Gabriel Stricker

Gabriel Stricker is the Chief Communications Officer at Emerson Collective, the social change organization founded by Laurene Powell Jobs.[1] He is the former Vice President of Communications at Niantic, Inc.,[2] the former Vice President of Policy and Communications at Google Fiber,[3] and the former CCO at Twitter, Inc..[4]

Gabriel Stricker
Stricker at Games for Change, 2018
Alma materUC Berkeley
OccupationChief Communications Officer, Emerson Collective

Education

Stricker earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley[5] and his master's degree in International Affairs from Columbia University.[6]

Career

Emerson Collective

Stricker joined Emerson Collective's "high-profile leadership" as its Managing Director and CCO in 2021 to contribute to its mission of creating "systemic change in education, immigration, climate, and cancer research and treatment."[7]

Niantic

In 2018, Stricker joined Niantic, Inc.,[8] the spinoff of Alphabet Inc. focused on creating augmented reality games that encourage outdoor activity and exploration.[9] Stricker's arrival at Niantic came as the company continued its development of technology for a growing number of augmented reality platforms.[10] Stricker was reunited with Niantic CEO John Hanke, with whom he previously worked at Google between 2006 and 2012.[11] Niantic Labs was part of Google until 2015, but was spun out as part of the Alphabet restructuring.[12] At Niantic, Stricker collaborated with the Knight Foundation on its civic engagement initiatives[13] and spoke publicly about how technology can promote "democracy, integrity, civility, and citizenship."[14]

Google Fiber

In 2016, the hiring of Stricker to lead policy and communications at Google Fiber, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., fueled speculation[15] that Alphabet would accelerate its plans to bring high speed internet connectivity more broadly across the United States.[16] Jennifer Fritzsche, senior analyst at Wells Fargo, published in her research report: "the appointment of executive Gabriel Stricker as Head of Policy and Communications for Google Fiber, is an indication that Google is getting more serious about its fiber expansion."[17] Conversely, his departure from Google Fiber was described as "the latest blow for the Alphabet subsidiary"[18] and prompted speculation that the unit is "in peril… perhaps calling its future into question."[19]

Twitter

Prior to Alphabet, Stricker served as the head of Communications and Public Policy at Twitter. Before his arrival at Twitter, the service was widely viewed as vanquished in the marketplace.[20] Former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo told the Los Angeles Times, "So when Gabriel joined the company, it was like 'Your job: no dying birds on national magazine covers'."[21] Costolo and others in the industry credit Stricker with the turnaround in Twitter's public reputation.[22]

During Twitter's IPO process, Stricker was a central figure in its road show[23] and was responsible for having Twitter users ring the NYSE bell instead of Twitter executives—an unconventional decision which earned Twitter significant praise.[24] Stricker managed Twitter's IPO without the assistance of any external consultants,[25] as is the norm.[26]

While at Twitter, Stricker accepted the Radio Television Digital News Association's First Amendment Award[27] and made frequent public remarks about free speech and censorship.[28] BuzzFeed News reported that Stricker and Twitter's General Counsel's "desire for radically free expression" clashed with CEO Costolo's attempts to censor content.[29] Separately, Vanity Fair detailed how Stricker led an internal effort to force Twitter to be more transparent with investors and the public at large about Twitter's stagnant user growth, and he departed the company when that effort wasn't endorsed by the rest of Twitter's executive leadership.[30]

Google

Before Twitter, Stricker was Director of Global Communications & Public Affairs at Google, Inc.,[31] where he raised the issue of free expression[32] and frequently defended the company's refusal to censor information.[33] Stricker was at the center of several controversial episodes in Google's development, including its Google Book Search Settlement Agreement,[34] the launch of the contentious Google Health product,[35] and criticisms surrounding Google's alleged transformation into a media company.[36] He later returned to Google's Search team in a product role as the head of search ecosystem, where his work included helping people find useful information related to the 2020 US elections and COVID-19.[37]

Stricker was part of a cohort of former Google policy and communications executives who went on to lead similar functions at technology companies across Silicon Valley.[38]

Board and Advisor roles

Stricker sits on the boards of the Center for Investigative Reporting[39] and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund,[40] and is an advisor to Virta Health.[41]

Recognition

Stricker has been described as a "Zen Master" of marketing and communications by the Holmes Report.[42] He was ranked on In2’s "Innovator 25" for being one of the 25 "individuals who are shaping what influence and engagement will look like tomorrow,"[43] one of PRWeek's top-20 "Digital Influencers" for having "the greatest impact on communications,"[44] one of the most effective communications professionals by Business Insider,[45] and was listed by the Holmes Report as one of the world's 100 most influential corporate communicators.[46]

