Stephanie Hlywak

Senior Communications Leader

Hello, I'm Steph

I believe we all have stories to share.

Let me help tell yours.

About Stephanie Hlywak

For purpose-driven organizations, I act as chief storyteller and igniter, dismantling roadblocks and unlocking the path forward through change and growth. A seasoned leader, storyteller, and communicator, I weave together ideas and strategies that help make everyone — inside and out — feel a deeper connection to our journey, our impact, and our success.

Relentless in my pursuits, I am known for my “go-for-it” attitude and huge creative streak. Equal parts teacher, driver, and enthusiastic experimenter, I propel teams to where we’re going, and ensure we always have fun along the way.

Black retro typewriter on a unique wooden desk, a mid-century modern chair and a renovated bookcase in a hipster home office interior. Real photo.

From day one, I have always been driven by what I felt was right in the world — and by a deep conviction that we must leave any place we touch better than we found it.

That’s why I’ve spent my entire career seeking out the most creative, compelling, and impactful ways to help support organizations that do good — in both big ways and small.

Along the way, I have learned that purpose-driven organizations can lose traction and get mired in old habits — and often they need an outsider’s help to get unstuck. In a world that is always changing and noisy, it’s easy to forget that just because we believe in our mission, it doesn’t mean others will.

This is where I come in. With a grounding in journalism and humanities, and from in-house roles and on agency teams, I have led the creation of groundbreaking strategies from concept to execution for a wide variety of organizations — from those advocating for funding for rare disease cures to those promoting the value of intellectual freedom and the right to read freely.

A law-abiding rule-breaker, I know how to take things apart and make them better from within any setting. I like to work with the boldest thinkers who want to do things differently and aren’t afraid to take risks. In the end, I will make sure we get where we are going — and that we always have fun along the way.

My Story

Read My Resume

Stephanie Hlywak tells stories that drive impact, change hearts and minds, and make bold social change. She is a collaborative and trusted partner skilled at building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders from media outlets and C-suite executives to high-profile influencers and community leaders.

With extensive experience on the agency side and as a leader of in-house teams, Stephanie brings both perspectives to bear on her work for clients. She honed her policy chops in one of the nation's top public affairs shops, led PR and public awareness functions for the most influential library association in the world, and served in leadership roles in many non-profits, associations, and agencies. The throughline in her career has been to work on behalf of organizations and businesses that transform our world for the better. She began her career in publishing and is a voracious reader and proud library card holder.

Stephanie earned an M.A. from the University of Chicago and a B.S. in journalism from Medill at Northwestern University. Her hobbies include swimming, traveling, going to concerts, and volunteering to support women and families navigating hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. She lives in Chicago with her family and a menagerie of pets.

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