Independent application work sample

Communications Manager—Social & Digital

How I would build a trusted executive voice for issues that matter in Washington.

A focused demonstration of the strategy, editorial judgment, and test-and-learn approach I would bring to this role.

Created independently by Erika Howard; not commissioned by or affiliated with Microsoft.

Start here · A note from Erika

What this is

Hi, I’m Erika. This is an independent working sample for the Communications Manager—Social & Digital role. The job is to build a credible, human executive voice around Washington policy, community impact, and philanthropy.

Rather than describe that work abstractly, I used one public Microsoft initiative—Elevate Washington—to show how I would approach it. Elevate Washington is simply the example, not the assignment.

The site shows how I would identify the human story, protect accuracy and partner authority, adapt the story for different audiences and formats, and use performance and sentiment to improve what comes next. That approach draws on my experience translating policy and legal topics, supporting leadership voice, producing digital content, and learning from audience response.

A 45-second introduction, written to be spoken.

01 · The role

Build a distinct executive voice—and keep earning trust.

Executive voice

Develop a credible, human point of view around Washington priorities and local impact.

Social and digital formats

Create always-on LinkedIn, written, video, and emerging-platform storytelling.

Sensitive-issue judgment

Protect accuracy, tone, message discipline, and appropriate escalation.

Performance and sentiment

Use response and experimentation to refine voice, channels, and engagement.

Why use one public example?

A strategy is easier to evaluate when it is applied to something real. I chose Microsoft Elevate Washington because it connects technology, Washington education, community impact, and a public commitment. It is one test case—not the role itself.

See the example source

02 · One example

One public issue, worked through.

The initiative supplies the facts. The demonstration is the editorial reasoning applied to them.

Story for

Washington educators

Open with the work

Begin with the work educators are already trying to do. Let the technology enter only after the practical need is clear.

Anchor the facts

Microsoft Elevate Washington publicly commits support across 295 school districts and 34 community colleges through AI tools, training, grants, and implementation support. The announcement establishes scope, not measured outcomes.

Share the authority

An educator shows one real task or constraint in their own words. The executive supplies context and accountability, not the educator’s conclusion.

Ask, then return

What would make this support genuinely useful in a classroom, and what still stands between access and adoption?

Invite educators to name one implementation question that should shape the next public update.

03 · How I’d operate

Turn one useful story into an always-on practice.

The role requires a recognizable voice, channel range, sound judgment, and a visible learning loop.

Voice

Build a distinct point of view without losing enterprise alignment.

Formats

Carry the core story across posts, threads, long-form writing, and short video.

Judgment

Verify claims, protect partner authority, and know when to pause or escalate.

Learning

Track performance and sentiment, then improve the next editorial choice.

First 30 days

Listen Map questions and trusted messengers.
Choose Select one useful story and clear claim.
Publish Pair executive context with partner authority.
Learn Read response and improve the next update.

04 · Why Erika

This is how I already work.

I have translated policy and legal changes into practical public guidance, supported leadership voice, and managed communications reaching thousands of subscribers and organizational leaders.

I use response as an editorial input: ActiveCampaign engagement, clicks, direct feedback, and a statewide survey that helped lift participation by 30 percent.

I also bring hands-on production range—from Final Cut Pro video and training content to communications for a network of more than 100 legal organizations.

Read my résumé Open the strategy brief Visit LinkedIn

Source record

The facts used here come from Microsoft’s Elevate Washington announcement and the public Microsoft Elevate overview. No outcomes, partner quotations, or Microsoft positions have been invented.