Publications

Stricker is the author of the bestselling book on guerrilla marketing entitled, Mao In the Boardroom.[47] Publishers Weekly reviewed the book as "a curious amalgam of humor and business advice,"[48] and the Chicago Tribune said it "describes how capitalist warriors apply [Mao's theories] on the corporate battlefield today."[49] Time Magazine reported that Roc-A-Fella Records' Damon Dash and his advisors were initial consumers of the book,[50] and David McCourt used the book to promote his own.[51]

Personal life

Stricker was raised in Mendocino, California.[52] He served as a volunteer at the Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco.[53]

References
  1. Shah, Aarti (4 January 2021). "Google's Gabriel Stricker Takes CCO Role At Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective". Retrieved 14 January 2021. Stricker left Google last week to become managing director and CCO at the Emerson Collective, which Steve Jobs' spouse founded in 2004.
  2. Marszalek, Diana (12 January 2018). "Comms VP Gabriel Stricker Leaves Google Fiber For Niantic". Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  3. Olanoff, Drew (29 December 2015). "Gabriel Stricker Returns To Google To Lead Policy And Communications For Fiber".
  4. "Twitter Executive Team:Stricker".
  5. "Twitter Executive Team:Stricker".
  6. "Gabriel Sticker | Columbia | SIPA". New.sipa.columbia.edu. 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
  7. Shah, Aarti (4 January 2021). "Google's Gabriel Stricker Takes CCO Role At Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective". Retrieved 14 January 2021. Stricker will report to Jobs as chief communications officer and managing director. The Emerson Collective, which Jobs founded in 2004, describes its mission as "creating systemic change in education, immigration, climate, and cancer research and treatment." In addition to Jobs, the philanthropic investment group's high-profile leadership includes former US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and former Citigroup executive Michael Klein.
  8. Marszalek, Diana (12 January 2018). "Comms VP Gabriel Stricker Leaves Google Fiber For Niantic". Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  9. Johnson, Eric (4 October 2016). "Full transcript: Niantic CEO John Hanke talks Pokémon Go on Recode Decode". Retrieved 12 January 2018. ...you can combine games with outdoor play and exploration.
  10. D'Onfro, Jillian (9 January 2018). "Google Fiber loses another exec as communications head departs for Niantic". Retrieved 12 January 2018. the company is now developing technology for the growing number of AR platforms
  11. Marszalek, Diana (12 January 2018). "Comms VP Gabriel Stricker Leaves Google Fiber For Niantic". Retrieved 12 January 2018. Stricker said he was excited about working once again with Niantic CEO and founder John Hanke, with whom he worked at Google before Niantic was spun off into its own company.... Stricker's first stint at Google was from 2006-2012...
  12. D'Onfro, Jillian (9 January 2018). "Google Fiber loses another exec as communications head departs for Niantic". Retrieved 12 January 2018. Niantic Labs was part of Google until 2015. As part of the restructuring into Alphabet, it was spun out into an independent company.
  13. "Niantic". 6 August 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2019. In case you missed it, we joined our partner The Knight Foundation at the Games For Change Festival where Gabriel Stricker and Sam Gill spoke about civic engagement and the profound impact technology has on fostering more informed and engaged communities — essential ingredients for a healthy democracy.
  14. "Town Hall | Will Technology Save or Subvert Civility and Society? | Milken Institute". www.milkeninstitute.org. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  15. "Alphabet Inc (GOOG) Gets Serious About Google Fiber, Hires Gabriel Stricker". 9 January 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2015. It appears as if Alphabet Inc. is taking their initiative on high speed internet, Google Fiber, much more serious as of late. At least that appears to be the case after the company hired back a former employee, Gabriel Stricker, to head up a new role as head of Google Fiber’s policy and communications.
  16. Shah, Aarti (30 December 2015). "Gabriel Stricker Goes Back To Google To Lead Communications, Policy For Fiber". Today's news of Stricker returning to Google...is fueling speculation that Google (or rather, Alphabet where Google Fiber now sits) is ramping up its plan to bring fiber-optic internet connection more broadly across the US.
  17. Buckley, Sean (14 January 2016). "Google Fiber's L.A., Chicago plans show it's serious about network expansion, Wells Fargo says". Retrieved 16 June 2016. “Another positive sign for Google Fiber is that it also named Gabriel Stricker as Head of Policy and Communications, who returned to the company following a stint at Twitter. In his new role, Stricker will oversee Google Fiber's communications and public affairs….”
  18. D'Onfro, Jillian (9 January 2018). "Google Fiber loses another exec as communications head departs for Niantic". Retrieved 12 January 2018. His departure is the latest blow for the Alphabet subsidiary...
