Leslie Griffin Email & Phone Number

Greater Boston

Allinea LLC provides public affairs and executive communications support to companies, trade associations, universities, and other globally focused organizations. The firm offers clients a wide array of content creation services to support effective public policy advocacy, brand-building and thought leadership initiatives, from talking points for critical government engagements to compelling op-eds, blog posts, and speeches.

Washington D.C.

Hired to represent UPS' international interests in Washington and advocate for market-opening trade agreements in support of international business growth. Led an eight-person trade and customs team, served on the staff of the UPS International President, and coordinated with public affairs colleagues around the world to design and implement strategies to advance the company's market access and regulatory priorities.• COLLABORATIVE ADVOCACY – Partnered with overseas public affairs colleagues to secure wins on a range of UPS policy goals, including elimination of JV requirements, removal of percentage-of-revenue postal fees, and significant airplane landing charge reductions in key UPS markets.• EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS – Wrote executive issue briefs and speech content for top executives' public engagement.• EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT & PUBLIC SPEAKING – Regularly spoke publicly in support of the benefits of trade agreements to the United States before audiences of elected and appointed officials, congressional staff, business leaders, and other stakeholders. • POLICY LEADERSHIP – Represented UPS on the boards of the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and U.S. Global Leadership Campaign. Chaired NFTC Trade Committee.• BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – Worked to help UPS win new international business by presenting trade policy insights at customer forums, leading trade education sessions with UPS sales partners to support their outreach to customers, and developing trade-focused content for business websites.

Washington, D.C.

Recruited to lead the trade practice of an international consulting firm serving multinational corporations' global growth and social responsibility objectives. Joined as a member of the senior leadership team, reporting to the CEO, and contributed to new business development, client strategy, and compliance initiatives. • COALITION BUILDING – Managed and grew the Alliance for Healthcare Competitiveness, a coalition of companies and non-profits calling for intensified efforts to open global markets to U.S. healthcare exports. • STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP – Partnered with a major cancer advocacy organization to design a strategy to utilize trade agreement provisions to block the ability of tobacco companies to bring investor cases against foreign governments for implementation of sound health regulations.• RELATIONSHIP BUILDING / ISSUE ENGAGEMENT – Advised the China-U.S. Exchange Foundation and convened forums to foster dialogue on bilateral issues.

Washington, D.C.

Hired as international government affairs deputy before being promoted to Vice President. Developed and implemented plans to secure host government support for New York Life's overseas business objectives. When company embarked on a strategy to divest most of the international business, I was tapped by the parent company CEO for a rotational assignment as chief of staff to the Chairman and CEO of the international subsidiary (NYLI), and later returned to Washington to manage the government relations and strategic communications aspects of the market exits.• CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION – Chaired cross-functional international issues management committee with headquarters and market-based participants to establish and regularly review international policy objectives. • POLICY ADVOCACY – Developed and implemented plans to secure host government support for overseas business objectives. Contributed to efforts leading to the granting of an operating license in Vietnam (2005), and advanced company positions on issues including the employment status of overseas agents, foreign investment liberalization, capital requirements, and fair competition with state-owned players. • POLICY LEADERSHIP – Strengthened company leadership within trade associations and chaired key committees (e.g., International Federal Legislative Strategy Group at the American Council of Life Insurers, Insurance Committee of the U.S.-India Business Council, etc.) to advance the company’s insurance, country-specific, and broad trade policy priorities.

New York, Ny

Selected for a rotational opportunity as Chief of Staff to the Chairman & CEO of New York Life International (NYLI). Relocated to New York City from February 2009 – April 2010.• C-SUITE SUPPORT – On behalf of NYLI CEO, organized agendas for senior leadership team meetings and prepared materials for parent company and overseas joint venture board meetings. • EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS – Drafted CEO communications aligned with the future vision of the company at a time of employee anxiety about downsizing and office closures.

Washington, D.C.

Following initial recruitment for China-focused advocacy project, promoted through increasingly responsible roles at the U.S. Chamber, advocating for market-opening measures on behalf of member companies seeking growth in Asia. Selected by Vice President, Asia to assume additional responsibility as Executive Director of the Hong Kong-U.S. Business Council and the U.S.-Korea Business Council, membership organizations housed at the U.S. Chamber. • GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY – During the multi-year campaign to secure congressional support for permanent normal trade relations with China, helped build a coalition of over 200 state and local chambers of commerce, tracked feedback from congressional office visits, organized small business fly-ins, and wrote a China newsletter distributed to thousands of readers.• INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY – Developed the agenda for and traveled on Asia business missions with the U.S. Chamber President, Vice President, and member company executives. Advocated for U.S. business priorities with overseas officials. • POLICY COMMUNICATIONS – Wrote reports on Small Business Success Stories in China and China's compliance with World Trade Organization requirements.

Nanjing, China

Recipient of Wellesley College Yenching Fellowship. Taught 130 Chinese university students at Ginling Women's College and Nanjing Normal University. Received 18 months of private tutoring in Mandarin Chinese. Enrolled at Nanjing Normal University for six months of full-time language study.

Monitored trade and tax legislation affecting the oil and gas industry.

Provided cost estimates of proposed legislation.

Msc, International Relations

Focus on Politics of Asia/Pacific, International Diplomacy

Ba, Economics

Activities and Societies: Economics Department Senior Fellow, Phi Beta Kappa Society, Wellesley College Choir, Debate Team, DJ at WZLY.