Meeting the Moment: Erica Loewe on Storytelling with Strategy, Credibility, and Owning Your Voice
By: Kamica Price and Elisa O’Halloran
As the communications landscape continues to shift at lightning speed, Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) kicked off 2026 by doing what it does best: creating space for conversations and clarity.
At WWPR’s Annual Meeting Luncheon, members gathered to reflect on a year that challenged traditional communications playbooks and reshaped careers. They forced many women to navigate professional growth alongside deeply personal transitions.
To help set the tone for the year ahead, WWPR welcomed Erica Loewe, an award-winning communications strategist and former senior leader in the Biden-Harris White House, for a candid and powerful conversation.
Storytelling and Strategy
Erica shared how her career spanning media, politics, entertainment, and public engagement taught her that the most effective communications are at the intersection of storytelling and strategy. One without the other simply doesn’t work.
Her time at the White House solidified that lesson: messaging wasn’t just about telling a story, but about ensuring it landed with the right audience, at the right moment, with intention.
Why Washington, DC, Is Different
Calling Washington, DC, an “accountability market,” Erica emphasized that credibility is currency. Reporters are deeply informed, and relationships are built on responsiveness, preparation, and trust. In this environment, vague messaging erodes credibility quickly, and people remember.
Communications in a Shifting Political Climate
Erica didn’t shy away from discussing how political transitions influence communications across all sectors. The government sets the tone, and organizations often adjust their messaging, sometimes quietly, in response. Her advice: leaders must be thoughtful about when to speak, when to pause, and how silence itself can send a message.
Advice for Women Navigating Communications Careers
From protecting your reputation to practicing restraint, Erica offered practical, honest advice:
● Be visible, but don’t mistake visibility for influence
● Advocate for yourself—even when it’s uncomfortable
● Build trusted peer networks
● Do excellent work and be kind, because people remember both.
Her reminder resonated deeply: many opportunities come not from titles, but from trust built over time.
Looking Ahead
As WWPR moves into 2026, the conversation with Erica Loewe reinforced exactly why community matters—especially in uncertain times. Supporting women means recognizing the realities they’re navigating and using collective influence to create meaningful change.
With purpose, pride, and connection guiding the way, WWPR is ready to meet the moment. Learn how becoming a member allows you to be part of the change across the communications industry.
Images courtesy of James Minichello Photography.
