For more than 25 years, Ms. Smith has counseled presidents and world leaders through global crises, advised Fortune 50 CEOs through complex challenges, and helped manage the reputations of some of the world’s highest-profile individuals. She founded Smith & Company, a strategic advisory firm considered to be one of the top crisis firms in the world, that has offices in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, New York and London.  

In addition to her work as a communications advisor during high profile moments, Ms. Smith is a long-time counselor to some of the world’s largest and most influential companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Panera, Lowes, Sony, Kaiser, United Healthcare, and Walmart. She provides her clients with strategic advice on a variety of corporate communications issues such as mergers and acquisitions, product recalls, intellectual property litigation, corporate positioning, diversity and other corporate, investor and public relations matters. 

A former federal prosecutor, Ms. Smith worked in the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Columbia where she handled high-profile investigations. She also served as Deputy Press Secretary to President George H.W. Bush, during which time she worked on a host of domestic and international issues.

As a result of her wide ranging and ground-breaking career, Ms. Smith inspired the hit TV series, Scandal and served as Co- Executive Producer of the project. Ms. Smith’s advice and counsel has been valuable to corporate boardrooms and she currently serves on the boards for Save the Children, Global Citizen and Ariel Investments.

Nick Truxal is establishing Andersen Corporation’s first Organization & People Analytics team.  Prior to Andersen, he served as EEOC Commissioner Sonderling’s Chief Advisor on Human Resources and Technology Policy, where he specialized in artificial intelligence in the employment sphere. 

Prior to his work with the EEOC, he acted as an consultant on artificial intelligence in human resesources, working with HR Transformation, People Analytics, Talent, and Legal teams.  Nick Truxal has previously worked in the financial services, technology, and educational sectors. 

Nick Truxal received his B.S. from the North Dakota State University, an M.A. from National University, and an M.S. from New York University.