Hello! I am Caroline Altenbernd, a strategist, communications advisor, and arts advocate based in New York City. I am also a business communications lecturer at City University of New York’s Baruch College and previously taught at Columbia University at the graduate level for nearly six years.

My mission is to equip people with useful knowledge. Fostering relationships through storytelling, emotional intelligence, and data-driven strategies is central to my work. My experience spans corporate communications, public policy, partnerships, media production, and knowledge management across industries, sectors, and regions. I operate effectively in highly regulated environments, navigate uncertainty with confidence, and address high-stakes challenges.

I have led strategic projects for more than 40 organizations worldwide, including Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Kew Gardens, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Eataly, Kimpton Hotels, Royal Albert Hall, Imperial War Museums, and others. Between 2018 and 2023, I oversaw strategy for educational content on political advertising and election integrity at Meta Platforms, ensuring that advertisers across 200+ countries and territories—including political parties, candidates, and businesses—were equipped to run political and social issue ads on Facebook and Instagram. In parallel, I led an accessibility initiative for Facebook’s Business Help Center to improve content usability. In early 2022, I was nominated for the American Association of Political Consultants’ 40 Under 40 Award for this work.

Before Meta, I worked with NASA Ames Research Center, NASA Johnson Space Center, and Publicis Groupe on communications and public relations initiatives. My work with NASA included expanding awareness of partnerships with private sector organizations such as SpaceX, Stratolaunch, United Launch Alliance, and Boeing, as well as NASA’s educational programs. At Publicis Groupe, I advised on internal and external communications supporting agency developments across Digitas, Razorfish, and Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness, contributing to work for clients including AstraZeneca, Sanofi, and Roche. I began my career as a contributing writer for USA TODAY and Modern Luxury’s regional magazines, covering culture and lifestyle.

I take on select teaching, advisory, and consulting engagements across higher education, technology, art, hospitality, and aerospace, as well as advocacy-related partnerships in the arts, education, and space. I am also open to mentoring students, including those beyond my own institutions. I am currently on the Fulbright Specialist roster, part of the Fulbright Program, which connects experts with host institutions worldwide.

At this time, I am establishing a 501(c)(3) art foundation, the Altenbernd Foundation, focused on bringing modern art to emerging places. I will begin by expanding access to modern art in Orlando, Florida, the city where I spent my early youth, through exhibitions and community-focused programming.

I am a proud alumna of Columbia University, Baruch College, and the Fashion Institute of Technology. I have also pursued artistic training at the Arts League Institute of New York and Parque Lage in Rio de Janeiro.

When possible, I enjoy visiting museums, traveling, learning something new, volunteering with Junior Achievement (since 2012), and playing chess.

Selected case studies and project details can be shared upon request.