Shawn Smith

Shawn Smith is a communications executive and strategic storyteller with more than 20 years of experience leading high-profile public relations, marketing, and brand campaigns for some of the world’s most recognized companies. She is the founder and CEO of Shawn Smith Communications, an agency that helps brands, executives, authors, and entrepreneurs build visibility, strengthen reputations, and connect with audiences through compelling storytelling.

Before launching her firm, Smith held senior communications leadership roles at Warner Bros. and The Walt Disney Company. As executive director of communications and publicity for Warner Bros. Global Brands and Experiences, she led public relations campaigns for DC Entertainment and Looney Tunes, and supported a national childhood vaccination initiative in partnership with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

At Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, Smith led communications for the company’s licensing division, overseeing campaigns for iconic brands, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Disney films, Disney Store, and media networks. She later served as global head of communications at Osmo, and led PR and brand partnerships at MGA Entertainment, where she helped launch L.O.L. Surprise! into a global phenomenon and a No. 1 selling doll line.

Smith also serves on the boards of Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment, and the UCLA English Department. She is a past president of both the Black Public Relations Society of Los Angeles and the Public Relations Society of America Los Angeles Chapter, where she became the organization’s first African American president.