Anne Stepan

About Anne Stepan

I help leaders navigate moments where language, context, and strategy intersect, and where misalignment carries real risk.Over more than two decades in technical and senior executive leadership for the US Government, I worked at the intersection of language, analysis, and decision-making in high-consequence, globally complex environments. My career has spanned strategic advisory roles, organizational leadership, and the modernization of analytic and communication practices to support senior decision-makers.Today, I work as a strategic advisor focused on how language shapes understanding, trust, and outcomes—particularly in regulated, cross-cultural, or technology-enabled contexts. I partner with executives, teams, and organizations to surface hidden assumptions, reduce communication risk, and bring clarity to situations where precision and nuance matter.My background includes advanced expertise in Russian and Czech, a PhD in Slavic linguistics, and extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams. I am especially interested in the implications of language for emerging technologies, AI-enabled workflows, and human-centered decision-making.I value work that is thoughtful, people-first, and grounded in real-world impact, and I’m always interested in conversations that explore how language influences strategy, leadership, and change.

Experience

1. Senior Advisor

   Culper Technology

   Jan 2026 — Present

Education

• Wake Forest University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Russian Language and Literature

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Slavic Linguistics