Carole Douglis

Communications Specialist & Manager , USAID

Nairobi, Kenya

Harvard-educated communications strategist, trainer, and award-winning journalist with 20+ years' experience, most in environment and development. Can work in English or French. Seeking long-term assignment. Currently in Kenya but can relocate quickly.

Contact Carole Douglis
Area of Expertise:
  • Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy
  • Communications, Media, Knowledge Management, Editor
Professional Experience:

Carole Douglis is an award-winning writer, international communication strategist, and trainer.

Currently she is communications manager and specialist for USAID/Kenya. She reinvented the website--now most often cited as the one other USAID Missions wish to emulate--and produced sought-after, illustrated wall-calendars and annual reports. She oversaw extensive 50th-anniversary celebrations, including documentary films, a professional photography exhibit, and a gala.

Carole’s investigative journalism on energy and environment has been featured in the Atlantic Monthly, World Watch, Wilderness, Omni Magazine, Harper’s and other publications. She has also written extensively for National Geographic Society (NGS) books and CDs—and first the NGS's first comprehensive piece on climate change.

As a consultant, Carole has provided messaging, strategy, and other communication expertise to organizations including UNICEF, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), the World Bank, African Wildlife Foundation, Academy for Educational Development, and wildlife conservancies.

Carole’s communication consulting and training work has taken her to Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. Her highly practical, participatory, and praised classes include:

· Writing to Win
· Supercharged Presentations
· Masterful Media Interviews
· Telling the Story of Your Work: Case Studies and Success Stories
· Playshops: Creativity and Communication.


As becomes clear in her classes, Carole is a specialist in improvisational comedy theater. She is the founding director of W.I.T!—Washington Improv Theater—and has taught, directed and/or performed improv for more than 15 years.

She finds that non-traditional communication channels often offer surprising benefits to clients. For instance, commissioned by UNEP, Carole wrote a series of seven environmental storybooks for children. The books have been lauded by the late Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, environmental ministers and other policymakers from around the world, plus teachers, parents--and kids.

Carole holds a B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard University and an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in international development, food and agriculture, and environment.

Education:

Education

• Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. A.B. Magna cum laude in history and psychology

• Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts. M.A.L.D.
Concentrations in International Food and Agriculture; International Environment and Energy. Recognized with a competitive Fletcher Scholarship.

Continuing graduate education in communications strategy, group facilitation, intercultural peace building, ecology

Affiliations and Achievements:

Just a few comments from creativity and communications workshops in Washington, Somalia, Kenya, and Indonesia:

“I’ve seen Carole work with the terrified, the wooden, the mumbling. After a session or two, they look and sound like entirely different beings—confident, authoritative, and expressive. Anyone who wants to make better presentations in public would find Carole’s professionalism and enthusiasm a real boost to their effectiveness.” Communications Director, Washington, DC

“Carole is truly a pro at coaching people to express themselves fully and comfortably.” Federal official, Washington, DC

“Trainer had excellent and positive energy, superb leadership style, a lot of substance with a light touch, and NO condescension…. "

“Superb—great discussions. Made it relevant to each of us”

“This is the best class I’ve ever taken. Carole’s a terrific teacher.”

"This is the first workshop in which I did not sleep...."

Available for:

  • Consulting assignments
  • Job opportunities
  • Being headhunted – make me an offer

Years of Experience:

More than 20 years

Highest Qualification:

Masters

Languages:

English, French

Nationality:

United States