  19. "Alphabet Inc (GOOGL) Fiber Unit In Peril As Another Top Exec Departs". 10 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018. Google Fiber has lost another key figure, perhaps calling its future into question.
  20. "Trouble @Twitter". Media Bistro. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  21. Rodriguez, Salvador (10 July 2012). "Twitter CEO says company has 'a truckload of money'". Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  22. Shah, Aarti (25 April 2013). "Stricker takes on Twitter's charge to one billion users". Homes Report. Retrieved 11 April 2014. Costolo – and some others in the industry – credit Stricker for doing just this.
  23. Demos, Telis (25 October 2013). "Twitter Preps its IPO Pitch to Investors". Retrieved 11 April 2014. Twitter CEO Dick Costolo arrives at Morgan Stanley's office in New York on Friday along with Gabriel Stricker, Twitter's vice president of marketing and communications.
  24. Hoge, Patrick (27 December 2013). "Executive of the Year: Dick Costolo". San Francisco Business Times. Retrieved 11 April 2014. Indeed, Costolo spent little time reveling that day. He didn’t even ring the NYSE bell, giving that privilege to three Twitter users (an idea he credits to company spokesman Gabriel Stricker). They were actor Patrick Stewart, a spokeswoman for the Boston Police Department and Vivienne Harr, a 9-year-old from Marin County who wore a princess dress to the opening and sells lemonade to fight child slavery.
  25. "Twitter: The Decision Not to Hire an Agency for the IPO". KPCB. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2015. Twitter VP of marketing and communications Gabriel Stricker discusses his reasons for going it alone on the company’s recent initial public offering, rather than hiring an outside firm for media relations support. Stricker says the need for agency support on an IPO has been reduced in the era of the JOBS Act.
  26. Shah, Aarti (22 October 2013). "Twitter Keeps IPO Comms In-house". Retrieved 5 August 2014. Since Gabriel Stricker joined Twitter in 2012 as head of comms, the company has largely eschewed agency relationships opting to keep most communications in-house… More commonly, tech companies have engaged high-profile financial communications firms during this period."
  27. Calo, Enid (14 March 2013). "RTDNF Honors Twitter, Siegel, Crowley, Dechard with First Amendment Awards". Retrieved 5 August 2014. The First Amendment Award went to Twitter, Inc. Gabriel Stricker, Twitter's Vice President of Communications, accepted the award, showing a video of Twitter's growing influence and comments from Chinese avctivist Ai Weiwei, who praised the micro-blogging serivice for giving people a voice. To journalists and activists, he said, “We hear you… we stand with all of you and we will continue to fight for your voices to be heard.”
  28. "Twitter and Free Speech: Gabriel Stricker talked about Twitter's culture, policies, and effect on free speech around the world". C-SPAN. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  29. Warzel, Charlie (11 August 2016). ""A Honeypot For Assholes": Inside Twitter's 10-Year Failure To Stop Harassment". Retrieved 16 August 2016. Inside the meeting, attended by Costolo, Stricker, [General Counsel] Gadde, and product head Kevin Weil… tensions rose as Costolo’s desire to build a more palatable network that was marketable and ultimately attractive to new users clashed with Stricker and Gadde’s desire for radically free expression…. Though Stricker and Gadde won, one source described a frustrated Costolo leaving in disagreement…. But, according to sources, Costolo continued making censorship decisions for celebrities — sometimes in secret.
  30. Bilton, Nick (June 2016). "Twitter Is Betting Everything on Jack Dorsey. Will it Work?". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 16 June 2016. This conundrum led to a tempestuous discussion among members of the Staff. “We have zero credibility with Wall Street right now,” Gabriel Stricker, the director of communications, said in a meeting with Dorsey and top managers. “We have to come clean” about the company’s stagnant growth numbers…. Stricker threatened to quit over the verdict [to not be fully transparent].
  31. "Spokespeople - Google Instant Press Site (Sept 2010)". Sites.google.com. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
  32. Shah, Aarti (26 March 2010). "Google's China move affirms reputation". www.prweek.com. Haymarket Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 29 July 2014. “You have to go back to our IPO,” says Stricker, "...this is a different kind of company, run in a different way, and there are a handful of principles that we will stand for and if folks aren't comfortable with that they shouldn't be investors.”
  33. "The Battle For Santorum Transcript". On The Media. 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2013-09-15. “We don't remove a page from our search results simply because the content is unpopular. We really just want the results to be a reflection of what's available out there on the Web.”
