Unwavering Belief Taking a Plunge: A Daring Act of Trust

Ilana Foggle, a communications professional with a unique background, is currently managing speechwriting and communications for the Chief Product Officer and Chief Technology Officer at GitHub, an open-source developer platform.

Foggler's journey began at Oberlin College, where she honed her skills in speechwriting and communications. During her time there, she created a speechwriting practicum, a move that would later launch her career.

Before joining GitHub, Foggle worked in communications on Kamala Harris's first presidential campaign and on three campaigns for challengers to Jim Jordan's Congressional seat in Ohio. Her political background proved valuable as she brought her storytelling skills to the tech industry.

Foggler was brought in to demonstrate that GitHub is accessible to anyone who has a phone. Her day-to-day role at GitHub involves focusing on developer collaboration and translating technical terms and product features into compelling stories.

Foggler credits her experiences at Oberlin for giving her the tenacity to take leaps of faith into new disciplines and industries. She also learned an invaluable lesson: it's okay to fail and that she can fall and still get up, a lesson she will take with her for the rest of her life.

As part of the journalism integrative concentration launched in fall 2020, Foggler joined the first cohort with the help of Jan Cooper, the John C. Reid Associate Professor of Writing and Communication and English, and chair of the communication studies program.

After graduating from Oberlin College, Foggle became the speechwriter for Illinois governor JB Pritzker. On her first day at GitHub, Roe v. Wade's imminent overturn was leaked to the press, adding an unexpected challenge to her new role.

Foggler continues to expand her skills by learning to code with GitHub's AI tool, Copilot. Despite occasionally missing her days in politics, she finds the new challenge of working in tech both exciting and rewarding.

Kristen Evans, a culture writer and critic, has written for BuzzFeed, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, NYLON, and The New Republic, and has recently written about Foggler's journey from politics to tech. The name of Foggle's father, who was intubated in a hospital during the COVID-19 outbreak, is not publicly available.

Every day at GitHub is different, with new things to think about, write about, and strategize on. Foggler's goal is to become a speech writer, and with her tenacity and adaptability, there's no doubt she will continue to make strides in her career.