Leah is the director of social media at Manhattan Strategies. Her integrated communications experience includes successful engagements in politics, finance, tech, and consumer-centric industries.
In her role, Leah spearheads Manhattan Strategies’ successful approach to digital engagement that is grounded in visual communication. Leah manages a team of writers and designers who develop cutting-edge, differentiating storytelling for brands and voices ranging from early stage technology startups to Fortune 100 companies, and political campaigns to today’s most influential industry leaders.
Prior to joining Manhattan Strategies, Leah served as a researcher in the Scottish Parliament and as a project assistant at Sidley Austin LLP. She later managed digital accounts for a high-growth startup in the pet industry. In January 2019, the company announced it had raised $39 million in a Series B round, the largest for any pet-related start up to date. Leah spearheaded the development of the brand voice across digital, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Leah earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and communication with a specialization in rhetoric and media studies from Villanova University. In her free time, Leah enjoys cooking, scrolling TikTok, supporting her local independent bookstore, and curating an extensive collection of vintage clothes.
Alex De Falcis is an associate for dynamic visual design at Manhattan Strategies. Alex manages social storytelling video development and dynamic animation production for corporate and public sector clients on topics including equity, sustainability and social progress.
Alex earned a Bachelor of Science at Lebanon Valley College where he majored in digital communications with a concentration in videography. He currently resides in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware where he enjoys reading, biking, gaming and creating digital art.
Ryan Eaton is associate for strategic visual design at Manhattan Strategies. Ryan spearheads the firm’s social media and digital design strategy, which is guided by analysis and insights from Manhattan Strategies Quant.
In his role, Ryan specializes in high-impact visual design for clients in the corporate and public sector on issues ranging from sustainability and diversity, to new product announcements and technology-centric news. His successful work includes developing social media asset toolkits for a Fortune 100 company to enable global leaders to elevate key moments including Earth Day, Climate Week, COP 26 and International Women’s Day.
Prior to joining Manhattan Strategies, Ryan served as a designer for the Biden for President campaign in 2020. On the campaign during the pandemic when virtual events were the epicenter of candidate engagement, Ryan supported virtual events for now-President Biden and Vice President Harris, as well as promotional graphics for social media.
Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts concentrating in digital communications with a minor in business administration from Lebanon Valley College. He currently resides in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware where he enjoys biking, running, skateboarding, golfing, reading, skimboarding and spending time at the beach.
Wayland is the senior associate for strategic design at Manhattan Strategies. His design experience includes web and digital, print and UX/UI across corporate and public sector applications. Wayland specializes in brand identity design, digital illustrations, data visualization and animation.
Wayland’s work has included: branding an advocacy group of a successful U.S. presidential election; designing the visual ID and supporting collateral for U.S. federal, state and local political campaigns; conceptualizing and developing the design for international conferences in the U.S. and Mexico; producing dashboards that visualize dynamic data for healthcare, cybersecurity and technology applications; and designing more than a dozen websites including that of a leading U.S. healthcare company.
Serving as the lead designer and leveraging a Master’s degree in Digital Media Design for Learning from New York University, Wayland is a mentor and subject matter expert to his peers. He hosts learning sessions and engages in professional development to advance his team’s capabilities in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.
Wayland grew up in eastern China and enjoys 90s rock music, digital art, story-rich video games in his free time.
Simeon is co-founder and director of Manhattan Strategies, an independent consulting firm obsessed with telling compelling visual stories for the world’s leading and emerging brands and voices. In his role, Simeon oversees operations and strategy for the company.
Prior to establishing the company’s initial office in Amsterdam, NL and then bringing the office to New York City, Simeon served as manager of strategy and operations at Dell Medical School. There, he collaborated with medical providers to develop and implement clinical programs aimed at redesigning the way healthcare is delivered. Simeon also provided analytical decision-making support to senior executives at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Simeon began his career in finance working for Ernst & Young as valuation and business modeling associate. As a public finance investment banker at Goldman Sachs and TD Securities, Simeon executed transactions that raised over $4 billion in capital for clients.
Simeon is a small business adviser for Pacific Community Ventures, a nonprofit impact investor and community development financial institution. He earned a Bachelor of Science in finance and accounting from the University at Albany.
Max is the co-founder and principal of Manhattan Strategies, an independent consulting firm obsessed with telling compelling visual stories for the world’s leading and emerging brands and voices.
Over the past decade, Max’s work has engaged some of this decade’s most pivotal change-makers, from conceptualizing the future of work, to elevating technologies and policies that advance a clean energy future. Applying an approach to communication strategy that is grounded in strategic design, Max has tested – and proven – that stakeholder action is motivated by visual stimulation.
Prior to scaling the approach to business and advocacy organizations, Max served as worldwide executive communications lead to the current CEO of a Fortune 100 tech company. There, he successfully deployed an integrated communication strategy that included digital media visibility, main stage keynote presentations, and sales channel and analyst engagements.
