|
Gabriel Stricker
|
|
Gabriel Stricker is the Chief Communications Officer at Emerson Collective, the social change organization founded by Laurene Powell Jobs. He is the former Vice President of Communications at Niantic, Inc., the former Vice President of Policy and Communications at Google Fiber, and the former CCO at Twitter, Inc.. Education Stricker earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley and his master's degree in International Affairs from Columbia University. Career Emerson Collective Stricker joined Emerson Collective's "high-profile leadership" as its Managing Director and CCO in 2021 to contribute to its mission of creating "systemic change in education, immigration, climate, and cancer research and treatment." Alphabet Niantic In 2018, Stricker joined Niantic, Inc., the spinoff of Alphabet Inc. focused on creating augmented reality games that encourage outdoor activity and exploration. Stricker's arrival at Niantic came as the company continued its development of technology for a growing number of augmented reality platforms. Stricker was reunited with Niantic CEO John Hanke, with whom he previously worked at Google between 2006 and 2012. Niantic Labs was part of Google until 2015, but was spun out as part of the Alphabet restructuring. At Niantic, Stricker collaborated with the Knight Foundation on its civic engagement initiatives and spoke publicly about how technology can promote "democracy, integrity, civility, and citizenship." Google Fiber In 2016, the hiring of Stricker to lead policy and communications at Google Fiber, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., fueled speculation that Alphabet would accelerate its plans to bring high speed internet connectivity more broadly across the United States. Jennifer Fritzsche, senior analyst at Wells Fargo, published in her research report: "the appointment of executive Gabriel Stricker as Head of Policy and Communications for Google Fiber, is an indication that Google is getting more serious about its fiber expansion." Conversely, his departure from Google Fiber was described as "the latest blow for the Alphabet subsidiary" and prompted speculation that the unit is "in peril… perhaps calling its future into question." Prior to Alphabet, Stricker served as the head of Communications and Public Policy at Twitter. Before his arrival at Twitter, the service was widely viewed as vanquished in the marketplace. Former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo told the Los Angeles Times, "So when Gabriel joined the company, it was like 'Your job: no dying birds on national magazine covers'." Costolo and others in the industry credit Stricker with the turnaround in Twitter's public reputation. During Twitter's IPO process, Stricker was a central figure in its road show and was responsible for having Twitter users ring the NYSE bell instead of Twitter executives—an unconventional decision which earned Twitter significant praise. Stricker managed Twitter's IPO without the assistance of any external consultants, as is the norm. While at Twitter, Stricker accepted the Radio Television Digital News Association's First Amendment Award and made frequent public remarks about free speech and censorship. BuzzFeed News reported that Stricker and Twitter's General Counsel's "desire for radically free expression" clashed with CEO Costolo's attempts to censor content. Separately, Vanity Fair detailed how Stricker led an internal effort to force Twitter to be more transparent with investors and the public at large about Twitter's stagnant user growth, and he departed the company when that effort wasn't endorsed by the rest of Twitter's executive leadership. Before Twitter, Stricker was Director of Global Communications & Public Affairs at Google, Inc., where he raised the issue of free expression and frequently defended the company's refusal to censor information. Stricker was at the center of several controversial episodes in Google's development, including its Google Book Search Settlement Agreement, the launch of the contentious Google Health product, and criticisms surrounding Google's alleged transformation into a media company. He later returned to Google's Search team in a product role as the head of search ecosystem, where his work included helping people find useful information related to the 2020 US elections and COVID-19. Stricker was part of a cohort of former Google policy and communications executives who went on to lead similar functions at technology companies across Silicon Valley. Board and Advisor roles Stricker sits on the boards of the Center for Investigative Reporting and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and is an advisor to Virta Health. Recognition Stricker has been described as a "Zen Master" of marketing and communications by the Holmes Report. He was ranked on In2’s "Innovator 25" for being one of the 25 "individuals who are shaping what influence and engagement will look like tomorrow," one of PRWeeks top-20 "Digital Influencers" for having "the greatest impact on communications," one of the most effective communications professionals by Business Insider, and was listed by the Holmes Report as one of the world's 100 most influential corporate communicators. Publications Stricker is the author of the bestselling book on guerrilla marketing entitled, Mao In the Boardroom. Publishers Weekly reviewed the book as "a curious amalgam of humor and business advice," and the Chicago Tribune said it "describes how capitalist warriors apply on the corporate battlefield today." Time Magazine reported that Roc-A-Fella Records' Damon Dash and his advisors were initial consumers of the book, and David McCourt used the book to promote his own. Personal life Stricker was raised in Mendocino, California. He served as a volunteer at the Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco. 
|
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Main Menu
| Home |
| Articles |
| Search |
| Submit Article |
| Contact Us |
| Donate to Wikibin |
