Ali is a purpose-driven communications and content specialist with over 12 years of diverse industry experience, driving strategies and high-impact deliverables to all project phases from concept ideation through post-launch evaluation.

Based in Brooklyn, Ali is a trusted advisor, skilled relationship builder and whole-brain thinker recognized for generating content that builds awareness and empowerment surrounding complex social topics by:

• cultivating the power of human connection

• captivating storytelling, and

• trusted research and data analysis.

Ali is a multifaceted communicator, having worked internationally in content writing, strategic media relations, and leading campaigns and major projects.

Her jam is to create stories that compel people think or behave differently, by making complex — or even mundane — messages digestible and compelling.

I am a playful, deep-thinking communicator, with 12 years of experience helping companies and people reach the right audiences with dynamic and resonate content. Being earnest, empathetic and curious are my superpowers, enabling me to readily embody all audiences and anticipate their needs and wants.

I’m a card-carrying member of the belief that creative communications should be backed by psychology, research, and a heavy dose of collaboration. I’m adamant that just about any topic can be made interesting. (‘Show, don’t tell, Ali!’)

My proof? I’ve taken on a wide-range of communication challenges by the likes of companies like Waze, Altana AI (Technologies), the University of Melbourne, and many other health and arts multilaterals, philanthropies, and nonprofits to make people care (and sometimes laugh about) about things* like:

With limited resources, why should governments invest in calculating the true causes of why their citizens have died – when they could focus on the living? How does hub-and-spoke machine learning enable neural networks to learn from one another without broaching data privacy? Why should you rely on Google Maps’ overshadowed little sister for car navigation? Oh, and why you should be thankful for your regular Pap test.

*Disclaimer: These things have been translated from convoluted jargon, so they may sound interesting to you now, and that’s totally OK.

I think of storytelling and content as puzzles – or to mix metaphors – super-fun nuts to crack, and I’ve used experiences and lessons from my life to make me the communicator I am today:

My stint in broadcast journalism and documentary film means I heavily research, love soaking up the wisdom from subject-matter experts, think visually, and prefer to write how people actually talk.

Musical theater performance taught me how to attract an audience and keep them interested.

Media relations taught me how to attract, persuade, and motivate hard-nosed and overworked reporters to write.

Picking up my life in the US to live and work in Australia, and returning again after a decade, taught me the benefits of resourcefulness, which contributed to the way I think of content repurposing, among many other things.

Now that you’ve read my spiel, take a browse around my campaign/project portfolio, writing samples, freelance services, and more content about yours truly. Oh, and contact me at alisonhickerson@gmail.com to let me know if I’ve struck a chord.