Industry
Technology / Urban Policy
Deliverables
Strategic Partnerships
Policy Negotiation
Advocacy Campaigns
Year
2015 – 2017
Location
San Francisco, Chicago, New York City
Read case study below
Firefly Systems — Advocacy Meets Innovation
Firefly transforms city streets into smart networks of data and design. As the Director of Strategic Partnerships, I led public-private collaborations that bridged technology, transportation, and civic policy to help cities communicate in new ways.
Our team’s mission was to make digital out-of-home media serve both business and community. I worked with New York City Council and more than 45 organizations to create a model that balanced innovation with public benefit, a structure later adopted by Lyft and Uber.
What He Did
Negotiated partnerships and policies aligning Firefly’s growth with city sustainability and safety goals
Built an advocacy coalition spanning government, nonprofits, and local businesses to shape equitable mobility standards
Designed and launched an ad model allocating 10% of digital screen space to civic campaigns—the first of its kind in the industry
Directed storytelling and impact measurement that reframed technology as a tool for public good
Outcome
Established an industry-wide standard for ethical, civic-minded advertising
Influenced policy adoption across major mobility platforms, including Lyft and Uber
Recognized by Time as an Invention of the Year, highlighting Firefly’s fusion of innovation and impact
