Tess Pawlisch is founder and CEO of Needle PR, a communications agency that champions values driven brands. She has 15 years of experience elevating underrepresented voices from Washington, D.C., to Silicon Valley.

Tess began her career at 15 on the historic recall campaign of Governor Scott Walker, later leading fundraising and communications for high profile political campaigns and nonprofits. In 2019, Tess shifted to mission driven startups and venture capital firms, providing strategic communications support. Since founding Needle PR in 2023, she has worked with clients in artificial intelligence, blockchain, climate, and healthcare. 

Tess holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and completed the Women’s Leadership Program at The George Washington University.