Johanna Maska is an American communications professional known for her role as Director of Press Advance for President Barack Obama. In this capacity, she managed the President’s public image during domestic and international engagements, contributing to both the 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. After her tenure at the White House, Maska served as Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Los Angeles Times and taught communications at the University of Southern California. She is currently the CEO of Global Situation Room, a public affairs consulting firm specializing in crisis communications and global strategy. Maska also co-hosts the award-winning podcast “Pod is a Woman,” where she discusses politics and culture with fellow former White House staffers