Michael Lock

About Michael Lock

I’m an integrated communications leader focused on where corporate reputation, ESG and social impact meet. As an SVP at Weber Shandwick, I partner with companies, foundations and nonprofits to turn complex sustainability, inclusion and innovation agendas into narratives that earn trust with stakeholders.I’ve spent my career working at the intersection of global brands and social impact — leading campaigns and counsel for organizations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Financial Services for the Poor), USAID, Hilton, Mars, IBM, Verizon, Meta, Water.org. My work has spanned ESG and sustainability communications, philanthropy and social impact storytelling, corporate reputation, and executive thought leadership.Programs I’ve helped lead have been recognized by the PRWeek Purpose Awards and Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas, and earlier in my career I represented Weber Shandwick as a top-five finalist in the U.S. Cannes Young Lions PR competition.Across all of it, my focus is the same:• Making complex issues understandable for employees, communities, policymakers and media • Protecting and growing reputation through credible, transparent storytelling • Connecting impact work to business and mission outcomes

Experience

1. Senior Vice President

   Weber Shandwick

   Apr 2022 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Lead integrated communications programs and cross-functional teams for corporate, nonprofit and government organizations, with a focus on ESG, sustainability, corporate reputation and social impact.• Serve as a strategic advisor to communications, ESG and program leaders at organizations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Financial Services for the Poor), USAID, Hilton, Mars, IBM, Verizon, Water.org and Meta — shaping narrative, positioning and stakeholder engagement. • Translate complex sustainability, financial inclusion and social impact initiatives into clear communications strategies spanning earned media, executive visibility, digital content and stakeholder engagement. • Lead issues and reputation planning around ESG, CSR and supply chain commitments, including message development, risk mapping and executive communications for high-visibility announcements and reports. • Partner with internal client teams (comms, policy, legal, ESG, program leads) to align messaging with business and mission objectives and ensure consistent storytelling across channels. • Direct multi-office, multi-disciplinary teams, setting strategy, coaching talent, stewarding budgets and ensuring work ties back to clear reputation and impact outcomes.

Education

• American University

  BA, Public Communication

Skills

• Communications Planning
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Public Affairs
• Storytelling
• Photography
• Brand Development
• Marketing Communications
• Facebook
• Publicity
• Message Development
• Content Creation
• Communications Strategy
• Crisis Communications
• Marketing
• Content Strategy
• Corporate Communications
• Market Research
• Public Relations
• Social Media
• Media Relations
• Blogging
• Strategic Communications
• Graphic Design
• Press Releases