About us
Codeword is a communication design agency. We make sense of all of a brand’s inputs and outputs, design communications programs with a high-level of intention, and then execute day-to-day with in-the-weeds expertise.
Our industry-leading Executive Communications team is the heart of this work. We help the world’s most celebrated leaders and brands break through the noise and make a real impact. We’ve written for CEOs and execs of Fortune 100 companies, and leaders of growing startups. And we’ve spent late nights putting pen to paper with presidential candidates, secretaries of state, senators, and governors.
Decades of experience adds up to one thing: we’ve refined our craft. We know what matters to your audience (hint: they’re smarter than you might think), and how to make your messages stick.
Our expertise
We know the media, we move the market.
Immediate and lasting impression is crucial. We make events memorable, and we make them move the market, by crafting speeches that are clear, concise, and engaging.
We do this by going beyond the script itself to help shape the overall experience: onstage, on social media, in press coverage, and with your communities.
By the numbers:
Our approach
Our 360° framework incorporates:
Social media and editorial ghostwriting
Speechwriting
Social content creation
Presentation design
Media training
PR-focused strategies
Your storytelling experts
We’re a pressure-tested team who loves what we do, because we get to help the right people tell the right stories. And we know how to do it.
Kyle Monson
Founding Partner
With over 20 years in the tech industry, Kyle has evolved from journalist to strategist, writer, and creative lead for global brands and startups. He brings editorial precision to advertising, PR, and executive communications. Kyle led a Cannes-award-winning newsroom for Microsoft, helped Google build …
Case Button
VP, Executive Communications
Case is a seasoned communications leader and speechwriter with nearly two decades of experience advising top executives and elected officials in business, tech, and government. His work has appeared in presidential announcements, TED Talks, Dreamforce, Samsung Unpacked, and major publications like The New York …
Austin Johansen
Editorial Director
Austin joined Codeword in 2016, initially supporting the agency’s growing Google account team. He has crafted brand case studies, thought leadership articles, speeches for major tech events, and social copy for global audiences. Over time, his copywriting expertise has expanded to include smart communications …
Brandon Carter
Strategy Director
Brandon is a brand strategist and copywriter with over 10 years of experience helping VC-backed startups and publicly traded tech companies shape their strategic narratives. He has crafted impactful speeches for C-suite executives and leaders that resonate with audiences and influence markets. Brandon excels …
Steve Rousseau
Editorial Director
Steve is a seasoned writer and editor with over a decade of experience in magazines, digital media, and advertising. He has covered tech and culture for outlets like Bloomberg and Vox, edited features, and produced videos at Digg. He has developed creative content and …
Mary von Aue
Senior Editor
Mary brings over a decade of experience in journalism and content strategy to Codeword, where she crafts executive communications and brand narratives that fuel growth for Fortune 500 clients. Previously, she served as Editorial Director at Observer, launching its first innovation vertical and establishing …
Jodie Kim
Senior Editor
Since joining Codeword in 2018, Jodie has been instrumental in creating content that lies at the intersection of brand priorities and audience passions. She’s worked with clients ranging from ChromeOS to Google Marketing, Google I/O and Shopify to Think with Google AUNZ and Google …
Bob Rushing
Senior Editor
Bob joined Codeword in 2023 as a Senior Editor supporting a number of Google accounts, notably Chrome, YouTube, Google Ads, and Grow with Google. He also works closely with Shopify on messaging. He’s had previous editorial and marketing roles at Google, Lyft, and the …
Ready to make your words work harder?
We prioritize bold points of view over simple messages. We craft speeches that not only sound like the speakers, but elevate them. Writing for impact and humanity, with a touch of tension and a dash of humor, we don’t rest until we create content that moves the conversation and drives action.