Whitney Keyes

Founder and CEO, WK Productions

Over the past 20 years, Whitney Keyes has worked as a senior Microsoft manager, strategic adviser for American Express and a consultant to thousands of small businesses around the world. She manages a global consulting firm and teaches Strategic Communication for Responsible Leaders at the University of Washington. Whitney began her career managing her family’s art business and led the local merchant association. Her passion for entrepreneurship and community engagement led her to work for the City of Tacoma’s Economic Development Department in Washington State. She helped manage the new Neighborhood Business District Revitalization Program, advocating for over 500 small businesses in six districts across the city. She went on to work at Microsoft where she managed global marketing campaigns, including the launch of Office 2000, an $8 billion business. She helped create the company’s first Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives and related philanthropy program, Unlimited Potential, which continues today. Whitney has received several grants from the U.S. State Department to empower women leaders, social entrepreneurs and youth in Asia and Africa. She is the winner of the Small Business Administration’s Women in Business Champion of the Year Award for Washington State and author of the book, Propel: Five Ways to Amp Up Your Marketing and Accelerate Business (Career Press). She holds an MBA in Social Enterprise Leadership and received her undergraduate degree in communications and journalism.