Simone L. Ward brings more than 20 years of experience and has worked on four presidential campaigns. She is the former Executive Director of the Women Effect Fund (WEF) and the Women Effect Action Fund (WEAF) fighting for economic justice. She served as the Florida State Director for Hillary for America, the largest battleground state in the country. Prior to the campaign, she served as the first African American National Political Director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). She most recently provides leadership and strategic consulting for multiple national and state organizations as President of SLW Strategies.
With a strong commitment to electing female candidates, she has served in senior leadership roles for 3 U.S. Senate candidates including Campaign Manager for the historic re-election of U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski, the longest serving female member of Congress and first female chair of the Appropriations Committee. Ms. Ward, a four-term veteran of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), is the former National Constituency Director and Director of Women’s Outreach. She also served as the Vice President of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood of New York City (PPNYC).
In 2007, Ms. Ward worked as a Senior Regional Political staffer at EMILY’s List and started her career in President Clinton’s Administration at the White House. She currently sits on the board of directors for the Higher Heights for America, Global GAIN, Family Story, Gender Equity Action Fund Advisory Board, and End Citizens United.
Ms. Ward has served as a guest lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Georgetown, Trinity and American Universities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish, cum laude from Oklahoma University and an e-Co Leadership Coaching Certification from the Center for Excellence in Public Leadership at the George Washington University. She is currently pursuing an Executive Master’s in Leadership from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. She was raised in Kansas City, Missouri and currently lives in Washington, D.C. with her daughter Isabella.