Former White House Communications Director ANITA DUNN and former Lieutenant Governor of Georgia GEOFF DUNCAN emphasize practical takeaways in this conversation on fostering understanding across political lines.
Sharing stories from their careers about working across the aisle, Dunn & Duncan give their perspective on leading with integrity and courage in any field while working with individuals of opposing viewpoints.
A Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden, Anita Dunn has played a significant role in shaping modern political strategy and public policy. Previously, Dunn served as White House Communications Director under President Obama, where she managed messaging during critical moments of his presidency. President Joe Biden called her “an invaluable part of our White House.”
Named one of Washingtonian’s “Most Powerful Women,” Dunn has broken barriers and holds a unique role in Washington, having been the only person who has served as a senior advisor of the winning campaigns for two different presidents. Dunn currently serves as an advisor to Future Forward. Dunn’s expertise in managing communications during high-stakes situations, especially from her time in the White House, provides a rich source of lessons for organizations in any field.
A former professional baseball player, CNN contributor and successful entrepreneur, Geoff Duncan served as Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor from 2019-2023. As the state’s second-most powerful Republican and president of the State Senate, Duncan used a bipartisan approach to navigate the chamber through a global pandemic, civil unrest, and economic tumult. Duncan has established himself as a bold leader, especially in the areas of health care, public safety, technology, and economic development. His efforts to spearhead Georgia becoming the “Technology Capital of the East Coast” have been nationally recognized. After rising to national prominence, he authored a book entitled, GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America's Conservative Party.
Prior to public service, Duncan enjoyed a successful career in the private sector. In 2001, he founded a marketing company that sold promotional products to mid-size and large corporate clients nationwide. In 2003, he launched a tech-enabled literature fulfillment division for several large corporate clients. In 2016, Duncan was hired as the CEO of a health care company where he successfully raised several rounds of early round growth capital. In 2019, he founded a consulting business to help growth stage private companies work directly with their management teams. Duncan also serves as a strategic advisor to several venture capital firms around the country.
Anita Dunn most recently served in The White House as a Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden. In that role, Anita advised on all aspects of the administration, including messaging, communications, and overall strategy. Prior to that, Anita served as a Senior Advisor to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2020 campaign, helping lead the ticket to its historic win. Anita was a chief strategist to former President Barack Obama, as a senior campaign advisor and as the White House Communications Director. Anita oversaw all communications strategy and messaging and helped the former President navigate a complex legislative and political landscape early in his administration. Named one of Washingtonian’s most powerful women in 2019, Anita has broken barriers and holds a unique role in Washington, having been the only person who has served as a senior advisor of the winning campaigns for two different presidents. Anita also served in a variety of senior roles for other key Democrats throughout her career, including Tom Daschle, Bill Bradley, and Evan Bayh.
A former professional baseball player, CNN contributor and successful entrepreneur, Geoff Duncan served as Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor from 2019-2023. As the state’s second-most powerful Republican and president of the State Senate, Duncan used a bipartisan approach to navigate the chamber through a global pandemic, civil unrest and economic tumult. Duncan has established himself as a bold leader, especially in the areas of health care, public safety, technology, and economic development. His efforts to spearhead Georgia becoming the “Technology Capital of the East Coast” have been nationally recognized.
In the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, Duncan stood up to his party leadership and became an outspoken voice against conspiracy theories and for a peaceful transition of power. After rising to national prominence, he authored a book entitled, GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America's Conservative Party. He became one of the most recognizable critics of the political process that led to the failed Senate campaign of Herschel Walker.
During the 2020 legislative session, Duncan built a historic bipartisan coalition to pass Georgia’s Hate Crimes Law in the aftermath of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. In 2021, he authored the LESS Crime Act to empower private citizens to support law enforcement and led successful efforts to defeat the Buckhead secession movement, with the Atlanta Journal Constitution declaring, “Powerful GOP leader delivers blow to Buckhead cityhood.”
Duncan entered public service in 2012 after winning an upstart campaign to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2012. In the House, he served on the Banking, Science & Technology and Ways & Means Committee. Duncan spearheaded the Rural Hospital Tax Credit that created tax credits for donors to rural hospitals, a win-win program that has yielded tens of millions in additional funding to save rural hospitals from closure.
Prior to public service, Duncan enjoyed a successful career in the private sector. In 2001, he founded a marketing company that sold promotional products to mid-size and large corporate clients nationwide. In 2003, he launched a tech-enabled literature fulfillment division for several large corporate clients. In 2006, he founded a design company with the focus of building large contract to build single family homes in the Atlanta metro area. In 2016, Duncan was hired as the CEO of a health care company where he successfully raised several rounds of early round growth capital. In 2019, he founded a consulting business to help growth stage private companies work directly with their management teams, including a 40-year-old construction material company that has more than doubled revenues. Duncan also serves as a strategic advisor to several venture capital firms around the country.
After a successful career as a scholarship pitcher at Georgia Tech, including three straight berths in the NCAA Regionals and the 1994 College World Series, Duncan was drafted by the Florida Marlins’ organization in 1996, where he spent six seasons in their minor league system before a shoulder injury forced his early retirement in 2001.
Duncan is most proud to be a husband to his high school sweetheart, Brooke, and a father of three young men: Parker, Bayler, and Ryder. Duncan is an avid sports fan, an aviation enthusiast and is an instrument rated private pilot.
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