West Wing Writers
West Wing Writers is a Washington, DC-based strategic communications and speechwriting firm employing nearly 50 staff, serving Fortune 500 CEOs, political leaders, philanthropies, and entertainers, with a wholly-owned nonfiction publishing subsidiary called Disruption Books.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What West Wing Writers does
West Wing Writers is a Washington, DC-headquartered strategic communications and speechwriting firm founded in 2001 by Clinton White House veterans Jeff Shesol and Paul Orzulak. The firm employs nearly 50 strategic writers and communications professionals across offices in Washington, New York, San Francisco, and Chicago, and transitioned to 100% employee ownership via an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in May 2023. Its services are organized around three pillars: Develop Your Message (thought-leadership platforms, conversation audits, message frameworks, executive positioning), Express Your Idea (speeches, presentations, talking points, opinion essays, big-event content), and Amplify Your Voice (coaching, training, workshops, strategic placement, and publishing through its wholly-owned subsidiary Disruption Books). The firm also offers specialized media training and presentation coaching through staff including a former WCVB anchor and a Commonwealth Shakespeare Company artistic director. The core offering is bespoke human expertise rather than proprietary technology; there is no platform, SaaS product, or AI system in the offering.
The firm serves four client segments: Business (iconic CEOs of Fortune Most Admired Companies, CMOs of Interbrand Best Global Brands, FastCompany Most Innovative Companies), Philanthropy (large foundations and NGOs working on climate, global health, and social issues), Culture (EGOT winners and NFL/NBA/MLB championship teams), and Public Service (political campaigns, elected officials, and government leaders). The business model is project-based professional services delivered through direct, relationship-driven sales to senior executives; pricing is custom and not publicly disclosed. Senior staff cycle between the firm and government service, providing a built-in distribution channel into administrations and campaigns across parties, with alumni currently or formerly serving in the Clinton, Obama, and Biden-Harris administrations. The Disruption Books publishing subsidiary adds a vertically integrated product line, publishing nonfiction titles that have appeared on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.
West Wing Writers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- West Wing Writers
- Legal name
- West Wing Writers
- Website
- https://westwingwriters.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- West Wing Writers is a Washington, DC-based strategic communications and speechwriting firm employing nearly 50 staff, serving Fortune 500 CEOs, political leaders, philanthropies, and entertainers, with a wholly-owned nonfiction publishing subsidiary called Disruption Books.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
West Wing Writers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Strategic Communications Consulting
- NAICS
- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Book Publishers (513130), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Leadership Development & Executive Coaching (BPAHAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- C-Suite & Senior Executive Coaching (EDABANAA), Executive Presence & Communication Coaching (EDABANAE), Team & Group Executive Coaching (Leadership Teams) (EDABANAF), Politics, Current Affairs & Social Commentary Publishing (MPAJAAAM)
Keywords
Where West Wing Writers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
West Wing Writers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Strategic Communications Consulting: Professional consulting services for leadership communications, executive communications, and brand/product communications. Services include thought-leadership platforms, conversation audits, message frameworks, executive positioning, speeches, presentations, opinion essays, event content, coaching, training, workshops, and political-style campaigns.
- Disruption Books Publishing: A nonfiction publishing company that helps bold thinkers publish books. Publishes titles ranging from business and politics to cookbooks, memoirs, and children's literature, including New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
West Wing Writers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
West Wing Writers is a strategic communications and speechwriting firm that helps CEOs, executives, philanthropists, political leaders, and cultural figures develop messages, draft speeches and presentations, produce large events, and receive media training and coaching. Its services are organized around three pillars—Develop Your Message, Express Your Idea, and Amplify Your Voice—and are complemented by Disruption Books, a wholly-owned nonfiction publishing subsidiary.
Product overview
West Wing Writers is a strategic communications and speechwriting firm offering a unified suite of professional services organized around three core pillars: Develop Your Message (strategic message development), Express Your Idea (content creation and speechwriting), and Amplify Your Voice (coaching, training, and publishing). The portfolio includes specialized services such as Leadership Communications, Executive Communications, Brand/Product/Program Communications, Big Events Production, and Professional Development Workshops. The firm's offerings are delivered through its team of strategic writers and are complemented by Disruption Books, its nonfiction publishing sub-brand that enables authors to reach broader audiences. The company serves clients across business, philanthropy, culture, and public service sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Disruption Books: Nonfiction publishing company that helps bold thinkers publish books that change minds and the world
- SpeakEasy
Products and services
- Develop Your Message Strategic message development service covering thought-leadership platforms, conversation audits, message frameworks, and executive positioning to help leaders shape their unique story and narrative.
- Express Your Idea Content creation and expression service delivering talking points, speeches, presentations, opinion essays, event content, narratives, manifestos, and manuscripts of all lengths.
