Amanda Olson

Background

About Amanda Olson

Good comms don't come together by magic. They take a whole lot of hard work. I help brands represent themselves, their customers, their products, their goals. The secret sauce is communication that sets you apart without compromising thoughtful attention to detail. I'm exceptionally good at the strategy and execution this requires. I've done it for corporations like Adobe and Coursera, for top-tier research universities, for start ups, for digital media companies. Whether you're shaping an idea or defining a brand, I've had plenty of practice helping businesses and organizations get clear about how they want to present themselves and even clearer about the smartest ways to do it. A bit more about me. I've organized archival collections at the Library of Congress. Yes, it's amazing. Yes, I touched the original libretto for West Side Story. I also worked with a diverse group of people to make systems and processes that were wide-ranging and efficient enough to chronicle America's treasures with care. I've taught writing to undergraduate and graduate students on both coasts, and at some universities in between. This includes teaching engineering students about how (and why) to remember the comma rules, helping business students publish minimal-jargon papers, and convincing the toughest customers that-gasp-even rocket scientists have to structure clear arguments with good thinking and good writing. I've been a book reviewer at a newspaper. I've been a reporter at a newspaper. Reviewing books was an absolute treat-even more so than receiving the advanced copies. Being a reporter wasn't a treat, it was a grind where I learned a lot about sellable angles, crafting a story rather than just telling one, and especially how to ask the right questions. I've had a start up, where I managed all the things like social accounts and posting schedules, writing a website that hooks both investors and clients, pitching ideas to all the important people, and strategizing, strategizing, strategizing into the wee hours of the morning. I'm currently at a creative agency dreaming up, planning, and building cool stuff (like podcasts, videos, killer taglines and messaging, and thought leadership) that lets brands and organizations reach their audiences with the best blend of voice, impact, and purpose. It's a lot of thinking and writing all day every day, which I am well aware is equal parts nerdy and lucky.