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.

Headshot of a black woman in a black suit in a room with a window to the side

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.