Max also served the Governor of New York where he spearheaded the development of multiple State of the State and New York State Budget addresses to the New York State Legislature, the $1.6 billion Moynihan Train Hall unveiling in Manhattan, $10 billion master plan for JFK International Airport, $4 billion La Guardia Airport reconstruction, $5.6 billion transformation of the Long Island Railroad, Puerto Rico Medicaid redesign, New York City Transit Genius Competition, and policy and budget engagements with organizations including The Business Council of New York State, Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), Long Island Association (LIA), Transport Workers Union (TWU), and others. Max also assisted in the publication of the 2016 and 2017 State of the State policy books, New York State Education Reform Law book, $15 Minimum Wage New York State Labor Report and Paid Family Leave New York State Labor Report.
Max is a board member of the Silicon Valley chapter for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). He earned his Bachelor of Science in economics and political science from the University at Albany and Master of Public Administration concentrating in public finance from New York University.
Elona is an associate for storytelling at Manhattan Strategies. Elona is passionate about creating compelling and differentiating narratives for Fortune 100 executive leadership and brands with a focus on scaling impact in diversity, equity and inclusion and sustainability.
Elona’s client work includes developing and executing consistent brand communication strategies through digital thought leadership for executives, managing social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter for startup and growth companies, as well as spearheading c-suite executive thought leadership in clean energy, climate action, digital equity, and closing the diversity gap in technology.
Prior to joining Manhattan Strategies, Elona worked at CNN international highlighting the latest news stories from Africa on CNN’s African Voices and Inside Africa. In partnership with local newspapers nationwide, she wrote articles on important conversations about race and ethnicity, books by authors of color, culture, ethos and politics.
Elona earned her Bachelor of Arts in journalism and cinematic arts from the University of Iowa with a concentration on African American Studies.
Kumaar Ramasamy is an associate for strategic design at Manhattan Strategies. Kumaar spearheads the firm’s digital innovation implementation.
Kumaar is a practiced visual designer and web developer and specializes in combining the two to create immersive and impactful experiences.
Prior to joining Manhattan Strategies, Kumaar served as a design lead in implementing a multinational healthcare company’s brand in global touchpoints to employees, partners and customers.
Kumaar earned an Associate’s degree at Lone Star College in Houston, Texas. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and biking, and volunteering as an organizer at Sunrise Movement.
Matthew is a senior manager for executive storytelling at Manhattan Strategies. Matthew focuses on short form and keynote speech development.
In his role, Matthew partners with clients to tell their unique story and bring it to life with compelling visual design. Matthew specializes in strategy for advocacy and corporate organizations, with a focus on emerging technology.
Prior to joining Manhattan Strategies, Matthew served on political campaigns for U.S. Congress in New York. He previously worked for the United Nations Development Programme in Chile and began his career with SKDKnickerbocker securing coverage for Fortune 100 and political clientele in local, regional, national and trade outlets.
Matthew is a Pittsburgh, PA native who graduated from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a focus on Middle Eastern Affairs. When he’s not at work, Matthew can be found listening to podcasts, enjoying a good book on history and leaving movie reviews on Letterboxd. He is a member of PRSA-NY and volunteers at Vision Urbana in the Lower East Side.
Meghan is an associate for executive storytelling at Manhattan Strategies. Meghan manages storytelling strategy and the voices of Fortune 100 technology executives with a specialization in the future of work and sustainability.
Prior to joining Manhattan Strategies, Meghan served as a content manager at one of the premier interior design firms in New York, spearheading their marketing efforts and managing firmwide communications. Meghan also served as a marketing assistant for a top children’s publishing company where she drove social strategy and launched campaigns for several bestselling book series.
Meghan earned a Bachelor of Arts from the College of the Holy Cross in English and history with a concentration in creative writing. She currently lives in New York City, and in her free time enjoys adding to her ever-overflowing book collection, discussing reality TV with anyone who will listen to her, and escaping the city for a beach or a mountain depending on the season.
Nicole is an associate for storytelling at Manhattan Strategies. Passionate about telling and amplifying stories, she specializes in creating and developing digital media strategy for Fortune 100 executive leadership with a focus on sustainability, innovative technology, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Prior to joining Manhattan Strategies, Nicole served as an engineering analyst at a pipeline inspection company, ascertaining in-line data quality and evaluating pipeline integrity for midstream and downstream oil & gas clientele. Nicole also served as a content writer for clients spanning multiple industries, from music to healthcare to moving services. At an economic development agency, she wrote articles promoting local businesses and restaurants and highlighting their culturally diverse impact on economic development across the Houston metropolitan area.
Nicole graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in petroleum engineering, as well as a certificate in creative writing with a concentration in fiction writing. In her free time, she writes poetry and short stories, goes to too many concerts, and documents her life in moments of exploring new coffee shops around the city.
Mary Martha Wiggers is an associate for dynamic visual design at Manhattan Strategies. Mary Martha drives strategic storytelling across digital applications with special focus on technology, sustainable impact and future of work.
Prior to joining Manhattan Strategies, Mary Martha served as a video editor and motion designer for clients across the New York Metropolitan area, including Nonviolence International New York. Mary Martha was the lead videographer and video editor for a candidate in the 2021 New York City Council race.
Mary Martha graduated from Brown University with a degree in theater arts and performance studies. While at Brown, she developed a love for storytelling. She returned to school to hone her editing skills and received her Master's in media studies from The New School.
