Emily Lessard

I help the institutions the public relies on clarify their vision, elevate their brand, and drive meaningful growth. As Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Bellweather, I've spent the past decade leading strategy and creative direction for destination brands (Baltimore, Breckenridge, Napa Valley, Newark), public-interest campaigns (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Everytown for Gun Safety, NYC Votes), and cultural institutions (BRIC, Brooklyn Public Library, Snug Harbor Cultural Center). Each partnership centers ambitious work with civic and cultural weight that most agencies aren't structured to deliver. My co-CEO Gracelyn Woods and I built Bellweather to take on the scale and consequence our partners' missions demand, whether the brief is a six-month election sprint or a decade-long institutional relationship. Our work has been recognized by the Webby Awards, Fast Company, and Awwwards. Outside of Bellweather, I'm the founder of The Plant Native, a company with a big mission: make native plant gardening accessible to suburban homeowners across North America. With 100,000+ monthly readers and a forthcoming book, it's reshaping how Americans engage with their yards, one beginner-friendly story at a time. Please ask me any questions you have about dogwoods or why monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed (it's for the cardiac glycosides). I care deeply about helping organizations grow with relevance and creativity, and about building a future that is both inclusive and ecologically sound. Based in Philadelphia. Let's connect.