Messaging isn't the last thing you figure out. It's the foundation.
Founder: Michelle Ponto
Michelle Ponto is an Emmy-nominated journalist and strategic communications advisor specializing in messaging, positioning, and AI visibility. With more than 25 years of experience, she works with companies and leadership teams to define what they stand for and ensure it is consistently understood across media, markets, and AI systems.
She has held senior roles across media, corporate communications, and advisory, supporting organizations in energy, advanced technology, sustainability, and industrial sectors. Her work focuses on building structured messaging frameworks that align business strategy with clear, credible communication.
Earlier in her career, she worked as a journalist and digital news director with The New York Times, CBS News, ABC News, Discovery Channel, Thomson Reuters, and The E.W. Scripps Company.
At a time when many broadcasters were just beginning to embrace digital, she led the transformation of several traditional television newsrooms into digital-first operations, leading newsroom teams through one of the industry's biggest shifts in how news was gathered, produced and delivered.
Today, she is doing similar work by helping marcom teams rethink how the communications function operates, such as when to use AI and tech intelligence, while putting an emphasis on strategy, positioning, judgment and storytelling to enhance AI visibility and influence.
Thought leadership & Speaking
If you are looking for a keynote speaker, moderator or leadership advisor on today’s communications challenges, communications and AI, or executive personal branding, reach out.
I am an active keynote speaker, moderator and guest lecturer, with a growing focus on thought leadership around communications, leadership narrative and organizational reinvention.
My speaking work draws on what I see every day working with founders, CEOs and companies launching new brands, new products, rethinking supply chains and business models and more.
Recognition
Both my work and Blue Gecko’s approach to communications have been recognised globally.
Top Influencial Woman of the Year (2026), CEO Scoop Magazine
Top 100 Women Leading the Future (2026), Premier Women Middle East & Africa Magazine
2025 Legacy Award for Purposeful Communications, recognising long-term impact in leadership-driven sustainability storytelling
Top 50 Disruptors List 2025, CEO Scoop Magazine
Blue Gecko ranked among the Top 10 Sustainability Consultancies in the GCC (2025)
“Every great movement, product, and company was built twice. Once in reality, and once in messaging. Get the language right first.”
— MICHELLE PONTO, FOUNDER & CEO OF BLUE GECKO COMMUNICATIONS