Kristen Hermanson

About Kristen Hermanson

I am an intentional communications leader who designs how organizations create clarity, alignment, and momentum especially within complex, fast‑moving environments. With over two decades of experience, my work centers on architecting the systems behind communication: the narratives, operating rhythms, and governance that enable leaders to make confident decisions and teams to execute with focus not noise. I believe communication isn’t just a tool; it’s a core leadership capability. When done well, it builds trust, accelerates transformation, and creates the conditions for people and organizations to thrive. My approach blends strategic storytelling with operational rigor, grounded in empathy, transparency, and intent. I partner closely with senior leaders to translate strategy into decision‑ready narratives, portfolio‑level storytelling, and predictable communication cadences that scale across organizations. I am particularly energized by moments of change, when clarity is scarce, stakes are high, and leadership communication matters most. Throughout my career, I’ve led enterprise and global communications, supported large‑scale transformation efforts, and championed inclusive leadership, psychological safety, and systems that empower teams to do their best work. I bring a calm, people‑first presence while maintaining a relentless focus on impact and execution. I operate as a strategic partner to leadership, shaping how organizations align, decide, and deliver at scale. I focus on expanding my leadership impact at the portfolio and enterprise level—designing communication systems that help organizations navigate complexity, drive transformation, and lead with confidence. Reach me via LinkedIn DM or email: k••••••••@gmail.com

Experience

1. Senior Manager, Stepn Product & Technology Communications

   Lumen Technologies

   Jan 2026 — Present · Los Angeles, CA, US

   Building on my background in enterprise communications and change leadership, this role expands my scope from storytelling to designing the operating systems that help teams move with clarity, confidence, and alignment at scale.I lead the strategic communications engine for STEPN, shaping how product, technology, and portfolio priorities are translated into clear, executive‑ready narratives and scalable communication frameworks.I partner closely with Product & Portfolio Operations leadership as a trusted advisor—helping ensure strategy is not only well articulated, but consistently understood and executed across a complex product organization.What I do- Design and own STEPN’s communications foundation, including narrative structure, operating cadence, and quality standards- Translate strategy into execution through a quarterly communications roadmap that balances tactical delivery, intentional storytelling, and enterprise alignment- Create executive‑ready communications (QBRs, MBRs, leadership briefs, transformation updates) that simplify complexity and support confident decision‑making- Establish and optimize communication workflows and governance to reduce noise and increase consistency- Collaborate across Product, Engineering, PMO, GTM, and Corporate Communications to ensure messaging reflects real priorities, progress, and business impact- Serve as narrator of STEPN’s transformation journey—clarifying what’s changing, why it matters, and how success is measured.Impact- Shift STEPN from reactive updates to proactive, strategic communications - Strengthen executive trust through predictable, decision‑ready storytelling - Enable greater alignment, visibility, and execution across Product & Technology organization and Lumen globally

Education

• Loyola Marymount University

  Bachelor of Science (BS), College of Communication & Fine Arts

  1997 — 1999