Macon Phillips is a digital strategist with a long and illustrious career in politics, government, and international development. He is the founder of The Starling Agency, a consulting firm that specializes in digital engagement campaigns for nonprofits and political organizations. Macon oversaw online fundraising, organizing, and communications for Barack Obama’s historic presidential campaign in 2008, and later founded the White House Office of Digital Strategy, where he transformed the way the President could mobilize Americans online. At the State Department, Macon developed digital engagement campaigns in over thirty countries and built a community of over 500,000 young African leaders through the YALI Network. As CARE USA’s Chief Digital Officer, Macon managed the digital infrastructure for the global humanitarian organization, developed applications to digitize program data, and created both the policy and capacity to protect the privacy of beneficiaries.

Macon is a highly respected digital leader who has paved the way for new innovations in digital media in government and international development. He currently sits on the board of NetHope, which connects the world’s largest nonprofits with technology innovators. Macon received an AB from Duke University and attended Randolph School.