Shaila Manyam is a seasoned communications expert and global client leader.  She joined BCW’s Washington, D.C. office following a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State.

Shaila advises clients ranging from global organizations to national governments/world leaders and multinational companies on strategic communications, public affairs, partnerships, reputation management, crisis communications and stakeholder strategy across a range of sectors and policy issues.  Shaila also leads C-level client engagements at global fora including the U.S. – Africa Leaders’ Summit, the UN General Assembly, and the World Economic Forum.  She coaches senior executives on media, thought leadership and high-level political engagement.

The recipient of multiple awards for service, including five State Department Superior Honor Awards, Shaila served as a spokesperson on behalf of U.S. embassies and missions, and the President’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. As a senior policy and national security official, she has advised Cabinet-level officials, journalists and Members of Congress on political and counterterror strategy, multilateral diplomacy, disaster recovery and refugee/migration issues. Shaila also represented the United States at UNESCO for communications and technology issues, served as the Special Advisor to the Under Secretary of Political Affairs on International Organization issues including the Paris Accords, G7, G20 and UNGA, and was the U.S. Treasury liaison to the Government of Israel.  Prior to joining the State Department, Shaila was a Partner and Global Communications Director at Ogilvy.

Shaila was born in Canada and grew up in Wilmington, Delaware.  She graduated from Smith College with honors, double-majoring in Economics and Government, and received a Master’s of Science from the London School of Economics. Shaila speaks six languages, including French, Arabic and Spanish.  She serves on the Board of Directors for PartnersGlobal. Her media appearances include Bloomberg TV, Politico, Foreign Policy, TIME and The New York Times.