Gabriela Gironas Paves New Ways at the Intersection of Entertainment and Civic Engagement
Gabriela Gironas (they/them), a trailblazing leader operating at the intersection of culture, policy, and community, is transforming how civic institutions and cultural communities connect through innovative frameworks and strategic thinking. With over thirteen years of experience at leading companies including YouTube, Reddit, Fender, and Wasserman Entertainment, Gironas has evolved from entertainment strategy to civic impact, while founding Cool Shit, Cool People (CS,CP), a creative consultancy specializing in music, tech, and the creator economy.
Currently serving as an At-Large Member of LA County's Governance Reform Task Force and Governor of The Recording Academy's LA Chapter, Gironas brings a unique perspective to governance that prioritizes cultural equity and community engagement. Their board positions with Keychange U.S. and Industry In Spanglish, combined with recognition as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, demonstrate their commitment to systemic change across multiple sectors.
Leading Creator Economy Innovation
As Senior Director of Creator Strategy at Wasserman Entertainment, Gironas oversees creator-first campaigns for powerhouse brands such as Google Play and Taco Bell, developing marketing frameworks that resonate with audiences while delivering measurable business outcomes. Their expertise as a sought-after architect of data-driven, story-led partnerships spans talent partnerships, brand strategy, and digital innovation.
Having driven landmark partnerships with globally renowned artists including BTS, Isaiah Rashad, and Arlo Parks, as well as digital culture icons like T-Pain and Therapy Gecko, they understand how authentic storytelling drives engagement and creates lasting impact. Their cross-platform expertise has shaped strategic initiatives from Reddit's creator programs to YouTube's partnership expansion across North America and EMEA.
Cool Shit, Cool People: Music, Tech, and Creator Economy Expertise
Cool Shit, Cool People operates as a creative consultancy focused on three core areas: music, tech, and the creator economy. The business provides strategic services including brand partnerships, campaign development, and audience strategy for clients across these industries. CS,CP helps brands and creators build culturally relevant campaigns rooted in authentic storytelling and community engagement.
From advising start-ups like ShowUp, ArtistVerified, KYD Labs, and Showcase to developing comprehensive brand strategies, CS,CP applies deep cultural fluency and industry expertise to deliver measurable results for clients in the music, technology, and creator spaces.
Civic Engagement and Policy Leadership
Parallel to their business work, Gironas maintains extensive civic engagement through leadership roles in governance and policy. As an At-Large Member of LA County's Governance Reform Task Force, they bring cultural perspective to institutional reform efforts. Their role as Governor of The Recording Academy's LA Chapter bridges their industry expertise with organizational leadership.
This civic work focuses on addressing the communication and trust gap between civic institutions and cultural communities. Gironas creates frameworks that translate policy into accessible narratives while supporting creators who want to make civic impact but lack traditional pathways.
Leading Complex Initiatives Across Multiple Sectors
Gironas excels at managing complex projects where traditional frameworks don't exist, whether in the creator economy or civic space. From developing creator-first marketing campaigns for major brands to shaping policy recommendations for LA County, their work requires creative problem-solving across diverse stakeholder groups with competing priorities.
Their hands-on approach to systems change has established them as a leader in creating new models for cross-sector collaboration, whether launching summits for civic-minded artists, building innovative brand partnerships that center authentic storytelling, or designing advocacy campaigns that make institutional language more accessible.
Building Bridges Between Institutions and Communities
Drawing from their experience with cross-platform expertise that shaped strategic initiatives from Reddit's creator programs to YouTube's partnership expansion, Gironas now applies similar bridge-building skills to civic work. Their role spans advising government bodies seeking to connect with younger, more diverse audiences while supporting creators who want to make civic impact.
This bridge-building work requires the same deep listening and cultural fluency that earned them recognition as a steadfast advocate for marginalized creators in the entertainment industry, now applied to institutional reform and community engagement.
Thought Leadership and Speaking
As a frequent speaker at global conferences including SXSW, Music Biz, ASCAP Experience, and the ShowUp Action Summit, Gironas continues to shape conversations around digital partnerships, cultural strategy, and civic innovation. Their expertise in coalition-building and creative problem-solving has made them a sought-after voice on designing better systems across both commercial and civic sectors.
Their dedication to systemic change has earned them accolades such as the Music Business Association's Agent of Change Award, and they continue to mentor the next generation of leaders through organizations like SheSaid.So and the BPI Grow Tech Incubator.
Driving Impact Across Industries
Through their dual focus on commercial success in music, tech, and creator economy work alongside civic leadership, Gabriela Gironas remains a powerful force in transforming how creators, platforms, brands, and civic institutions operate in today's evolving landscape. Their unique ability to navigate both commercial and civic spaces positions them as a bridge-builder creating lasting change across multiple sectors.
