Lucy Okumu

Lucy Okumu is a visiting fellow with GMF Leadership Programs. She is a global strategic communications leader and founder of Create Change Consulting, a boutique consulting firm dedicated to helping leaders and organizations communicate clearly. With over 20 years of experience across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, she has guided senior leaders, universities, government agencies, and nonprofits through transformations, growth, and crisis.

Okumu previously served as communications director in Stanford University’s Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research. Before that, she spent nearly a decade at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, where she served as chief of staff and director of operations in the Office of the President and later as director of the International At KAUST, she also expanded academic partnerships, launched global public relations campaigns, and led crisis communications. Her earlier career profile includes senior roles at the California Institute of Technology, with the Los Angeles Unified School District, and in the public policy and nonprofit sectors.

Okumu was a GMF Marshall Memorial fellow and an American Council Young Political Leader fellow. She has served on boards, including the University of Southern California (USC) Price School alumni advisory board, New Village Girls Academy board of directors, and the Para Los Niños advisory board. She holds a master’s degree from USC and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis.