Ben Eisenberg

About Ben Eisenberg

I\'m originally from Philadelphia but have spent most of the past 15 years in Colorado (with interludes in China, DC and LA.) Oklahoma City is now home. I am passionate, driven, outgoing, reliable, intellectually curious and love coming up with creative solutions to problems. My first foray into politics was a petition campaign I ran at age eight. 31 years and a Masters\' later, I\'m still at it. I\'ve now worked on, managed or consulted for over 250 campaigns from municipal to federal across multiple continents.I love SCUBA diving and became a PADI Instructor in 2004. Courtesy of the Internet, I am an \'ordained minister\' and can legally conduct SCUBA weddings. I\'ve officiated regular weddings but have yet to do a SCUBA one. You could be the first. I have lived on 3 continents, speak 5 languages with varying degrees of proficiency and have been to about 1/4 of the world so far including North Korea and Syria. I have hunted jungle pigs with headhunters using blowguns and poison darts. They gave me the Dayak name \"Anye\"- goes in the jungle but can\'t do anything.I helped discover a new species of flying lizard. Unfortunately, Berkeley got the naming rights, otherwise it would have been a Bennosaurus Rex.I throw knives competitively with (not at) my family. I\'ve spoken or guest lectured at colleges and universities across the country from Cal Poly to West Point.I\'m an ENTP.

Experience

1. Director of Global Operations

   Savvypol Consulting Group

   Dec 2014 — Present · Nairobi, KE

   with key government stakeholders in Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, and other countries, providing training for political parties and helping them win elections through strategic consulting and advocacy.Facilitated corporate advocacy initiatives for clients navigating challenging business environments in Africa, connecting them with relevant stakeholders and assisting in the facilitation of processes to ensure successful operations.Worked closely with government ministries and corporate leaders to enhance political and business environments, contributing to the success of clients across various sectors.Led trainings and development programs aimed at professionalizing political campaigns and shifting the focus from tribal to issue-based politics in multiple African countries.Leveraged extensive international experience, including a year living in China and extensive travel abroad, to navigate cross-cultural challenges, understanding the importance of cultural relativism and building effective relationships with stakeholders across the globe.Spearheaded a transformative initiative in Uganda, where I led efforts to legalize and regulate the cultivation of cannabis. Worked closely with the Minister of Health, Director of the National Police, Head of the Army, and the Minister of Education and Sport to develop the process for cannabis licensure and create a regulatory framework. This 18-month project transformed cannabis from an illegal and culturally frowned-upon substance into a regulated industry, allowing multiple foreign corporate stakeholders to enter the Ugandan market and create profitable products for export, resulting in an industry generating millions in revenue.

Education

• Kunming Eastern Language College

  None, Chinese

  2005 — 2006

• The George Washington University

  Masters, Political Management

  2009 — 2010

• University of Colorado Boulder

  BA, Political Science

  2003 — 2008

Skills

• African Development
• Message Development
• Travel
• Press Releases
• Nonprofits
• Campaigns
• Community Outreach
• Campaign Management
• Qualitative Research
• Non-Profits
• Social Media
• Travel Management
• Marketing
• Political Science
• Fundraising
• Copywriting
• International Relations
• Political Communication
• Blogging
• Research
• Crisis Communications
• Advertising
• Public Policy
• Strategy
• Grassroots
• Public Relations
• Media Relations
• Corporate Communications
• Public Speaking
• Policy Analysis
• Speech Writing
• Political Consulting
• Editing
• Travel Planning
• Community Organizing
• New Media
• Scuba Diving
• Grassroots Organizing
• Publicity
• Social Networking