Brianna Willis
West Wing Writers
Washington, DC USA
"Sometimes when you ask, you get what you ask for, but you have to be brave enough to ask for it in the first place."
Career Roadmap
Brianna's work combines: Writing, Politics, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
The educational path I took made sense for becoming a political speechwriter, which I accomplished before I came back to West Wing Writers. However, politics isn't the only field where speechwriters are needed! You could major or minor in English and journalism, and still being set up for success as a speechwriter.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Political Science
Northwestern University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I grew up on the South Side of Chicago, where supportive teachers treated us with respect and helped me believe my voice mattered.
2.
In high school, I joined the speech team, which gave me an outlet to express myself and taught me the power of performance and presence.
3.
I fell in love with political speechwriting through extemporaneous speaking—digging into issues, building arguments, and speaking on my feet.
4.
A senior-year class taught by President Obama’s former speechwriter gave me the tools and samples I needed to pursue this path seriously.
5.
I first joined West Wing Writers as an intern in 2018, where my passion for storytelling found a professional home for the first time.
6.
After college, I landed a job writing speeches for Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, helping guide my hometown through its pandemic response.
7.
Two years ago, I returned to West Wing Writers as a director, helping leaders across sectors use words to move people and shape policy.
