Communications counsel for founders and executive teams.

Strategic Advisor & Fractional CCO

● Seattle, WA | Worldwide
APPROACH

When communications work is done right, it disappears into the outcome. What remains is earned trust — teams aligned around what's true and a reputation that holds under scrutiny. That's the standard this practice holds to.

ABOUT
Profile photo of Founder & Principal, Nina Lai in black top against outdoor backdrop.

Photo: Jamison Weeks

Founder & Principal — Nina Lai

I'm the daughter of tech executives with roots across four continents. That childhood of constant movement and cultural translation shaped how I see communication as the bridge between intention and understanding.

I spent nearly two decades inside global organizations and agencies—Benefit Cosmetics, Lenovo, Emirates, Edelman, M&C Saatchi—leading communications through transformation and building functions from the ground up. My time as Chief of Staff to a CEO provided a front-row seat to how leaders make decisions under pressure, and exactly what breaks down when strategy and execution are misaligned.

NYL Consulting provides counsel to founders and executive teams at defining moments. Operating outside organizational politics gives me the freedom to focus entirely on what's best for the client, while my years inside those environments inform the dynamics I help leaders navigate.

Beyond my advisory, I serve as Communications Chair for Impact 100 Seattle and mentor emerging leaders through the Asian American Professional Association. I also produce In Between Worlds, a newsletter and podcast exploring how we live and work across cultures.

ENGAGEMENTS

Strategic Advisory

Counsel for leaders who have a team to execute but need a senior strategist at the table.

Fractional CCO

For organizations that need senior communications leadership. Embedded in the business, accountable for the function, and personally present for the work that carries the most weight.

High-stakes Sprints

Targeted, rapid-response strategy and execution for defining moments: fundraising rounds, M&A, leadership transitions, or crisis mitigation.

PERSPECTIVE

"Nina commands respect with a deep understanding of business priorities and translates data into actionable insights for the C-suite."

— Chief of Staff to COO, Lenovo

"She tactfully managed the senior executive team... fostering a culture of trust and providing essential leadership on internal communications."

— VP, Global Head of Learning, Visa

"She pressure-tested my thinking and provided the outside strategic perspective I needed to make confident decisions."

— CEO, Insightline Consulting
CONTACT