Work Experience

  • jackbrooksfoundation.org

    Interdepartmental, Stakeholder and Budget Management • Strategic Initiatives • Employee Engagement • Team Oversight

    As COO, I led and provided actionable feedback to a team of 20 staff, consultants, and contractors for multi-city campaigns, resulting in consistent high performance and successful outcomes.

    Managed $600k Foundation budget overseeing Digital Legacy Project with The Briscoe Center, Leadership Award for civic engagement, and Help America Vote competition.

    Gained expertise in stakeholder communications, trusted point of contact for board members, and VIPs.

    Drove the successful execution of national launch of both the Jack Brooks Foundation and Brooks' autobiography, The Meanest Man in Congress, at prestigious venues (Carter Presidential Library and 92nd Street Y), with high-profile guests (Nancy Pelosi, Hendrik Hertzberg), resulting in increased media coverage (The Hill, C-Span, and Wall Street Journal).

    Developed voting initiative, co-created 2 funding proposals/led presentations, research, analysis, and focus groups.

  • iheartreps.com

    Process Optimization • Data Analysis • Project Management • Cross-functional Collaboration • Strategic Planning

    Collaborated with Founder, staff, contractors, and talent of boutique agency to maximize internal and client-facing communication, supporting scaling efforts during a crucial transformation period.

    Streamlined finance, creative, and operational processes to enhance efficiency.

    Designed and implemented an AirTable project management system for CRM, job-tracking, production, and accounting, resulting in a 50% workflow efficiency improvement, 25% client acquisition increase, and 20% retention boost.

  • merlinengine.com

    Decision-making • Operations Management • Operational Strategy • Process Design and Workflow Management • Stakeholder Management

    Trusted right-hand to the CEO of a boutique private investment consulting firm, providing comprehensive support in all aspects of business operations and decision-making for private consulting firm, focused on early stage companies.

    Oversaw and streamlined internal processes, ensuring effective communication, efficient workflows, and optimal resource allocation within a small team.

  • User Experience (UX) · Diversity & Inclusion · Strategic Partnerships · Community Growth and Retention · Community Development · Data Analys

    Curated focus groups over dinner, bringing ideas, content, and connections to the table.

    Produced engaging and memorable dining and VIP experiences, demonstrating outstanding network management skills, resulting in exceptional client focus-group results, and significant member growth/retention rates.

    Established and nurtured trusting relationships with key partners, vendors, and clients. Simultaneously, built strategic DEI partnerships with local, women, BIPOC, and queer-owned vendors to diversify offerings, resulting in a high-powered network community of guests, clients, and vendors.

    Leveraged event data analysis to deliver powerful multimedia insights, guiding clients' strategic next steps, and showcased DEI local businesses, forming strategic collaborative partnerships that resulted in a high-powered network community of guests, clients, and vendors.

  • talismanphoto.com

    Adaptability • VIP Relationships • Visual Storytelling • Financial strategy • Client Loyalty • Networking

    Built and owned a successful business as an international, award-winning photographer for twenty years.

    Awards and recognition: Photo District News, International Photography Awards, APA Photo Awards and The New York Press Photographer's Association, and The Ford Foundation's permanent collection.

    Shot for: New York Times, New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Lincoln, Ford, Richemont NA and Procter & Gamble. VIP's: Matthew McConaughey, The Roots, Matt Damon, Risa Puno, Derek Fordjour.

    Established and expanded company via reputation building and referrals, while prioritizing customer service, client loyalty, and financial objectives.

  • Talisman helped streamline finance & creative/operational processes with ZERO headaches. Definitely an asset in the creative community.

    Michelle Funke, Founder, Parallel Projects

  • Besides Talisman’s professionalism, talent, and exuding the desire to produce the best work for her clients, she is also incredible kind, patient and an absolute pleasure to work with. She understands what we need. She talks through our goals and expectations and is sure to deliver exactly what we want. When we don’t know what we want. Talisman is wonderful at discussing ideas, options, and offering suggestions to achieve our marketing goals. Her work speaks for itself. I HIGHLY recommend Talisman .. she is a rare find.

    Ariel Handelman, [Past] Associate VP of Marketing & Audience Strategy, New York Botanical Garden

  • Talisman is extremely organized and more than equipped to tackle creative operations management projects. Her ability to streamline workflows and transform organizational processes for the better is immensely valuable. With her skills and focus, she is a huge asset!!

    Dara Siegel, Founder, I Heart Reps

  • Time after time, Talisman has come through for us. Her photographs manage to capture the beauty of The New York Botanical Garden, but also tell amazing stories of those moments caught for posterity. Talisman is a true professional, a hard worker, and a wonderful person. I highly recommend her.

    Nick Leshi, Senior Director of Communications. New York Botanical Garden

  • Talisman is that rare combination of formidable talent, creativity and skill, a true understanding of (I'd go so far as to call it empathy for) what the client is trying to achieve, plus hardworking professionalism, all wrapped up in an earnestly pleasant person. She is refreshingly drama and ego-free who puts her clients instantly at ease.

    Laura Verallo de Bertotto, CEO & Owner, VMV Hypoallergenics

  • Talisman is a highly organized, efficient manager. She is a thoughtful and strong collaborator. She is a true asset with passion that permeates throughout the entire organization.

    Jon J. Bassana, President & CEO, Jack Brooks Foundation

  • Talisman is the epitome of grace under pressure. MSL Group across clients works with Talisman as the photographer of choice to cover a wide variety of media events. Not only does she deliver photos that both media and clients respond to, she does so while keeping calm, cool and collected as staff, event attendees, and often, celebrity spokespeople swarm the event space. We are always confident that Talisman will capture the perfect photo and know that having her on board means one less thing we have to worry about. She's a pleasure to work with and is always our first choice.

    Stephanie Herzfeld, [Past] Account Supervisor, MS&L Worldwide

  • Talisman’s pension for perfection and her out-of-the-box thinking has helped us deliver stellar results for our clients. I would recommend Talisman for any photographic projects which requires creative thinking under pressure and client-pleasing results.

    Courtney Van Naarden, [Past] Senior Vice President, Weber Shandwick

  • Talisman's work speaks for itself but aside from her amazing photography skills, she brings a positive energy to her shoots that cannot be ignored. I regularly work with Talisman at my client's PR events where the pace is fast, but she is always ready to go with her camera poised to capture the moments as they happen. The results are beautiful images that brands are proud to display. Talisman is always my first phone call when photography is mentioned!

    Suzanne Matulay, [Past] Director, Burson-Marsteller