5 Questions With DoorDash’s First-Ever Vice President of Communications, Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean
We’re excited to welcome Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean (AKA Liz or EJS) to our Management Team, a seasoned communications and public affairs professional who recently joined us as VP of Communications. Liz has spent the past decade leading communications and public affairs for high-impact and global tech startups including Tesla, Nuna Inc. and Airbnb.
Most recently, Liz was the Head of Global Corporate Communications at Airbnb, where she led communications strategy for public company readiness, financial and corporate affairs, taxes and legal matters, and oversaw a team of 35 across two dozen countries. Prior to that, she ran global communications at Tesla and was a leading force in flagship projects — including Autopilot and breaking ground on Gigafactory 1 in Nevada — guiding the messaging, public affairs and launch strategy.
Before her tech communications career, Liz worked for President Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, and subsequently served in his administration in the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Research. During her very busy, but very impactful time in the administration, she helped to pass the Affordable Care Act, repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and secure the confirmations of Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan on the Supreme Court.
Above all, Liz is a passionate and enthusiastic storyteller. Whether shaping Airbnb’s narrative of connecting a global community of travelers, or now, helping to share our story of local empowerment and the people and businesses behind DoorDash, Liz helps companies and leaders build durable and scalable narratives to share their stories with the world.
Along the way, she’s worked hard to pave a path for the women alongside her, making sure her colleagues and peers have a seat at the table and a voice in their workplace.
To get to know her better, here are five questions with Liz!
What’s your favorite memory from working in the Obama White House?
That’s a hard question! I’d have to say the night the Affordable Care Act passed. At that point, we’d been working tirelessly on health care reform for more than a year and knew that it could make an enormous difference in the lives of tens of millions of people, including many of our families and friends. On that Sunday, my team had been at the White House since about 7am and were dressed pretty casually (I was definitely wearing jeans and pretty sure I had flip flops on), which would later feel a bit embarrassing. After watching the vote by the House of Representatives in the Roosevelt Room, President Obama hosted a special reception for all of us who worked on the bill up in the White House residence. It was the first and only time I had the honor of being in the residence and was a bit mortified by my attire. But mostly, I remember how special of a night it was for all of us and the electricity that was in the air.
What’s something you do to reset?
Every year, I try to go on a hiking trip, often by myself.
I am super lucky to have grown up in a Northern California family that loves the outdoors and spent our summer vacations hiking and camping in the Sierras. Time in the mountains is something I’ve come to really depend on to reset, recharge and clear my mind.
Working for President Obama was an incredible honor, but one that admittedly didn’t leave much time for personal travel. Since moving back home out West, I’ve tried to be more diligent about reconnecting with nature, whether it’s on a Saturday morning hike on a local trail or a multi-day adventure. On my first solo trip, I went to Utah and hiked some of the state’s national parks — Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, and Arches. Zion and Bryce Canyon were absolutely awe-inspiring, with some of the most astounding and majestic landscape I’ve ever seen. It’s a bit clichéd to say, but the experience always reminds you of how big the world is and how small we are in it.
After that, I promised myself I would try to spend a few days every year in the wilderness. Since then, I’ve hiked in Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska, Banff and Jasper National Parks in Canada, and just got back from the Lofoten Islands in Norway.
Most important career advice you’ve received?
An old boss told me that the people you work with are as important as the work you are doing — both need to have integrity.
Why DoorDash?
The people. Everyone I’ve met here from Tony on down is passionate, hyper-competent, and laser-focused on doing the right thing for everyone on our platform.
Communicators are tasked with representing the company publicly, and to do that well requires an unwavering belief in the integrity, process, and decision-making of a company and its people. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have that belief and trust in other organizations and companies where I’ve worked, and it’s exactly what I feel here.
Favorite restaurant on DoorDash?
Liz will lead our comms team and will also serve as a member of the Management Team, reporting into Tony Xu, our CEO/co-founder. Please join us in welcoming Liz to the company!
5 Questions With DoorDash’s New Vice President of Communications, Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean was originally published in DoorDash on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.