  34. Kolakowski, Nicholas (10 June 2009). "Google Receives Federal Request for Book Settlement Info". Retrieved 6 February 2015. The Department of Justice and several state attorneys general have contacted us to learn more about the impact of the settlement, and we are happy to answer their questions," Gabriel Stricker, a Google spokesperson, said in a statement. "It's important to note that this agreement is nonexclusive and, if approved by the court, stands to expand access to millions of books in the U.S.
  35. Kornblum, Janet (22 February 2008). "Google plan for medical info raises privacy issues". Retrieved 31 August 2017. Both Microsoft and Google have given assurances that all data will be protected and will remain privately controlled by each individual. "As the user, it's only you who controls access to your health information," says Google spokesman Gabriel Stricker.
  36. Helft, Miguel (10 August 2008). "Is Google a Media Company?". Retrieved 7 February 2015. “Our vision still remains to be the best conduit that we can be, connecting people between whatever their search is and the answer they are looking for,” Mr. Stricker said. “For that reason, we are not interested in owning or creating content.”
  37. Shah, Aarti (4 January 2021). "Google's Gabriel Stricker Takes CCO Role At Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective". Retrieved 14 January 2021. Stricker returned to Google in 2019 as head of search ecosystem, where his work included helping people find useful information related to the 2020 US elections and Covid-19.
  38. Oreskovic, Alexei (13 May 2015). "Veterans of Google's PR army now control the messaging at Silicon Valley's most important companies". Retrieved 16 July 2015. Google's vast size and the breadth of hot-button issues that touch its business everyday, from privacy to mobile technology, and from competition regulation to China, provide a veritable boot camp for modern business communications and policy that few other companies can match.
  39. "CIR adds technology leadership to its board | The Center for Investigative Reporting". Cironline.org. 2011-11-10. Retrieved 2013-09-15. I'm thrilled to work with CIR to ensure that high-quality, unique and credible journalism flourishes,” Stricker said. “The progress we make in the coming years will have a hand in transforming journalism’s path in the decades ahead.
  40. "Board of Directors". Retrieved 16 June 2016. He serves on the board of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and has served on the CIR board since 2011.
  41. "Gabriel Stricker". Retrieved 14 January 2021. Virta Health Advisor Sep 26, 2019
  42. Shah, Aarti. "Twitter's Gabriel Stricker : Zen Master". Holmes Report. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  43. "The Innovator 25: Gabriel Stricker". In2. Retrieved 16 October 2014. For being the strategic counselor that CEO Dick Costolo turned to, first, to lead Twitter’s charge towards one billion users; then to build — and execute — on the strategy for Twitter’s bell-ringing moment on the New York Stock Exchange; and now…to take over its prized media partnerships as its first chief communications officer. For a refreshingly modest take on a hyped Silicon Valley IPO that shifted the tone from self-congratulatory to humility.
  44. "Digital influencers". PRWeek. Haymarket Media. Retrieved 1 October 2013. Gabriel Stricker VP, marketing communications, Twitter @gabrielstricker (16,203) Stricker is responsible for defining Twitter's messaging as it continues to expand and evolve as a global platform and commercial offering.
  45. Bort, Julie (11 September 2017). "Gabe Stricker, Google Access". Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  46. "Gabriel Stricker". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  47. Stricker, Gabriel. "Mao In the Boardroom: Marketing Genius from the Mind of the Master Guerilla". St. Martin's Press. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  48. "Reviews: 978-0-312-31085-1". Publishers Weekly. 1 June 2003. Retrieved 27 February 2014. A curious amalgam of humor and business advice, Stricker's book should appeal to little guys thinking about going up against the big dogs.
  49. Rose, Devin (29 June 2003). "Wwmd?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 24 September 2013. Stricker lays out Mao's theories, then describes how capitalist warriors apply them on the corporate battlefield today
  50. Gregory, Sean (1 December 2003). "Dashing Diversification". TIME Magazine. Retrieved 17 April 2014. ...A marketing guy is reading Mao in the Boardroom, while two others flip through a branding book. Dash punches at his BlackBerry. "This is the smallest jet we'll ever be on," he says.
  51. Lord, Miriam. "Miriam Lord: Guess who should not have come to dinner?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2019-01-03. "David [McCourt] slingshots the goliaths” reads one of the blurbs for the billionaire businessman’s recent book on how to succeed in business and life.... That endorsement on the inside flap is written by Gabriel Stricker, author of Mao in the Boardroom: Marketing Genius from the Mind of the Master Guerrilla.
  52. "Gabriel Stricker". Retrieved 16 June 2016. ...where I grew up in Mendocino, CA...
  53. "The Innovator 25: Gabriel Stricker". Retrieved 16 June 2016. ...a longtime fixture at Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco, where I volunteered for some time...
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