Dan Angus Morrison

Meet Dan

Helping leaders shape competitive narratives that win and build trust, bring their workforces along on AI integration, and navigate geopolitical change. As founder of StoryVenture, I help organizations deploy communications and public affairs strategies for impact. Ex - Bloomberg, IBM, U.S. State Department, OECD and Pew Research Center.

Senior global communications and public affairs executive, thought leader, and former Pulitzer-nominated financial journalist working at the nexus of business, geopolitics, economics, technology, and AI.

I have led diverse international and domestic teams for some of the world's most recognizable brands in New York, Washington, Brussels, and Paris for Bloomberg, IBM, the U.S. State Department, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the Pew Research Center. Executive leadership training from Wharton, Harvard, London School of Economics. Certificate from Wharton on AI for Business and Decision-Making.
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Communications and public affairs strategist who has worked closely with some of the most prominent executives and policymakers on multiple continents -from Colin Powell to IBM's senior executive suite to the managing director of the IMF, to the Secretary-General of the OECD in Paris, to the Special Court for Sierra Leone that prosecuted Charles Taylor following the blood diamond conflict.

I also do some investing...

I don't have Ryan Reynolds' platform or hair, but I take stakes and board and advisory roles in companies and projects that have missions dedicated to transformative change. I've done that, for example, with AI-centric companies across domains, as well as with a Danish professional soccer team. I spend time with start-ups as a mentor with the Techstars accelerator and as an expert-in-residence at the Georgetown Venture Lab.

What lessons have I learned in my career so far?

As head of global communications at Pew Research Center

I learned the power of data and public opinion to transform societies, particularly when it delivers uncomfortable truths. I was also reminded that citizens can hold two conflicting ideas in their heads at the same time.

As head of global media at the OECD in Paris

I learned how to nudge global decision makers with compelling data and policy messaging.

As a speechwriter for Secretary of State Colin Powell, and as a senior advisor to two Under Secretaries of State for Economic Affairs.

I learned the power of persuasion and the value of trust.

As a financial journalist for Bloomberg in its infancy

As a financial journalist for Bloomberg in its infancy at the dawn of the internet era I learned how to position an upstart in an established ecosystem and what questions to ask about our new AI era.

As an adjunct professor of strategic and political communications and persuasion

I get to have an ongoing conversation with the next generation about thought leadership, mis/disinformation, AI, the media, the influence of technology on communications, and the role of citizens in a democracy.

At IBM, and as a current and past consultant in Brussels and Washington

At IBM I learned about narrative competition, thought leadership, early AI and how to help organizations find and keep their North Star.

Testimonials

Masterful Communicator; Global Insight.

“If I ever had to write a speech for a best man toast, or for my company's annual shareholder meeting, or for a peace treaty at the UN, I would ask Dan Morrison for help. It's not just that Dan has a delightful way with words (he’s been a speechwriter, Pulitzer-nominated journalist, a corporate communication strategist, a government policy expert, and a novelist). It's that he has an incredibly wide-ranging intellect that I envy and covet. His years of world travel and deep immersion in culture -- from Silicon Valley to Washington to Europe to Asia -- give him a cosmopolitan perspective and an empathy for all points of view.

His love of literature and history also give him insights into human nature, an invaluable asset if your job is persuasion. I worked with Dan as a journalist where we often teamed up to write about telecoms and this new-fangled thing called the internet. It was always a pleasure to work with him, not just because of his talents, but because of his sense of humor and camaraderie. I would recommend Dan unreservedly as a communication and policy expert. In addition, I highly recommend you take Dan as your guide if you need to navigate through pubs, souks, embassies, battlefields, ministries, archives, arrondissements, pampas or alps.”

Kourosh Karimkhany

Dan Morrison is talented in many different areas, but his greatest gift might be his ability to think strategically.

"Dan Morrison is talented in many different areas, but his greatest gift might be his ability to think strategically. In my years of working with him, I've learned he's an expert at communications who spans corporations, start-ups, government, multinational organizations and nonprofits. He has a unique ability to size up an organization's needs and goals and is able to develop a strategy to achieve those goals. Dan is a creative, thoughtful leader. A good example is his forward-looking approach to AI, which has created confusion and even paralysis in many companies and universities. As they play it safe, and cautious leaders wait and see how generative AI evolves, Dan works with organizations to seize on the opportunities created by this technology today. What Dan understands is that narrative matters: Organizations must develop their own story, their own reason for being. He has a talent for helping them tell their story."

