Susana Olague is a content strategist who shapes and shares stories of impact and importance. She serves as Associate Director, Communications, for the Aspen Institute’s Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation.
Before she joined the Institute, Susana was a philanthropy writer with Children’s National Hospital. Her strategic input and writing helped raise $65 million over eight years. Her past experiences also include roles at the American Red Cross and the National Science Foundation. Whether it’s responding to a disaster like Hurricane Sandy or flying 24 hours to facilitate grant workshops in Micronesia, she’s seen the strength of communities and witnessed the power of philanthropy. Through it all, she’s learned that she wants to leave behind a healthier, more just world.
Susana is a first-generation Mexican American immigrant. She was lucky enough to split her childhood between San Isidro, Zacatecas, Mexico, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her two homes gave her good friends, conversational Spanish skills, and the desire to tell lots of stories. She lives in the Washington, D.C., area with her husband and daughter.