Greg Emerson is an author, editor and digital & product strategy consultant with a background in media, nonprofits and advocacy.

Greg Emerson

Hello!

I’ve learned a lot during my career in digital media, leading content and digital product teams for major brands like Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, HuffPost, The Atlantic and The Intercept, and I’d love to help you level up your digital operation - whether that’s as a developmental editor or book coach, or as a digital strategy consultant helping you build your digital brand and engage a growing audience.

No matter what role I’ve had in publishing (and I’ve had almost all of them), I’ve always kept one thing constant: A high standard for what makes a premium experience. Digital audiences are more sophisticated than ever before, and they expect a lot from the places they choose to spend their time online.

I will work with you to level up your strategy, products, content and people, and help you align your entire organization behind a strong vision of the future.

LET’S TALK!

Editorial & Product

2003 – Present

My career in journalism started as a freelance magazine writer before more formally moving into newsrooms, as a reporter and editor, videographer, photo editor and multimedia producer.

At Newsday, I began managing digital teams as deputy editor, overseeing social media, newsletters, homepage strategy, a/b testing and analytics.

I pivoted to product management when I joined The Wall Street Journal in 2016 and served as mobile product manager, where I introduced AI-powered personalization tools (MyWSJ) and VR/AR technology into the WSJ mobile apps. I then led the product team at HuffPost, introducing the brand’s first membership program and affiliate/e-commerce business. At The Atlantic, I oversaw the end-to-end content experience, including publishing tools, the article page, newsletters, audio and games strategy.

Nonprofits & Advocacy

2003 – Present

As a returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Morocco (2003) and Peru (2003-2005), service and community engagement have always been close to my heart.

In 2015 I joined the Board of Directors of the New York City Peace Corps Association, serving as Secretary, Vice President and host of our popular podcast and annual story slam event. In 2022 I was asked to lead a new initiative, representing the National Peace Corps Association at the United Nations to advocate for the values of service and multiculturalism on a global scale.

I currently partner with multiple nonprofits on website, social media, and digital communication strategy.

What makes me smile

I recharge my batteries primarily by spending time in nature and exploring the world outside my comfort zone. Whether it’s on my road bike when the weather’s good, or on a pair of skis in the winter, I always look for opportunities to get my blood pumping. I’ve stood on top of mountains, learned a lot of languages and am always looking for the next challenge.

Sometimes we all need a little help. Whether…

  • You’re a PM with a great idea, but you’re having trouble telling the story and building support.

  • You’re a product leader trying to figure out how to prioritize among a million opportunities for growth.

  • You’re a business leader who needs to restructure your operations to ensure all teams are optimized to deliver value.

  • You’re a startup working with limited resources who needs to build a product operation without a product team.

  • You’re an author looking to tighten up your storytelling and level up your language.

  • You’re an individual contributor looking to level-up your career into management and strategic leadership.

  • You’re simply burnt out and need some help managing your time and effort.

I’ve been there. I’ve had to solve a lot of problems the hard way, and can help you navigate complex situations and wrap your head around actionable, impactful solutions. Hire me to:

  • Bring radical focus to a sprawling list of priorities.

  • Unite your roadmaps into a coherent vision for the future.

  • Assess your team structure and ensure resources are aligned to deliver value and supercharge growth.

  • Develop a forward-looking product strategy that lays out exactly how you will get where you want to go.

  • Be a therapist for less-functioning teams, ensuring healthy communication and clarity on how to show up for each other.