Joanna Piacenza

I'm a researcher and strategist who turns data into narratives that build brands, shape markets, and drive enterprise demand.

I currently serve as Vice President of Thought Leadership and Marketing for Gravity Research, where I lead research commercialization strategy for Fortune 1–600 companies. I translate proprietary corporate intelligence into executive-ready frameworks, flagship reports, and strategic communications — establishing brand authority and generating pipeline by making complex research impossible to ignore.

Previously, I built and led Morning Consult's Industry Intelligence function — the firm's research-led marketing engine — developing external POV strategy, architecting narrative frameworks, and driving full-cycle commercialization aligned with revenue objectives.

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Thought leadership and research I've lead or shaped has been cited or featured on CNN, NPR, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the BBC, Nieman Journalism Lab, and The Atlantic, among others. Beyond the C-suite and the boardroom, my work has informed discussions and decisions at the highest levels — cited in National Bureau of Economic Research working papers and referenced in an amicus brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court.

I have spoken internationally and domestically about the brands I've built and the research I've developed, including on stages at SXSW, NICAR, Harvard University, AEI, and in partnership with Mika Brzezinski’s ASCEND Summit, among others. I regularly provide commentary on how my research answers the biggest question marks in today's headlines. I will talk about anything from AI workforce trends to leisure travel trends to corporate engagement pullbacks to the white evangelical vote to national demographic shifts to consumer confidence.

I can finish a Wednesday New York Times crossword puzzle (without cheating).

I earned my M.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder and my B.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My M.A. thesis explored meditation apps.

Connect with me on LinkedIn here or follow me on Twitter here.