About Me
Photo by MXT Visuals
My name is Aleenah Ansari (she/her), and I'm a storyteller in every context. As a Seattle-based writer, speaker, and creative strategist, my mission is to uplift BIPOC creatives, authors, and changemakers and tell the stories I needed when I was younger.
As a writer, I cover travel, representation in media, and entrepreneurship for The Seattle Times, Insider, Joysauce, and more. My interviews and features center the non-linear journeys of entrepreneurs, authors, and creatives who are as open about their process as their finished work. I've conducted 1,000+ interviews and written hundreds of stories with that lens, and I often join authors as a conversation partner on their book tours too.
I strive to lift as I climb, which is why I also bring my approach to the stage and to 1:1 sessions, helping people craft compelling bios, pitch themselves with confidence, and stop being afraid to press publish. I host talks on storytelling, personal branding, and navigating the job search, and I've spoken at Columbia University, the University of Washington, Microsoft, and Tech Ladies, among others.
My career bridges creativity and strategy, and I've spent 6+ years bringing my storytelling instincts to product marketing and video production at Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Salesforce. My work has spanned seller enablement tools like pitch decks, demo videos, and technical implementation guides for products like Microsoft Copilot and LinkedIn Talent Solutions; customer-facing content like Agentforce success stories and Copilot adoption kits; and video production for major first-party conferences like Microsoft Ignite and Build. Across this editorial and marketing work, my focus has been the same: translating complex technology into content that helps people understand, champion, and use it.
Along the way, I've also been recognized as a 2021 ADCOLOR FUTURE, TEDx speaker, Human Centered Design and Engineering Outstanding Alumni, and 425 Business 30 under 30 honoree. Connect with me on LinkedIn, drop me a line at aleenahansari [at] gmail [dot] com. Outside of work, you can usually find me searching for murals, reading a book by a BIPOC author, and planning my next trip to New York.
Aleenah Ansari, a [former] product marketing manager at Microsoft, noticed the lack of stories that reflected her experience as a queer Pakistani woman. Determined to bridge this gap, she strives to make technology more accessible through inclusive and authentic storytelling.
⭐ A List of My Career (and Life) Accomplishments ⭐
My TEDx talk about channeling jealousy as a tool for self-reflection
I was honored as a Human Centered Design and Engineering Outstanding Alumni, which felt so full circle as someone who read dozens of people’s applications to the program before I decided to apply myself. This program has always respected me as a writer and creative in and out of tech, and I’m honored to represent it in every room I enter.
I facilitated a live Q&A with Her First $100k founder Tori Dunlap, and later went on her podcast to talk about the power of building authentic relationships! Since then, I’ve been a conversation partner to multiple authors including Mariah Rigg, Rachel Runya Katz, Kelly Yang, and more!
I was invited to be a part of Microsoft’s Inclusion is Innovation campaign, which celebrated my non-linear journey into tech and lessons learned along the way
After being selected as an ADCOLOR FUTURE, I returned to the ADCOLOR Conference to mentor the next class of FUTURES as an alumni ambassador
I interviewed Charles Yu, Putsata Reang, Tessa Hulls, Ocean Vuong, T Kira Madden, and others about their latest books for The Seattle Times, and my stories ran in print and online
I started my freelance writing and speaking business that covers travel, entrepreneurship, and representation in media for publications like Insider, The Seattle Times, Washington State Tourism, and more
I created TikToks about my favorite BIPOC-owned businesses in Seattle and beyond with the goal of inspiring others to be everyday adventurers in their own cities. My content has garnered over 3 million views to date and has enabled me to highlight BIPOC-owned businesses, bookstores, and gathering spaces
I trekked 17,598 feet in the air to Everest Base Camp - read about my lessons learned, what I packed, and even my favorite beauty products that came with me
I gave my first TEDx talk about channeling jealousy as a tool for self-reflection
I wrote mural walks for Fremont, Capitol Hill, University District, and Ballard
I raised $3k for women of color in STEM by creating boxes of products from woman-owned local businesses
I graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in Human Centered Design and Engineering and Comparative History of Ideas
⭐ Features and Awards ⭐
HCDE recognizes Aleenah Ansari with 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award (Feature)
Artist of the Week: Aleenah Ansari, Seattle-based writer (Feature in Seattle Refined)
Alumni Highlight: Aleenah Ansari (she/her), Story Developer (University of Washington article)
Writers Not Writing: How Aleenah Ansari finds the magic in everyday things (Q&A on Stubstack)
Inclusion is Innovation with Microsoft (Microsoft article and video)
425 30 under 30 Class of 2022 Profiles (article from 425 Business)
Seattle Inno Under 25: Aleenah Ansari, Aleenah's Consulting Services founder (article)