Valerie Alexander

BA 1994, English

President & CEO, The Dragonfly Firm, LLC, Chicago, IL

Valerie Alexander is an American business executive and is the President and CEO of The Dragonfly Firm, LLC, a private company she founded in 2016, advising select high profile clients including CEO’s, dignitaries, public figures, and global organizations that work at the intersection of business, policy, civic, and philanthropic engagement. With over two decades of experience advancing social change and awareness, applying effective marketing expertise, and establishing meaningful strategic partnerships, Valerie’s extensive work with the international community, NGO industry experts, media, and private corporations, have been at the epicenter of her work helping organizations develop long-term and sustainable processes, powerful messaging, and meaningful strategic partnerships and to communicate those efforts to key stakeholder audiences.

In 2015, Valerie stepped down after serving 7 years as the Chief Marketing Officer for the Clinton Foundation, where she built and led the global marketing, digital, special events, and partnership efforts for one of the world’s most well-recognized non-profit organizations. From 2011-2014, she served as both the Chief Communications and Chief Marketing Officer for the Foundation, managing the communications and press efforts for the global charity, which conducts work in 70 countries, is comprised of 11 issue-based initiatives, and has a compliment of over 2100 staff and volunteers. Under Valerie’s leadership, she oversaw efforts to highlight the Foundation’s global programs in the U.S. and abroad, conceptualized and produced materials to promote the organizations philanthropic work, directed messaging and narrative development, and produced special events and programming including programming, marketing partnerships, concerts, films, and documentaries. As a representative of the Foundation, she traveled and represented President Clinton in several countries including in Asia, Latin America, South America, Africa, and Europe, and served as the Foundation’s spokesperson. In 2008, she served as a senior communications advisor for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. From 2006-2008, Valerie worked as an Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at Edelman, the largest PR firm in the world, where she built and developed consumer and corporate public affairs campaigns for many Fortune 100 companies. She began her career in the office of United States Senator Richard Durbin, ultimately serving as his Chief of Staff.

Valerie remains civically engaged and serves on the Board of Trustees for WTTW Public Television, one of the most-watched public television stations in the country, as well as the Board of Directors for Camfed, an international non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating poverty in Africa through the education of girls and empowerment of young women. She is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at Purdue University, where she works with the Dean and other members on ways in which to enhance the experience and opportunities of Liberal Arts students. In 2018, she became a Board Member of Spring Bank, with branches in the Bronx and Harlem, NY, dedicated to serving the needs of local community members. Spring Bank is a B-Corp financial institution, committed to “use business as a force for good” and meet the rigorous standards of social performance, accountability, and transparency.

Valerie received her Bachelor’s Degree from Purdue University in 1994. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two children.