Erika Shaffer

Director of Strategic Communications

Erika Shaffer

Erika Shaffer

Director of Strategic Communications

Erika is Madrona’s Director of Strategic Communications. In this role, she works with Madrona portfolio companies to amplify their most important initiatives and elevate their stories in the national, regional, and business media.

Journey to Madrona

Erika joined Madrona in 2012. Prior to coming to Madrona, she guided startups and mid-sized companies through launches, thought leadership and communications campaigns while at the SutherlandGold Group, a tech and consumer communications firm based in San Francisco. Erika has worked across a broad range of technology industries with founders to create and tell stories that resonate with media, influencers, and consumers. Before SutherlandGold, Erika was director of communications at RealNetworks, where she helped guide communications around corporate shifts in strategy, consumer product launches, and major industry initiatives. Erika started her career in technology in the early 90s working in the Microsoft Investor Relations group.

Lessons learned

Even in this world of digital, relationships matter. And seeing people in person is important!

When she’s not in the office…

Erika can be found on one of her bikes doing something epic! Or making dinner for her family and friends. Or trying a new chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Noteworthy

Erika received a bachelor’s from Bowdoin College and a master’s in library & information science from the University of Washington.

Erika on Madrona

“I’ve always said it is the attitude you bring and the people you work with that make your work fulfilling. Madrona has an incredible group of people who just want to get in and help founders build. In my day-to-day, the best feeling is working with a founder or startup leader to tell their story in a way that is meaningful to the world and makes a real impact on their trajectory.”