Board Member Spotlight: Isabel Aldunate, WWPR Emerging Leaders Award Co-Chair
In our latest Board Spotlight Series, get to know Isabel Aldunate, a Senior Communications Strategist with deep experience shaping messaging and media strategy across politics, government, and advocacy. She has held senior communications roles for national political campaigns and Democratic leadership, including serving as Deputy National Press Secretary for Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, leading surrogate communications and Hispanic media for the Biden for President campaign, and serving as Surrogates Communications Director for the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
Following the campaign, Isabel served as Deputy Communications Director at the White House Office of Management and Budget and as Director of Media Relations for the AFL-CIO, where she led national press efforts on behalf of workers and labor priorities. Isabel is the founder and principal consultant of MatchPoint Strategies, a BIPOC-owned communications firm that supports progressive organizations in shaping media strategies that build power and drive structural change. She is also an adjunct professor at American University, teaching political communication.
Tell us about your background and what led you to your current role.
I’m originally from Maryland and grew up navigating a biracial identity as both Black and Bolivian. My father immigrated from La Paz, Bolivia, and instilled in me a deep sense of discipline from an early age. That discipline shaped my path as a national tennis champion and eventually led me to play Division I tennis on a full scholarship.
I see tennis as a microcosm of the professional world: it demands mental toughness, self-reliance, and the ability to perform under pressure without a safety net. Competing alone on the court taught me how to stay focused, resilient, and steady in high-stakes moments. That mental strength and discipline have carried over directly into my career, shaping howI work and giving me an unshakeable resolve.
What has been one of the most exciting or rewarding projects in your career so far? One of the most exciting and rewarding projects of my career was working on the Biden campaign. I led surrogate communications, ensuring the right voices reached the right audiences at the right moments, across both national and local media. The pace and stakes of the work were exhilarating, and it was deeply gratifying to see the campaign succeed, knowing I had contributed to something far larger than myself.
What do you enjoy most about serving as a WWPR Board Member?
I enjoy supporting women who are in the beginning of their careers. I love mentoring and helping women out because it helps me grow as well as them. I end up learning a lot, too!
How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
I am a huge Kindle fiend. I love my Kindle and am a big fan of unwinding with a good novel. I just finished the Song of Achilles—loved it.
Aside from that I'm a workout instructor at VIDA fitness, where I lead HIIT classes. I love art, and also do ceramics as a way to unwind as well.
Is there a book, podcast, or resource you’d recommend right now?
As a political communications professor, I recommend the book "Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear," by Dr. Luntz, a Republican Pollster. It’s a great guide for being an effective communicator. The book has some dated references, but the rules for communication are evergreen! I'm making my students read it right now.
What advice would you give to women looking to grow in their careers or get involved in WWPR?
My advice is to be shameless and get coffee with everyone! You meet great friends, mentors, and peers by putting yourself out there, and you NEVER know what opportunities await you through those connections.
Anything else you'd like to highlight?
I LOVE dogs and am a huge bleeding heart when it comes to rescue dogs and cats. I have two small rescue dogs, a chihuahua named Ruth (after Bader Ginsburg) and a Jack Russell terrier named Remington. I currently volunteer with Lucky Dog Animal Rescue and help support their comms.
Connect with Isabel on LinkedIn or follow her on X/Twitter: @ialduna1.
