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Jen Wheatley

Brand Storyteller I Marketing Communications Leader

📍 Ontario, Canada

GitHubTwitter / X
🟢Aping In

Crypto-native marketing strategist with 18 years building external narratives and six years in Web3, most recently as marketing communications lead for the Polkadot network. Translates onchain complexity into mainstream stories, operates natively on Crypto Twitter, builds high-output remote teams and function from scratch, and uses AI to run faster and think sharper.

Work Preferences

Desired role

Head of Marketing or Head of Communications

Work type

Remote

Location

anywhere

Salary

USD 155 – 250

Skills

Web3 / Crypto Communications10/10
Media Relations & PR10/10
Narrative Strategy10/10
Sentiment Monitoring & Media Intelligence10/10
Spokesperson Training10/10
Agency & Remote Team Management (10/10)B2B & Consumer PR (10/10)Blockchain Complexity Translation (L0/L1/L2, Smart Contracts) (10/10)Brand Architecture & Messaging (10/10)Content Strategy (10/10)Crisis Communications (10/10)Cross-functional Partnership (10/10)Crypto Twitter & Onchain Culture (10/10)DAO Ecosystem Communications (10/10)Executive & Founder Counsel (10/10)AI-Driven Comms Workflows (8/10)Go-To-Market Strategy (8/10)Product Marketing (8/10)Social Media Strategy (8/10)Community Relations (8/10)

Work Experience

Director, Marketing Communications (Promoted from Communications & PR Manager)

Distractive (Polkadot's Agency of Record)

Feb 2024 — Present

Served as de facto Head of Communications for Polkadot, owning external narrative, PR, content strategy, and product marketing. Led a team of 5 and oversaw 6 regional PR agencies across NA, APAC, MENA, and LATAM. Drove Tier-1 coverage including CNN Business and Bloomberg. Led Conor Daly (Indy 500) sponsorship announcement generating 1.3K+ media hits and 7.7B+ potential reach. Integrated AI tools into daily workflows. Rebuilt product messaging and brand architecture driving 276% organic traffic growth.

Project Manager (Communications, GTM & Ops)

Decentral Inc. (Ethereum Co-Founder Anthony Di Iorio)

Nov 2021 — Jan 2023

Sole communications owner for a crypto hardware and software company. Reported directly to the founder on external narrative, media relations, and reputational strategy. Drove 65,000+ whitelist registrations for Andiami. Secured Tier-1 coverage in Fortune Crypto, BNN Bloomberg, and CoinDesk. Managed sunsetting of Jaxx Liberty (1M+ user non-custodial wallet).

Communications & Community Relations Manager

Community Living Windsor

Dec 2019 — Nov 2021

Advised CEO and Board through 18 months of COVID-19 crisis communications under sustained regulatory pressure. Drove 43% increase in social media engagement.

Web3 Marketing Communications Strategist

Freelance (Contract/Project-Based)

Nov 2019 — Apr 2023

Strategic marketing communications advisor to early-stage blockchain and consumer application companies, including Gnosis Builders (former VC arm of Gnosis Chain), supporting communications and co-marketing across 25+ ecosystem launches.

Communications & Social Media Manager

Mastronardi Produce (SUNSET®)

Nov 2018 — Dec 2019

Managed B2B and consumer PR for North America's largest greenhouse produce distributor. Served as spokesperson, advised senior leaders on crisis and reputational risk, and managed a mid-six-figure media budget.

Communications Officer

Faculty of Science, Saint Mary's University

May 2012 — Nov 2018

Translated complex scientific research into media-ready narratives. Advised senior leadership through high-stakes crises. Led campaigns driving 54% growth in science student applications.

Communications Officer

Gambling Awareness Nova Scotia

Jan 2009 — Jan 2012

Led full organizational rebrand for a government-adjacent nonprofit. Coordinated a research release that earned international coverage and influenced parliamentary proceedings in Australia.

Education

University of Western Ontario

BA · Media, Information & Technoculture

Saint Mary's University

Certificate · Business Communications