Yolanda Caraway is Straife’s political risk director. As a political risk expert, Ms. Caraway analyzes and explores the political and social factors in various geographies to better help clients identify potential challenges and develop strategies.

Yolanda has played a significant role in shaping the goals and objectives of the National Democratic Party. She has been called upon throughout her career to coordinate various party efforts. From 1982 to 1985, she served as Director of Education and Training for the DNC under the late Chairman Chuck Manatt. In 1985, Yolanda was appointed Sr. Advisor to Chairman Paul Kirk and Executive Director of the Fairness Commission, the committee responsible for developing the rules for the 1988 convention. In late 1985, she joined the National Rainbow Coalition as Chief of Staff to what became Jesse Jackson’s historic second bid for president. In 1988, she was appointed an At-Large DNC Member and served in that capacity until 2009. 1989, she played a pivotal role in the historic election of the late Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown to Chair the Democratic National Committee. She later became Chairman Brown’s Senior Advisor at Party Headquarters and managed the Site Selection Process for the 1992 Democratic National Convention. Since 2008, Yolanda has managed the backstage and podium operations for the Democratic National Convention.

Yolanda has counseled several well-known Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and high-profile individuals in every aspect of communications strategy. She is a nationally recognized public relations and public affairs strategist known for policy-making, political management, and public relations work in government and the nonprofit and private sectors. She has worked with major U.S. companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Google, Airbnb, AT&T, MGM MIRAGE, Mitsubishi, and Texaco. Yolanda has also counseled government and nonprofit agencies such as the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, the Center for American Progress, and the NATO 50th Anniversary Summit.

In 2009, Yolanda was appointed to the Council on American Politics, a group of nationally renowned political leaders addressing current affairs and working toward the growth and enrichment of The George Washington University School of Political Management. She is a member of the Corporate Directors Group and the American College of Corporate Directors and is on the board of directors of Color of Change PAC, Head and Heart Philanthropy, Rush Arts Philadelphia, and Emily’s List, where she serves as Secretary-Treasurer and chairs their DEI Committee. In addition,

On October 2, 2018, Yolanda became a published author – co-writing “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics” with Donna Brazile, Reverend Leah Daughtry (organizer-activist and political operative), and Minyon Moore (political activist and former White House Director of Political Affairs) for which they won the 2019 NAACP Image Award for the Literary Non-Fiction category. The book has received critical acclaim and has led to the authors speaking at numerous corporations, universities, and non-profits.