Dawn Laguens

We are thrilled to present the GAIN Power Powerful IDEA Awards Living Legend Award to Dawn Laguens! This award honors a leader who has dedicated their career to transforming democracy, elections, and advocacy with no plans of stopping. Dawn was chosen for her tireless work fighting for reproductive rights and justice, LGBTQ rights, the environment, and many other issues over her decades of professional work in progressive politics.

Celebrating Dawn Laguens

Dawn Laguens is the Executive Vice President and Chief Global Strategy and Innovation Officer at Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). Dawn has dedicated much of her career to recruiting new talent, building bridges, and opening doors for young and diverse leaders in the fight. She has trained, coached, and mentored hundreds of individuals, many of whom now lead major progressive advocacy organizations and political firms. In her many leadership and strategy roles, she has championed creativity, collaboration and innovation in service of creating a more just world for all.

Career Highlights

Political Consultant

• Pioneering Campaigns: One of the earliest women in media consulting, and a CLIO award winning ad-maker, Dawn was known for her work on ballot measures against LGBTQ discrimination, campaign finance and reproductive rights, notable campaigns against Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke in Louisiana, and electing progressive champions such Debbie Stabenow, Tom Udall and Xavier Becerra to office.
• High-Profile Clients: Dawn built a firm whose clients included governors, U.S. Senate and House members, EMILY’s List, the National Education Association, the Nature Conservancy, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Basic Rights Oregon, and Freedom to Marry.

Chief Brand Officer at PPFA

• Modernization Efforts: Modernized PPFA’s brand and championed its ever expanding digital ecosystem.
• Legislative and Brand Success: Led the team that stopped  dozens of attacks at the national and state level – including attempts by Mike Pence to defund Planned Parenthood – while pushing through major expansions of reproductive access. 

Advocate for Domestic and Global Reproductive Rights

• Global Advocacy: Pushed the Obama administration to prioritize sexual and reproductive health in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
• Policy Achievements: Expanded abortion access for Peace Corps volunteers and protected international family planning funding.
• Noted Speaker: Dawn has been featured as a frequent media spokesperson and presenter at top conferences – Including Ad Week, Aspen Spotlight Health, the Fortune Tech Summit, SXSW, Rock Health, Girlboss and TEDx.
• Recognition: Recently named #5 on Fast Company’s fourth annual Queer 50 list and featured in GO Magazine “100 Women We Love.”

Global Strategy and Innovation

• Strategic Leadership: Returned to PPFA to oversee national strategy and innovation, Planned Parenthood Global and to invest in new partnerships to expand Planned Parenthood care and access.

Co-founder of Billion Girls CoLab

• Empowering Girls: Established a girl-led sexual health and rights research and development lab in Nairobi, Kenya, in partnership with global innovation firm IDEO.

Personal Life

Dawn Laguens is not only a powerhouse in her professional life, but she and her wife are the devoted mothers of triplets (now adulting!).. She is an avid tennis player, a jazz and food-loving New Orleans gal, and a current resident of Austin, TX.

Honoring Dawn Laguens

We are so honored to recognize Dawn Laguens and her incredible contributions. Her tireless work and unwavering dedication inspire us all. Dawn’s legacy is a testament to the power of leadership, innovation, and an unyielding commitment to justice and equality.

Join us in celebrating Dawn Laguens, a true Living Legend whose work continues to shape the future of reproductive rights and progressive advocacy.

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