Kimberly Spell

Founding Principal

Kimberly Spell is a strategic communications and public affairs leader with 30 years of experience shaping narratives, managing crises, and elevating public profiles across government, national political campaigns, global corporations, journalism, and nonprofits.

A trusted advisor and sought-after strategist, Kimberly has been at the center of some of the most high-stakes communications efforts of the past three decades. She has served as a senior advisor and spokeswoman for three U.S. presidential candidates, counseled a governor and a U.S. congressman, and was the communications architect behind a U.S. Senate candidate’s upset victory over a two-term incumbent in North Carolina.

In New York City, Kimberly spent a decade as Chief Communications Officer for NYC & Company, the city’s official marketing and tourism organization under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. There, she led a global team spanning 18 international press offices, driving record-breaking tourism and reshaping the city's image as safe, accessible, and welcoming. Through high-impact campaigns and innovative partnerships with brands like Disney, Sony, and Sesame Street, she helped secure New York’s position as the #1 U.S. travel destination—surpassing Orlando for the first time.

In 2015, Kimberly founded One World Associates, an international consultancy redefining public relations through transparency, strategic storytelling, and a commitment to mission-driven impact. Now in its tenth year, One World specializes in crisis management, earned media, and issue and political campaign advocacy—working with global leaders, organizations, and companies navigating complex challenges.

As One World evolves, Kimberly is building a collaborative firm that brings together journalists, storytellers, and communications professionals to drive meaningful change. She remains dedicated to helping clients cut through the noise, amplify their voices, and shape the conversations that matter in an increasingly complex world.

A longtime champion of education and a proud product of North Carolina’s public schools, Kimberly was the first in her family to graduate from college. She earned her degree from Meredith College, an all-women’s institution in Raleigh, before attending American University in Washington, D.C., where she studied journalism and interned with Ted Koppel’s Nightline. More recently, she earned top marks in Executive Leadership for Women from Yale School of Management in 2023.