Executive

MacKenzie Smith

**** ****** ******, **, **** *, Washington, DC 20010 adldkf@r.postjobfree.com 619-***-**** Professional Experience

January 2019 – Present Business Manager, Higher Ground, Washington, DC From conception to implementation, I established and built the Obamas’ entertainment production company Higher Ground, which produces films, TV series, children’s programs, and documentaries exclusive to Netflix, and podcasts exclusive to Spotify. Higher Ground’s first film release American Factory won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and first podcast, The Michelle Obama Podcast, was the biggest Spotify Original in history.

• Led the company’s budget, mission and strategic planning, and managed relationships with stakeholders, collaborators, and the principals themselves.

• Established exclusive partnerships with Netflix and Spotify and cultivated additional prospective business relationships to build the business.

• Led the executive hiring process for the Higher Ground team, including identifying candidates, conducting interviews, and making final hiring recommendations to the principals.

• Managed all the legal actions from intellectual property to trademarks, business and corporate structure, tax law, and the organization of all LLCs.

• Spearheaded the creative development process for The Michelle Obama Podcast and a slate of upcoming podcasts on Spotify.

• Oversaw all logistics for Mrs. Obama’s podcast recording, The Michelle Obama Podcast, and production and release of her documentary film Becoming on Netflix.

• Developed impact campaigns for Higher Ground films to extend the reach of our work. January 2017 – Present Deputy Chief of Staff to Michelle Obama, Office of President and Michelle Obama, Washington, DC Since leaving the White House, I have continued to lead and define Mrs. Obama's goals, while continuously running point and implementing on everything from a groundbreaking global book tour, to forming a production company, filming and releasing a documentary, establishing Mrs. Obama firmly in the global girl’s education space, recording and releasing a podcast, and maintaining her presence in the political arena.

• Led Mrs. Obama’s transition from the White House to her personal office.

• Planned and managed Mrs. Obama’s global Becoming Tour, including producing sold-out arena shows, selecting conversation moderators, identifying community groups for local events, and developing tour experiences.

• Prioritized Mrs. Obama’s goals of evolving from a public servant to a business leader while continuing global changemaking.

• Implemented and directed long-term planning strategy, including humanitarian advocacy, business ventures, and strategic development.

• Managed meetings with top executives of potential business partners, relationships with world leaders, partners, and allies of Mrs. Obama, and Mrs. Obama’s memoir writing process.

• Coordinated strategic goals and legal interests with third parties, including the Obama Foundation, potential business partners, publishing companies, and speaker agencies.

January 2014 – January 2017 Special Assistant to the President and Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC

Working in the East Wing of the White House, I was promoted twice. I also served as Deputy Director of Scheduling and Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady and Deputy Director of Scheduling for the First Lady.

• Director of strategic planning for all the First Lady’s initiatives, official duties, White House responsibilities, political engagements, and personal activities.

• Managed the scheduling and advance department for the First Lady, including 12 official and personal staff members.

• Led traveling parties of 15-20 Military officials, United State Secret Service Agents and White House staff on international delegations on behalf of the First Lady, including trips to Cuba, Argentina, Liberia, Morocco, Spain, Jordan, and Qatar.

• Facilitated meetings with senior foreign leaders on behalf of the First Lady and United States Government.

• Chief liaison for the First Lady to every department on the White House complex, including the U.S. Military, U.S. Secret Service, Residential Staff, and the White House Communication Agency.

• Other responsibilities included: briefing Senior White House and U.S. Government officials, prioritizing daily communication with all First Lady staff, and directly reporting to the Chief of Staff on schedule and strategic goals. October 2011 – December 2013 Director of Scheduling, Democratic National Committee, Office of the Chair, Washington, DC

• Managed long term strategic planning for the Party Chair, including campaign travel, all coordination between DNC departments, Organize for America, Obama Victory Fund, state parties, DNC Convention, and official offices. Additional Experience

• January 2011 – October 2011 Scheduler, Office of United States Representative Karen Bass, Washington, DC

• December 2009 – December 2010 Director of Scheduling, Kendrick Meek for US Senate, Miami, FL

• August 2009 – November 2009 Deputy Traveling Chief of Staff, Gavin Newsom for California, San Francisco, CA Education

• Class of 2008 University of California, Davis Bachelor of Arts, International Relations

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