Hi, I’m McKinley! I’m a New York-based creative communications strategist and pop culture nerd with nearly a decade of experience helping mission-driven brands affect positive change. I currently work as the Director of Public Relations at Malala Fund. In my role, I develop global messaging strategies to increase brand visibility and drive action for girls’ education; leading on publicity, talent relations and working on campaigns, digital content and advocacy. I also oversee our company newsroom and work on varied editorial projects — writing and editing op-eds, speeches, video scripts, web copy, social posts and brand announcements.

My career has centered around using accessible, audience-driven storytelling to change the narrative around women and girls. I believe that creating more intentional content that can entertain, educate and inspire is key to accelerating progress on some of our world's most challenging issues. 

To build on this work, I serve on the advisory board of the Hollywood Climate Summit, which brings activists and entertainment leaders together to connect, learn and take action for climate justice.

My career has led to incredible opportunities to travel around the world to learn from girls, activists and thought leaders from across industries. Some of my favorite past projects include:

• Helping launch and produce original content for Assembly, a two-time Webby award winning digital publication and newsletter for activist-minded young women

• Co-producing a taped conversation between Malala Yousafzai, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, that garnered global coverage and reached over 4 million people

• Landing Malala on the cover of the December 2019 issue of Teen Vogue to mark a decade defined by youth activism

• Facilitating an International Day of the Girl conversation between Malala and Michelle Obama led by a then 17-year-old student, Priya Mondol, from India

• Pitching and managing a five-part essay series on education in The Economist for International Women’s Day that reached an estimated 7 million readers.

• Interviewing my childhood hero, two-time Olympic softball player Natasha Watley, about her career and work to make the sport more inclusive

My work has been covered by BBC, CNN, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Financial Times, People Magazine, Variety, and many more. It has also won awards, including two Webbys and a Telly.

I have a B.A. in communications and women’s studies from The George Washington University. I am a proud second-generation, Cuban-Mexican American and retired Division I softball player. I love chatting about all things pop culture, shopping for vintage home goods and spending time with my dog.