Kristin Taylor

About Kristin Taylor

I\'m a communications executive who builds brands people believe in and teams where people thrive. Lasting impact happens when purpose, identity, and culture align—where getting the story right matters because the work does, and where leaders intentionally create environments in which teams can do their best work as their best selves. I bring this to life by:» Providing C-suite leadership and advising CEOs and boards on strategy, reputation, and navigating complexity and change» Leading cross-sector collaboration and helping mission-driven organizations, UN agencies, foundations, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) teams translate purpose into impact through storytelling, partnerships, and communications that build trust and visibility» Positioning organizations as global leaders through media (NYT, WSJ, Forbes, PBS) and collaborations (Meta, Smithsonian, FedEx, OMEGA/Swatch) that elevate reputation and reach» Building trust-based, high-performing teams through empathy, strategic clarity, and grounded humor» Designing and leading training that equips professionals at every level with essential communications skillsCurrently, I head global communications and marketing for Orbis International, a $259M NGO where I serve on the executive leadership team. In this role, I lead a nearly 30-person global team, shape organizational strategy, and guide response to high-stakes issues. Driving an ongoing effort to reposition Orbis as a globally recognized brand, I\'ve spearheaded a PSA picked up by ~400 TV stations, secured a full-chapter feature in a NYT-bestselling book, developed ~40 spokespeople featured in national and global media, and embedded transformative ethical storytelling standards commended by sector leaders and journalists. Before Orbis, I led communications for Bloomberg Philanthropies\' What Works Cities initiative and held communications and program roles with UNICEF and UNICEF USA.More importantly, I\'m known for delivering results while fostering cultures where people feel valued and inspired. Featured in Fast Company for my leadership perspective, team members have described me as \"the best boss I\'ve ever had\" and someone who does management “the right way.” I hold a BA in English Literature from Columbus State University and studied at the University of Oxford. I\'m continually learning through Chief membership, coaching, and study of leadership, organizational psychology, and industry trends. Beyond work, I\'m usually reading, at the theatre, traveling, exploring photography, spoiling my two dogs, or defending the Oxford comma.

Experience

1. Vice President, Global Communications and Marketing

   Orbis International

   Jan 2022 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Orbis prevents blindness and restores sight in places where eye care is out of reach—so vision problems don’t make it harder to learn, earn a living, or enjoy life. • Report directly to President & CEO and serve on senior management team for $259M INGO with 15 global offices and virtual programming across 200+ countries and territories. • Shape organizational strategy and oversee global communications and marketing portfolio, including Orbis’s flagship asset, the Flying Eye Hospital. • Lead ~30-person global team, with direct oversight of HQ staff, matrix oversight of country offices, and strategic guidance for fundraising affiliates.• Drive an ongoing effort to elevate Orbis into a globally recognized brand through strategies that maximize impact and optimize limited resources.• Direct organizational response to high-stakes issues. Known for translating complex stakeholder input into decisive, values-aligned action in critical moments.• Serve as an on-the-record spokesperson and travel worldwide to oversee high-profile opportunities, including major network shoots, influencer activations, and VIP visits.• Strengthen the brand impact of corporate and foundation partnerships by developing shared-value campaigns and visibility initiatives, and by creating a framework to assess ROI and focus communications resources on the highest-impact collaborations.• Embedded ethical storytelling standards and training that have redefined communications, fundraising, and media relations at Orbis and been recognized by sector leaders and journalists.• Built a global communications community that connects previously siloed staff through peer learning, workshops, and coaching, fostering a culture of belonging, growth, and mutual support across regions.• Invited to speak on innovation for an internal leadership series, sharing lessons from early, values-driven adoption of AI tools to enhance creativity and collaboration across global communications.

Education

• Universidad de Salamanca

  Spanish Language and Literature

• Columbus State University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), English Language and Literature/Letters

• University of Oxford

  English Language and Literature/Letters

Skills

• Management
• Facebook
• Teaching
• Training Facilitation
• Squarespace
• Copy Editing
• Editing
• Content Strategy
• Leadership
• Event Planning
• Writing
• Mailchimp
• Community Outreach
• Web Content
• Strategic Communications
• Sharepoint
• Program Implementation
• Youtube
• Surveymonkey
• Blogging
• Research
• Literature
• Professional Mentoring
• Twitter
• Newsletters
• Digital Strategy
• Nonprofits
• Fact-Checking
• Proofreading
• Wordpress
• Social Media
• Microsoft Word
• Public Speaking