Carroll Doherty

Pew Research Center

Dan’s Insights on Integrating AI into the Workforce

"Dan's perspective on how to integrate AI into the workforce was very well received by the team at my global organization. His views are informed by having lived and worked through AI's general purpose technology prequel -- the Internet - when he was at Bloomberg News and IBM. He understands thedifferences and similarities. Dan counseled on how to create an AI mindset and then communicate it across an organization; Embracing "Centaur AI" - i.e. marrying the best of humans and the best of AI: and why AI is a moonshot moment for several groups within organizations. He emphasized being an AI ally/ambassador within an organization, seizing the thought leadership high-ground and telling a story of action and impact, not fear and caution. Dan's insights on AI, thought leadership and geo-strategic communications would be an invaluable asset to any organization seeking such counsel."

Penny Naas

The German Marshall Fund

Dan’s Storytelling Advantage in AI and Healthcare Innovation

"Dan has a rare ability to distill complexity into stories that move people to action. In the fast-paced world of AI and healthcare innovation, his clarity and perspective are invaluable to founders striving to make real impact."

Nick Culbertson

Managing Director Techstars/AI for Healthcare

A Force for Collaboration and Clarity

“I’ve been proud to call Dan both a friend and business colleague for years. We first met when we were each spearheading separate issues on behalf of a complex, international justice effort in which the US and virtually every developed nation had a significant interest. Dan stunned us all with his extraordinary ability to bring together diverse stakeholders—both public and private—and communicate on their behalf in a way that each could embrace. He knows more about finance than most CFOs and more about political processes than many sitting politicians. If you’ve worked with Dan, Pulitzer nominations are not a surprise but simply a validation of what you already know about the quality of his work.”

John Howell

Dan's advice was particularly relevant because of his deep experience as a global communications and public affairs executive working and living in both the U.S. and Europe.

“Dan's strategic advice is truly helpful for EU policymakers. He contrasted how the U.S. and the EU are approaching AI innovation and regulation. He shared best practices in how to integrate AI into the workplace and academia from his personal experience as Founder and Managing Partner of StoryVenture, and as an adjunct professor. He counseled on steps that public institutions should take to lead with AI adoption and how to bring employees along on the AI journey. Dan's advice was particularly relevant because of his deep experience as a global communications and public affairs executive working and living in both the U.S. and Europe. He lives at the nexus of business, geo-politics/economics, thought leadership, tech & AI. I can't recommend him more highly."

Jorgen Gren Director, Technology DGT, European Commission

Dan's counsel was invaluable for the IMF media team, and his range is impressive.

"Dan's counsel was invaluable for the IMF media team, and his range is impressive. He covered everything from new power vs. old power, the new media landscape, mis/disinformation, building trust, persuasion, thought leadership, positioning communications and public affairs professionals as leaders of AI integration, and viewing AI as the ultimate stakeholder. Dan has a rare ability to thread the private sector, government, the multilateral world, tech, international and domestic. We'd definitely work with Dan again."

Pierre Mejlak Chief of Media Relations & Social Outreach, IMF

Teaching Trust: Dan's Thought Leadership

“Dan's ongoing thought leadership and communications storyboarding counsel has been a game-changer for Comma. He asks the right questions to help us double down on our mission, and ignore the noise. He helped us find the right word clouds and nail our messaging. He helped us understand who our real audience is, and how to leave doors open for potential audiences in the future. And when it comes to thought leadership, he said something that has stuck with me: "Remember to teach your audience something with your content. That's how you win trust." I unreservedly recommend Dan and StoryVenture as a thought leadership co-pilot."

Miller Morris

Founder and CEO, Comma

Dan was an invaluable advisor

“Our business model is predicated on working nomads getting what they expect to get with rental accommodations when they travel around the world. Dan helped us hone our deck before we pitched. His storytelling sensibilities and his knowledge of what investors are looking for when assessing start-ups is unmatched. One example was when Dan identified that our offering was adjacent to another space -- online dating and the disappointment that comes when the person in real life is not necessarily who they are advertised to be online. Dan's thought leadership and narrative building skills, informed by years of working across business, government, geo-economics and technology, will help any company win trust, differentiate itself, and live its brand. His work for us will help attract investors, customers, partners, and staff.”

Brian Hotani

Co-Founder (stealth start-up)

Dan helped our team confidently navigate AI in communications

"Through an engaging combination of storytelling, strategic insight, and subject-matter expertise, Dan laid out the risks and opportunities for responsible AI adoption for strategic communications. He drew on his experience in journalism, public affairs, and academia to help us understand not just what AI is changing, but why it matters for communicators right now. Dan broke down how AI is transforming communications — from content creation and audience segmentation to stakeholder analysis and reputation management — while emphasizing that human judgment and experience can’t be replaced. He encouraged us to see AI as a partner and offered practical guidance on experimentation, prompting, and starting with small early wins. We are grateful for Dan's time and practical recommendations. He was deeply knowledgeable about AI and will be a great resource for us going forward. Highly recommended."

Sara Sciammacco

Vice President, Marketing and Communications at Ceres