- Amplify Your Voice Voice amplification service combining coaching, training, workshops, strategic scheduling and placement, political-style public-affairs campaigns, and publishing through Disruption Books.
- Big Events Production Event production service for large-scale events such as political conventions, product launches, upfronts, and conferences, providing strategic narrative development, speaker coordination, creative content design, rehearsal coaching, and on-site support.
- Professional Development Workshops Interactive workshops on writing and public speaking skills with customized curricula for organizations, covering speechwriting, clear persuasive writing, and public speaking techniques.
- Disruption Books Wholly-owned nonfiction publishing company that helps bold thinkers publish books on history, politics, and ideas, producing New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers across business, politics, cookbooks, memoirs, and children's literature.
- Media Training Media training service delivered by former broadcast journalists who prepare clients for TED-style talks, televised media interviews, and sales pitches.
Quantifiable outcome
- Events described as 'electric' and 'award-worthy' by press
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use West Wing Writers
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
West Wing Writers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
West Wing Writers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
West Wing Writers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kekst CNC: Strategic communications consultancy advising C-suites, boards, and business leaders on corporate positioning, investor narratives, and high-stakes messages. Directly comparable in serving CEOs, foundations, and corporate clients with senior-level speechwriting and thought-leadership content.
- Brunswick Group: Global strategic communications firm specializing in CEO advisory, critical situations, and corporate narrative work for major corporations. Direct competitor for Fortune 500 CEO and board-level speechwriting, investor day, and key event support.
- Precision Strategies: Democratic political and strategic communications firm founded by senior Biden-Harris campaign veterans. Closely comparable in serving political campaigns, advocacy organizations, and corporate clients with policy and narrative work, with strong overlap in the political talent pool.
- FGS Global: Global strategic communications advisory (formed from Finsbury, The Glover Park Group, and H/Advisors Abernathy) with a marquee executive communications and C-suite positioning practice. Directly comparable at the high end of CEO and board-level speechwriting and strategic narrative work, with greater global scale.
- GMMB: Democratic-aligned strategic communications, media, and political advertising agency. Former employer of WWW Executive Director Annie Farber and directly comparable in serving campaigns, advocacy groups, and corporate clients with paid media and messaging work.
- BerlinRosen: High-profile strategic communications firm with a strong executive visibility and corporate narrative practice serving CEOs, philanthropists, and political figures. Direct competitor for the same Fortune 500, foundation, and culture-sector client roster.
- SKDKnickerbocker: Democratic-aligned strategic communications and public affairs firm with a similar political speechwriting and crisis practice. Directly comparable in client mix (corporate CEOs, political figures, advocacy organizations), service portfolio, and political DNA, with comparable headcount and DC-centric positioning.
- Bully Pulpit Interactive: Strategic communications and digital agency with deep Democratic campaign and White House alumni roots. Offers overlapping executive communications, campaign messaging, and brand storytelling services to similar Fortune 500, foundation, and political clients.
Broad incumbents
- Edelman: World's largest independent PR firm with dedicated executive visibility, brand, and corporate narrative practices. Competes for the same Fortune 500 CEO and CMO client base served by WWW, but offers far broader global scale, technology, and integrated marketing capabilities.
- Hill+Knowlton Strategies: Large global public affairs and communications holding-company firm with a public affairs, executive communications, and crisis practice. Competes for the same Fortune 500 and public sector clients, but with substantially broader service portfolio and international scale than the boutique WWW.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
West Wing Writers social profiles
Digital presenceWest Wing Writers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
West Wing Writers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles23 records
West Wing Writers subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
West Wing Writers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
West Wing Writers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about West Wing Writers
What does West Wing Writers do?
West Wing Writers is a strategic communications and speechwriting firm that helps CEOs, executives, philanthropists, political leaders, and cultural figures develop messages, draft speeches and presentations, produce large events, and receive media training and coaching. Its services are organized around three pillars—Develop Your Message, Express Your Idea, and Amplify Your Voice—and are complemented by Disruption Books, a wholly-owned nonfiction publishing subsidiary.
Is West Wing Writers a public or private company?
West Wing Writers is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was West Wing Writers founded?
West Wing Writers was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is West Wing Writers based?
West Wing Writers is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does West Wing Writers make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Strategic Communications Consulting is the primary driver. The others are disruption Books Publishing.
Who are West Wing Writers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kekst CNC, Brunswick Group, Precision Strategies, FGS Global, GMMB, BerlinRosen, SKDKnickerbocker and Bully Pulpit Interactive. Broad incumbents are Edelman and Hill+Knowlton Strategies.
Does West Wing Writers have an API?
No public API is recorded for West Wing Writers.
What industry is West Wing Writers in?
West Wing Writers's product category is Strategic Communications Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAGAD, Leadership Development & Executive Coaching, with a secondary code of EDABANAA, C-Suite & Senior Executive Coaching. Its NAICS code is 541611 and its SIC code is 8742.