She specializes in understanding how data, communications and culture can be deployed to create demand and desire for change.
She is a proven strategic communications executive with a background informed by a deep experience as a journalist, public policy advocate and corporate executive at the world’s largest market research firm. She works as a consultant to business, government, social enterprise, multi-lateral organizations, advocacy groups and academics on the combined use of grassroots techniques, market research and policy patterns to create organizational change.
As founding Managing Director, Watson established a business vertical at Nielsen to sell data, analytics and solutions to the government and public sector in order to match the interests of public policy entities, domestic and global, to Nielsen’s broad array of information and services. She was the primary driver and strategist behind the innovative “Drink Up” project, a national public health campaign to encourage Americans to drink more water. Prior, she was Chief Communications Officer at Nielsen. Savoy Magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential Black business executives in America.
Watson has more than 30 years of experience in policy, public affairs, government relations, media and marketing. As head of the public policy office for Echostar, during the introduction of satellite TV, she advocated for competitive choice for consumers.
As chief communications officer for the FCC during the mid 90’s, she translated complicated communications policies during the revision of the 1930 Telecommunications Act, Watson’s early career was as a journalist for PBS, National Public Radio and The MacNeil/Lehrer Report.
Watson is also a visiting researcher at Imperial College Business School in London, where she works at The Centre for Health Economics and Policy Innovation. She has lectured graduate students at McGill University, Oxford University, Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and Columbia University. She has served as a delegate to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), as an expert witness to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the ministers of health of the European Union.
She is an investor in Farmer’s Fridge and an executive board member of The Center for Good Food Purchasing, the Gold Foundation and an advisory board member of several food and tech startups. She also advises Esther Dyson’s Wellville initiative and the Obama Foundation’s effort on Civic engagement.