Pat launches ideas, companies and movements by shaping the public conversation where politics, technology and philanthropy meet.

T I M E L I N E

 
 

Pat applies creative ideas and action to lead and deploy networks of real people toward actual power and persuasion through story-telling and political organizing.

In 2024, Pat led a $10M effort to elevate nonpartisan and Independent candidates, like US Senate candidate Dan Osbourne in Nebraska and Greg Kidd in Northern Nevada, seeking to test and learn how to build issues-based coalitions in conservative places.

In 2023, Pat convened cross-sector investors and entrepreneurs innovating new sources of energy with policymakers on how to build renewable data centers and power grids.

Since 2022, Pat has represented Republican and Democratic business and technology leaders to fight for the rule of law and for free and fair elections; she works with best-in-class partners in California and nationally to advocate for responsible and safe AI legislation.

In 2021, Pat co-founded Parent Power California, a nonprofit bringing together equity advocates, public health professionals, and parents to create more resilient public schools.

In one political cycle, Change Research became the pollster of choice for Pod Save America, CNBC, KQED/NPR and dozens of media partners across the US as well as the New Georgia Project and Color of Change. Its Change Agent network helped drive profitability to ensure that even the smallest campaign had access to polling.

In 2016, Pat sold PR & Company to Fenton, and co-founded Change Research, a public benefit corporation committed to increasing the success of Democratic candidates and campaigns with more accurate and affordable data science and research.

The heart of PR & Company's work had been improving the lives of children and their families. From Saving Kindergarten to Summer Matters, to Yes on 38, to expanding funding for public education to advancing community schools, STEM education and vocational opportunities, Pat and her team led dozens of campaigns for kids.

PR & Company guided the Women Donors Network, EmergeAmerica and a campaign to increase the power and visibility of female venture capitalists.

Specializing in women in power, PR & Company guided the Nobel Prize-winning inventor of CRISPR; launched the world's first nonprofit pharmaceutical company and technology aimed at disrupting bias in the hiring process.

PR & Company helped Twitter launch its first Bay Area philanthropy, led communications for Technology for Obama and launched the Good Business Network to catalyze more focus on how technology could help foster social good.

Pat's writing has been featured in Fast Company, The Hill, EducationWeek, NPR/KQED, and the San Francisco Chronicle. She has been interviewed by the Politico, the New York Times, Washington Post and CNN, MSNBC and Pod Save America, among many others

Pat launched PR & Company in 1996, quickly becoming the go-to team for women in power, tech for good, innovative philanthropy and public education.

After serving in high profile communications roles in Washington, DC at the National Governors' Association and National Women's Political Caucus, Pat came to San Francisco as the campaign press secretary for San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr.

 

  • Creative Synthesis

    “Thinking creatively about a new company, collaboration or campaign to speed positive social change is what I do.  It starts with a challenge, and then, working together, we find an opportunity to create change that’s positive, fresh and impactful.” 

  • Launch

    “Once we workshop the right solution, I bring together the right set of funders, creative collaborators, technology solutions and partners for the launch. For-profit, nonprofit, and public benefit sectors all require identifying a successful strategy to enter a new market or to advance fresh thinking.”

  • Growth

    “From designing sales, brand and marketing strategies, to identifying recruiting and training effective teams, to building partnerships and programs, I grow revenue, impact and visibility.”

 

W H A T P E O P L E A R E S A Y I N G

 

“Pat's Change Agent program is one of the best examples of a community driven go to market strategy we have seen to date in the political technology sector. The network continues to bear fruit for the ecosystem.”

– Betsy Hoover, co-founder Higher Ground Labs

“Pat Reilly thinks big, delivers big and creates excitement, enthusiasm and excellence in all that she does.”

— Rusty Reuff, Technology for Obama, co-chair.

“If you are in the “technology for good” space, you won’t find a better strategist than Pat Reilly.”

— Maureen Blanc, founder of Blanc and Otus, co-founder of Charge Across Town.

“If you are trying to lead through change, you want Pat Reilly by your side.”

— Jonathan Raymond, former head of the Stuart Foundation and New Rochelle Superintendent of Public Schools.

“Strategy, imagination and smart execution is what you get when you work with Pat. She brings people together to create new opportunities unlike anyone I’ve ever met.”

— Jennifer Peck, Executive Director of the Partnership for Children & Youth.

“In a business with a lot of people who talk about impact, Pat makes it happen. She brought in people, money and momentum to help Democrats win in Arizona,”

— Ian Danley

“At a time when there is a lot of shouted opinion about women in power, Pat’s advice helps ensure the Women Donors’ Network communications network is strategic and high impact.

— Donna Hall, Women Donors’ Network executive director.

 

A B O U T P A T

At home in Berkeley, San Francisco, Narragansett, RI and New Jersey.  Devoted mother of two sons.  Laughs out loud, a lot.  Samba dancer, bike rider, body surfer, nature lover, bird watcher and adventurer.   News junkie and newspaper devotee.  Story-teller and listener.  Enjoys high pressure live media.  Fearless about democracy, justice, human-centered technology… and most dance floors.

P A S T P A R T N E R S