About Our Founder

Keosha Varela is a strategic communications consultant, storyteller, and advisor to mission-driven organizations seeking to elevate their visibility, strengthen stakeholder trust, and drive meaningful impact through effective communication.

With more than 15 years of experience across journalism, digital media, and the nonprofit sector, Keosha brings a rare blend of newsroom rigor, strategic foresight, and social impact expertise. As the founder of Mission & Purpose Communications, she partners with leaders and organizations to translate complex ideas into compelling narratives, develop strategies that mobilize audiences, and navigate moments of opportunity and crisis with clarity and confidence.

Before launching her firm, Keosha served as Managing & Senior Director of Strategic and Enterprise Communications at the Aspen Institute, where she led a 25-member team responsible for digital content strategy, brand management, and event communications across the Institute’s 70+ programs. She co-led the development of the organization’s first comprehensive internal and enterprise communications functions, modernized its digital presence, and guided the successful rollout of its rebrand across platforms.

Previously, Keosha held senior communications roles at InterAction, the world’s largest alliance of international NGOs, and at 270 Strategies, a public engagement firm where she led digital content and storytelling initiatives for social impact clients. Earlier in her career, she was a journalist and producer at NBC News and NPR, where her team’s work earned national recognition, including a National Edward R. Murrow Award for digital excellence.

A trusted advisor and sought-after collaborator, Keosha is passionate about helping organizations communicate with authenticity and purpose—especially in times of change. She holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree in journalism from American University in Washington, D.C.

Our Partners

Samson Awosan

Website Development and Brand Identity

Samson Awosan brings deep experience in website development and brand and visual identity design, partnering with mission-driven and premium organizations—including a Gates Ventures–backed initiative—to create high-impact digital experiences that reflect clarity, credibility, and scale.

Ayelet Golz

Creative Design Partner

Ayelet Golz enjoys collaborating with businesses and nonprofit organizations, leveraging her decades in marketing strategy to create video and design that truly resonates. Imaginative and strategic in equal measures, she loves sitting down with clients, diving deep into their goals and audiences, and laying it all out so that it’s easy to take action.

Christina Lewis

Digital Strategy and Strategic Communications

Christina Lewis is a communications advisor who works on projects at the intersection of culture and social change. Her background spans social impact, philanthropy, politics, climate, and tech, including leading global content and storytelling at Breakthrough Energy. She partners with mission-driven teams to shape narrative, clarify values, and create work that helps people see problems—and solutions—differently.

Heather Purcell

Media Relations and Policy Communications

Heather is a seasoned media relations strategist who helps senior leaders and subject-matter experts earn visibility in top-tier and national media—especially in complex, high-stakes policy environments. She brings extensive experience leading communications at the federal and state levels, including senior roles within federal and state agencies major national advocacy organizations, and on Capitol Hill as communications director for a Member of Congress. Across these roles, Heather has shaped narratives, guided spokespeople through moments of intense public scrutiny, and positioned leaders to communicate with clarity, credibility, and impact.

Ritika Puri

Strategic Operations and Information Design

Ritika is an expert systems-builder for strategic communications and publishing initiatives in which clear, compelling narratives are a must. With a client-base spanning major venture capital firms, media companies, large corporations, governments, and global nonprofits, her specialty is bringing clarity and coordination to high performing teams, in roles ranging from managing editor to content strategist and project manager. Trained as both a data scientist and designer, with deep professional experience as a writer, she is sought after to build compelling executive and board-level presentations for scenarios ranging from fundraises to strategic planning, industry thought leadership, and key partner alignment.

William Tomasko

Digital Strategy and Executive Communications

William Tomasko brings over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and digital communications strategist who’s channeled and helped shape the voices of presidential candidates, members of Congress, nonprofit leaders, and organizational brands.