Meet Donnica Hawes-Saunders
We were lucky to catch up with Donnica Hawes-Saunders recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Donnica with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
To start, I believe you mirror what you see, and I grew up watching two hard-working parents who led by example. My father built a career as an aeronautical engineer, and my mother had a dynamic career in media, owning radio stations before becoming a nonprofit executive. Watching how they maneuvered their careers and lived their values taught me early on that hard work wasn’t optional, it was foundational.
They didn’t just model it; they wove it into my upbringing. I still remember one summer as a teenager, they had me juggling three different jobs at a movie theatre, pet shelter, and a nursing home. I worked early mornings, late evenings, and barely a weekend to myself. It wasn’t about earning money, it was about building mindset: show up, follow through, and don’t wait for opportunities, go create them.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m the Founder and CEO of The Averity Group, a public affairs firm I built to help highly regulated organizations navigate policy and communications complexity with clarity, strategy, and purpose. I’ve spent over a decade at the intersection of politics, policy, and impact, on Capitol Hill, within multinational corporations, and now through my own firm, delivering advocacy that works.
My story is rooted in service and strategy. Trained as a lawyer, I began my career in the U.S. Congress, where I worked for Members of Congress and congressional committees to pass legislation protecting victims of trafficking and expanding federal funding access for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Those early years taught me that policy isn’t just paperwork, it’s people. It’s power and it’s the architecture of opportunity locally, nationally, and globally.
I later transitioned into the private sector, bringing the same intensity and purpose to Fortune 500 companies. Whether leading public affairs at Philip Morris International or managing federal legislative strategy at Heineken USA, I focused on building coalitions, navigating multifaceted policy landscapes, and creating space for underrepresented voices in global decision-making. I’ve always believed real influence comes not just from access, but from execution.
Today, through The Averity Group, I help clients manage their corporate reputations and advance their policy goals in ways that allow their organizations to thrive. We specialize in politically astute, coalition-based strategies that drive measurable results. In 2023, we were recognized as one of the top reputation management agencies in the U.S., a reflection, to me, of how urgent and essential it is for organizations to lead with both strategy and depth.
Outside of my work, I remain deeply committed to mentorship and service through organizations like the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), The Links, Incorporated, and the Junior League. I’m passionate about expanding the table, not just earning a seat at it.
Right now, my focus is on scaling The Averity Group, deepening our impact in the public affairs space, and helping more organizations confidently advocate, engage, and lead in the areas that matter most to their business.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, the three qualities that have shaped my journey the most are adaptability, political instinct, and strategic execution.
Adaptability has been essential. I’ve worked across sectors, public, private, corporate, and nonprofit, and each required me to adjust not just my language, but my lens. That became even more critical as I began executing strategies and programming on a global scale. Operating across different countries meant adjusting to cultural norms, local expectations, and distinct ways of working. To be effective, I had to adapt quickly and thoughtfully. The key is learning how to pivot without losing your core values. For anyone early in their career: say yes to challenges that stretch you. Comfort doesn’t build capability, discomfort does.
Political instinct isn’t just for policymakers. It’s about reading the room, anticipating dynamics, and recognizing both spoken and unspoken agendas. Even if you say, “I don’t do politics,” the truth is politics shapes every decision around us. To succeed, you need a feel for power, persuasion, and timing. That means listening closely, spotting patterns, and leaning on emotional intelligence. I leaned into this lesson when I organized a political event for the CEO of an $85 billion global, highly regulated company. Afterward, we sat down for what became a candid, three-hour conversation about corporate perception, cultural differences, and the challenges of driving social change at scale. He was struck by my perspectives, and by the fact that I challenged him directly, something he wasn’t accustomed to. That exchange didn’t just earn respect; it opened the door to deeper trust and future business. It reinforced something I carry with me today: influence doesn’t come from agreement; it comes from conviction. By listening deeply, standing firm in your values, and engaging in real dialogue, even when it’s uncomfortable, you create the space for respect, growth, and progress.
Strategic execution is where ideas become impact. I’ve always believed that great strategy means nothing without the discipline to follow through. Whether I was drafting legislation or building global partnerships, success came from being clear on the goal, focused on the process, and relentless in the details. For those starting out: don’t just aim to impress, aim to deliver. People remember what you finish, not just what you start.
None of these skills were built overnight. They were sharpened through pressure, pivots, and persistence. Keep learning. Stay curious. And don’t confuse movement with progress. The goal is meaningful forward motion.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
Our ideal client is a mission-driven organization operating in a highly regulated or politically sensitive space, one that understands reputation isn’t just about perception, it’s about positioning, preparedness, and purpose.
We work best with leaders who are clear on what they stand for, even if they need help articulating how to say it, or navigating the political and regulatory landscape that surrounds it. Whether it’s a company facing reputational risk, a coalition preparing to advocate for policy change, or an executive team seeking to align their external strategy with internal values, we look for partners who want to lead with intention, not just react to pressure.
What makes someone an ideal client isn’t just the industry they’re in. It’s their willingness to think long-term, collaborate deeply, and invest in meaningful engagement. We’re not a fit for those seeking shortcuts or surface-level fixes. But for those ready to build trust, navigate complexity, and shape outcomes, we bring the strategy, clarity, and execution to help them do just that.
Contact Info:
Instagram: @hawessdl
Twitter: @donnicahs
