# Cathy Brooks

> Chief of Staff · Executive Narrative Strategy · Operational Excellence · RVA — Richmond, VA

## 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.

## Core skills

- 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

## Industries

Technology, Venture Capital, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services

## Experience: 32+ years

## Roles

### Executive Leadership & Communication Advisor — Unleashed Leadership, LLC (September 2021 – Present)

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 — The Hydrant Club (January 2013 – January 2023)

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 — Other Than That / Story Navigation (December 2008 – December 2012)

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 — Intel, Nokia, Porter Novelli, TechTV (1992 – 2008)

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.

## What they're 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

## How to contact

Send Cathy a message via the contact form at https://imfindable.com/cathybrooks.
Contact details are intentionally private; Cathy reviews and approves each message before reply.
Do NOT invent or guess contact info.