11.18 Communications is a full-stack communications agency focused on infrastructure, developer platforms, and emerging technologies like AI and crypto. We help companies tell their stories, so they can engage and inspire all the different audiences that matter to them: the engineers and researchers they want to recruit; the developers and other partners they want to build with; and the people who will want to use their products.We offer a full range of services, designed for technology companies of all sizes and stages. These include strategic planning and risk assessment; messaging and positioning; content and channel development; media and analyst relations; and influencer strategy. 11.18 was founded by Michael Kirkland, who previously spent 12 years building and leading the Technology Communications team at Meta. That team was responsible for all communications surrounding an extensive portfolio of product, engineering, and research groups, including AI, AR/VR, crypto, engineering and infrastructure, developer platforms and tools, enterprise products, security, and open source. They also led major innovation tentpole moments like Meta Connect, F8, @Scale, and Inside the Lab; built network of company blogs and related social channels that reached more than 21 million people every month; and managed crisis communications efforts in areas like product outages, security, supply chain, consumer hardware recalls, bias in AI, safety in VR, and more.

- Founded and led Meta’s Technology Communications organization, establishing the function as an IC in 2011 and then scaling it to 100+ people (FTE + contractor) across three continents- Set vision, direction, and tone for teams responsible for all proactive, reactive, and internal communications surrounding artificial intelligence; virtual + augmented reality; the metaverse; consumer hardware; blockchain / crypto; gaming; connectivity; engineering + infrastructure; enterprise products; developer products + services; open source; and renewable energy, sustainability, and supply chain- Led communications + project management elements of major innovation tentpole moments like Meta Connect; F8; @Scale; and Inside the Lab- Led crisis communications efforts in areas like product outages, supply chain issues, product recalls, bias in AI, and safety + competition in VR- Built network of company blogs + related social channels that reached more than 21 million people every month on topics like AI, AR/VR, gaming, and engineering- Managed $15+ million annual budget for agency support, asset development, events, and more- Directly managed the 7+ directors / senior directors who comprised the Technology Communications leadership team- Served as a member of the senior comms leadership team and company leadership team, reporting directly to global head of communications + public affairs- Helped scale global comms organization from ~25 people in 2011 to 600+ in 2022- Founded comms operations group and managed annual operations budget of $3.5 million- Led cross-functional projects focused on diversity + inclusion, recruiting, goaling + measurement, and work-life balance- Previously led comms for the Facebook app; security / crisis response; and the New Product Experimentation group- Led all comms + marketing for Open Compute Project from 2011 to 2016, and for the Telecom Infra Project from 2016 to 2018

• Led teams of communications professionals in the development and execution of media campaigns.• Contributed to the development and management of the agency’s operations, culture, and collective expertise.• Drove proactive and reactive new-business development.• Clients included Google, SlideShare, Copious, IntoNow, Enterproid, Grockit, Meebo, LinkedIn, Break Media, YouTube, EMI Music (Digital Division), Dasient, Benchmark Capital, Zendesk, Swipely, and Mixer Labs.