Ready to Create?

About Lucy

Lucy Okumu is a global strategic communications leader, trusted advisor, and founder of Create Change Consulting, a boutique consulting firm dedicated to helping leaders and organizations communicate with clarity, lead with purpose, and navigate change with confidence. With over 20 years of experience across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, Lucy has guided senior leaders, universities, government agencies, and nonprofits through moments of transformation, growth, and crisis. She is recognized for her ability to distill complex ideas into compelling messages, build alignment among diverse stakeholders, navigate uncertainty with clarity, and design communication strategies that create a measurable impact.

Prior to launching Create Change Consulting, she served as Director of Communications at Stanford University’s Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research, where she shaped narratives on policy, research, and institutional priorities to help advance the university’s global mission. She also collaborated with media relations teams in schools and central offices to craft crisis response strategies to mitigate unfavorable coverage and correct the record. Previously, she spent nearly a decade at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, where she served as Chief of Staff and Director of Operations in the Office of the President and later as Director of International Office. In both roles, Lucy led the incubation of new initiatives and programs to expand the global reach of a young research university. At KAUST, she expanded academic partnerships, launched global public relations campaigns, and led crisis communications that protected and strengthened the university’s global reputation. She also led an international team, cultivating an action-oriented and client-responsive culture centered on purpose and inclusivity. Her earlier career profile includes senior roles at the California Institute of Technology, Los Angeles Unified School District, and public policy and nonprofit leadership.

Born in Uganda and raised in California, Lucy brings a deep appreciation for cultural connection and the power of dialogue to bridge divides. She has traveled to 30 countries, is currently learning Greek, and has raised funds to support Ndajia Primary Elementary in her mother’s village. Creating full-circle cultural moments is intrinsic to her DNA, both personally and professionally.

A German Marshall Fund American Marshall Memorial Fellow, and American Council Young Political Leader Fellow, Lucy was selected to represent the United States in Europe and Australia to deepen cultural appreciation across borders. She has also served on boards, including the USC Price School alumni advisory board, New Village Girls Academy, and the Para Los Niños advisory board. She holds a Master's Degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor's of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis.