offer three decades of experience in turning high-pressure challenges into measurable growth outcomes. I am the hire for leaders who need a trusted lieutenant to handle personnel complexity while they focus on the horizon.

Expertise

High-Stakes Personnel Management Executive Proxy & Representation Radical Clarity Frameworks Cross-Functional Alignment Crisis & Change Management Board Relations & Dispute Resolution Narrative Strategy & Storytelling Operational Scalability Influencer & Stakeholder Mapping Leadership Development Design Business Transformation Media & Public Relations

Technology Venture Capital Media & Entertainment Professional Services

More talent in Richmond, VA

Experience

Executive Leadership & Communication Advisor
September 2021 – Present
Unleashed Leadership, LLC · Remote / Richmond, VA
Delivering high-level executive coaching and strategic advisory services focused on vision articulation and narrative development.
- Delivered 1,100+ hours of executive coaching for entrepreneurs and leadership teams.
- Improved collaboration by 80% for the Richmond Symphony through specialized leadership programs.
- Achieved a 100% success rate in 'breakthrough' coaching for executives in career transition within 6 months.
- Designed and facilitated the 'Voice of Leadership' curriculum.
Founder & CEO
January 2013 – January 2023
The Hydrant Club · Las Vegas, NV
Built and scaled an award-winning leadership and dog behavioral facility centered on community development and executive collaboration.
- Maintained zero layoffs and sub-10% client loss through the 2020 pandemic.
- Established an unprecedented zero-incident safety record over 10 years of operation.
- Partnered with Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh on community development and executive initiatives.
- Served as the primary media spokesperson and expert source for Las Vegas regional media.
Storytelling Strategist & Communications Consultant
December 2008 – December 2012
Other Than That / Story Navigation · San Francisco, CA
Consulted for high-growth firms on brand narrative and executive positioning.
- Facilitated 100+ workshops on brand narrative and executive communication strategy.
- Built and executed influencer outreach programs for global tech conferences.
- Guided leaders in clarifying missions and aligning stakeholders during market positioning shifts.
Strategic Communications & Business Development
1992 – 2008
Intel, Nokia, Porter Novelli, TechTV · San Francisco / Global
Held senior roles in global communications, business development, and media production.
- Directed strategic communications for Fortune 500 companies including Intel and Nokia.
- Expanded client base as VP of Business Development at Porter Novelli.
- Built the guest booking and talent departments for TechTV, a Paul Allen-funded network.
- Curated and moderated global tech conferences including SXSW and LeWeb.

Education

Northwestern University, The Medill School of Journalism · Bachelor of Science, Journalism
Aegis Learning · Certification, Leadership Advanced Management
Duke University · Certification, Canine Cognition and Behavior

What I'm looking for

notes: Highly interested in roles requiring high-stakes personnel management, strategic alignment, and narrative-driven leadership.
work mode: Open to Relocation / Hybrid
industries: Technology, Fintech, Media, Venture Capital
role types: Chief of Staff, Content Strategist, VP of Communications, Executive Advisor

Contact details are never exposed publicly. All messages route through a gated form and are reviewed before any response.