Biography

Strategic Communications and Organizational Change Leader
Integrated Marketing Communications • Executive Messaging • Stakeholder Engagement

Susan C. Freeman is a strategic communications and organizational change leader with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations make complex work clear and move it into action. Her work spans financial services, technology, legal services, energy, healthcare, higher education, and civic organizations.

She served as Vice President of Global Link Technology Sales at State Street and held business development, client service, and communications roles at law firms including Munger, Tolles & Olson, Thomson Reuters, and PG&E. As founder of Freeman Means Business, she has developed executive communications, proposals, leadership programs, and professional training. She founded Conscious Inclusion Company in 2019 and led it until its closure in December 2024.

Following that chapter, Freeman contributed to Tellapy and taught adult learners through UC Riverside Extension and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Across workshops, keynotes, and teaching, she has educated more than 5,000 professionals.

Freeman is a Ph.D. scholar in Management of Complex Systems at UC Merced. She holds an M.A. in Communication and bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Journalism. Her approach combines audience insight, systems thinking, inclusive leadership, and clear storytelling.

She is pursuing senior roles in strategic and corporate communications, integrated marketing communications, executive and change communications, and stakeholder engagement in Walnut Creek and the East Bay.

Susan can be reached at Susan@FreemanMeansBusiness.com

Professional Summary

Susan C. Freeman is an award-winning CEO, strategic communicator, and Ph.D. scholar specializing in the Management of Complex Systems at the University of California, Merced. With over 20 years of experience, she has led initiatives in corporate strategy, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and systemic change. She is the CEO and Founder of Conscious Inclusion Company, LLC, a firm dedicated to creating and maintaining equity through inclusion in workplaces through data-driven solutions.

A recognized expert in inclusive leadership and corporate communications, Susan has educated over 5,000+ service professionals, consulted for Fortune 500 firms, and contributed thought leadership on workplace inclusion, gender equity, and business development.

Susan has published two books: “The Ultimate Women Associates' Law Firm Marketing Checklist: The Renowned Step-By-Step, Year-By-Year Process for Lawyers Who Want to Develop Clients” and a bestseller, “Own Your Story: Empower. Connect. Create Change.”

Read more about Susan in “The Riversider,” digital magazine.

As a member of Emerge California Class of 2026 — Susan is part of a powerful group of women already leading in their communities as social workers, teachers, advocates, organizers, entrepreneurs, and more.

Tellapy.com (Voice of Empowerment, 2025–2026)

A digital platform dedicated to supporting women's mental well-being through shared experiences and community-driven engagement.

• Developed and launched a safe, accessible, and scalable platform for peer-to-peer support and expert-driven resources.

• Created a community-based support model addressing the barriers women face in accessing mental health care, including cost, time, and fragmented resources.

• Designed and implemented interactive group discussions, live events, and resource hubs to empower women through storytelling and connection.

• Advocates for integrative mental wellness, making support systems more relatable, preventative, and continuous.

• Works with mental health professionals, wellness experts, and technology teams to expand digital inclusion in mental health solutions.

Conscious Inclusion Company, LLC (2019–2025)

• Founder & CEO of a woman-owned, minority-operated consulting firm specializing in Artificial Intelligence NLP/SA, corporate DEI strategy, leadership development, and inclusive communication.

• Developed a data-driven framework to measure inclusion, leveraging AI/NLP sentiment analysis for workplace culture assessments.

• Provides executive coaching and corporate training on inclusive leadership, bias mitigation, and strategic storytelling.

• Works with organizations to align DEI goals with business strategy, ensuring measurable impact.

Freeman Means Business (2010–Present)

• National keynote speaker, podcast host, and corporate trainer focused on inclusive communication and women’s leadership.

• Advocates for gender equity through educational programs, workshops, and media contributions.

• Hosts #EmpoweredWomen events, a platform dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices in leadership.

• Taught “Girls in Politics,” a full-day program on history, government, and politics for girls ages 7-15.

Corporate Communications (1995–2018)

• Business Development & Communications Leader in top-tier law firms, including Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, where she developed the Munger U. attorney training program.

• Held leadership roles in marketing, internal communications, and business strategy at various organizations, including Thomson Reuters, Pacific Gas & Electric, and State Street Corporation.

• Specialized in client service strategy, brand positioning, and attorney training in business development.

• Vice President, Technology Sales, State Street Global Link

Key Areas of Expertise

• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) – Advises companies on systemic policy changes focusing on pay equity, pipeline development, inclusive hiring, and leadership accountability.

• Complex Systems & Organizational Behavior – Applies systems thinking to business strategy and public policy, ensuring long-term sustainability and impact.

• Strategic Storytelling & Public Speaking – Uses narrative-driven communication to advocate for change, increase stakeholder engagement, and inspire leadership action.

• Corporate & Public Sector Leadership – Expertise in navigating government relations, regulatory affairs, and policy development.

• Military & Veteran Advocacy – As a Navy wife and mother, she actively supports women veterans, military families, and gender equity in the armed forces. 

Recognition & Endorsements

• Stevie® Award-Winning CEO – Recognized for leadership in business and corporate responsibility.

• Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society Member – Recognized for excellence in communication studies.

• Women’s Club of Silicon Valley – Recognized for connecting and amplifying voices of women.

Papers & Publications

·       Master’s Thesis: A Study of The Importance of Client-Centric Communication In Business Development Within a Law Firm Setting

·       Doctoral 1st year Paper: "How has AI/NLP Sentiment Analysis Been Used in Behavioral Research"?

·       Doctoral 2nd year Paper: "Evidence-based strategies for recruiting and retaining demographically diverse talent in organizations.”

·       Doctoral Integrative Paper: “The Power of Inclusive Diversity: A Game-Changer in Global Branding and Marketing.”

·       Dissertation Proposal: "Linking Educator Well-Being and Intrinsic Motivation to Student Success: Extending the Service-Profit Chain to Education in Riverside County"

·       Why DEI is Only Part of the Pie p. 40

·       The Spiral of Silence in Law Firms

·       All that Glitters is Not Gold: Popularized by Supreme Court majorities from the 1970s to the present, the de facto segregation myth has now been adopted by conventional opinion, liberal and conservative alike.

·       The Art & Science of Persuasion

·       Good Questions Are More Powerful Than Any Answers

·       Answers for Ethical Marketers: A Guide to Good Practice in Business Communication

·       The Thin Line Between Bitch and Cupcake

·       ChatGPT or Me?

·       THE ULTIMATE WOMEN ASSOCIATES’ LAW FIRM MARKETING CHECKLIST

·       OWN YOUR STORY: EMPOWER, CONNECT, CREATE CHANGE

Policy Initiatives & Vision

·       Dissertation: “Linking Excellent Client Service to Profitability: The Role of Employee Happiness and Intrinsic Motivation in Service Industries.”

• Workplace Equity and Economic Opportunity – Strengthening policies that support women’s economic mobility, pay equity, and leadership advancement.

• Education and Workforce Development – Expanding STEM and leadership programs for women and girls in tech, law, and public service.

• Community Health and Digital Inclusion – Bridging the digital divide through affordable broadband programs and digital literacy initiatives​.

• Veteran and Military Family Support – Enhancing benefits, career opportunities, and mental health services for women veterans and military families.

• Civic Engagement and Arts Advocacy – Supporting public arts, historical preservation, and community development initiatives.

• Host of “Wonder Women in Business” – A podcast that amplifies the voices of women in business.

• Host of “THE FORCE” – A podcast for women elected or appointed to office and in public service.