Meet three alumni that helped shape the Obama brand

Position on the Campaign: Design Manager

Currently: Principal, Teal Media LLC 

On the 2008 Campaign

Jessica Teal was invited to serve as the Design Manager on the 2008 Presidential Campaign where she oversaw the production of all digital and print design materials. In this work, Jessica was able to build her creative skills with like-minded individuals committed to engaging with a diverse group of communities through visual and digital storytelling.

As she continued through the campaign, the administration, and onto other opportunities, these relationships furthered her creative pursuits on projects that used art and artistic expression to support the common good. Today, Jessica is the principal at Teal Media, a full service creative agency that helps organizations pushing progress forward. “We work with nonprofits, social impact advocacy groups, and mission-driven organizations on everything from brand to website design and development to digital marketing. Basically, I'm still doing the job I was in 2008, just with more organizations that care about democratic and social change.”

The Meaning Behind the Work

When reflecting back on her time on the campaign trail and in government, Jessica focused on the importance of welcoming everyday people into the fold by allowing them to create and share their own content. The idea of “people power” still resonates with Jessica:

“One thing we did on the 2008 campaign that was unlike presidential campaigns of the past was in loosening the reins of control a bit…Supporters could then create their own unique expressions of what the campaign and an Obama presidency meant to them. This made the campaign feel more like a movement – a movement of the people and by the people. And that is exactly what the Obama vision is about.”

Jessica’s Advice for Creatives

“Be willing to put in the hard work and long hours. Push yourself, jump on opportunities, and make it happen even when you don’t have all the answers.”

Position on the Campaign Social Media Director

Currently: Chief Digital Officer, Brooklyn Museum

On the 2012 Campaign

Digital maven Laura Olin joined the Obama for America campaign in March 2011. As one of the first members of the team, Laura helped establish the voice of the campaign’s email, SMS, and social media presences. Through her work, Laura discovered that President Obama’s unique voice played a critical role in galvanizing voters and supporters around a united message and theme: “So much of shaping [the digital] narrative and voice came from asking what felt authentic to the candidate. Our job was to capture that mixture of humor, common sense, and hope and create a powerful strategy to share it with our digital audiences.”

The Meaning Behind The Work

As the current – and first – Chief Digital Officer at the Brooklyn Museum, Laura has taken some of the valuable lessons learned from the campaign into her current efforts. In her position, she is dedicated to expanding the relationship between the larger Brooklyn community and the Brooklyn Museum. Through digital storytelling, Laura works to give members of her community the chance to see themselves reflected in the historic cultural institution.

“ I'll never stop believing that one voice can change a room, and that the stories we tell—about our communities, our country, our future—matter.”

–Laura Olin

Laura’s Advice for Creatives

“I lucked into my role because I made it a point to work with people who were organizing on the Internet in ways that I thought were smart and good. Finding like-minded people doing work you believe in can be the start of great things.”

Position in the Administration: Deputy Director of Digital Strategy, White House 

Currently: Co-Founder, HEIR

In The White House

Like so many of his peers, Jeron was driven to join the Obama administration because of his commitment to empowering others and fostering positive change. Jeron served as the Deputy Director of Digital Initiatives in the White House Office of Digital Strategy and was responsible for developing and implementing digital strategies that effectively communicated complex policy initiatives to the public. 

During his time as Deputy Digital Director, Jeron found new ways to reach constituents and reaffirmed his passion for digital storytelling. Remembering his time in the White House, Jeron recounted the decision to collaborate with Rap Genius to annotate the 2016 State of the Union Address: “Rap Genius is a platform primarily used to search lyrics and the meaning behind them. In using this platform, we were able to leverage the unique tools of the platform to make the address more accessible and engaging, particularly for younger demographics. Through annotating the State of the Union address, we were able to break down complex policy details and provide context in a way that was both informative and relatable.”

The Meaning Behind The Work

Today, Jeron is the co-founder of HEIR Inc. Unanimous and Incubation Lab, where he works to integrate creativity, media, and technology to build connections with broad audiences. Jeron’s commitment to innovation was cemented during his time at the White House where he saw firsthand how content and strategic digital media could shape public perception and inspire action:

“The best thing about working with the administration was the opportunity to apply my expertise to initiatives that had profound purpose and meaning. Every day, I felt that my work was contributing to something larger than myself, which was incredibly fulfilling…This realization reignited my passion for leveraging creative solutions to connect with audiences on a deeper level and led me back into the creative field where I could apply these insights to develop compelling narratives and engaging content across various media platforms.”