Brianna Willis

Director

West Wing Writers

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.

About Brianna

I grew up on the South Side of Chicago, where supportive teachers treated us with respect and helped me believe my voice mattered.
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.
I fell in love with political speechwriting through extemporaneous speaking—digging into issues, building arguments, and speaking on my feet.
A senior-year class taught by President Obama’s former speechwriter gave me the tools and samples I needed to pursue this path seriously.
I first joined West Wing Writers as an intern in 2018, where my passion for storytelling found a professional home for the first time.
After college, I landed a job writing speeches for Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, helping guide my hometown through its pandemic response.
Two years ago, I returned to West Wing Writers as a director, helping leaders across sectors use words to move people and shape policy.