JEFF GILLILAND: WRITER, EDITOR, BRAND STORYTELLER
Welcome to my website. I am a published author and cultural critic with over 12 years of experience producing strategic content (written and audiovisual) for corporate venture capital teams, tech startups, and nonprofits in the climate and arts education spaces. A savvy ghostwriter, creative collaborator, effective project and team leader, and shrewd editor, I excel at translating complex concepts into accessible language and inspiring meaningful action in target audiences through engaging, human-centered narratives.
Explore the site below for examples of my experience and work!
ABOUT ME
Born and raised near Berkeley, CA, I began writing at age 8, when my third-grade class performed my play, Home Alone 4: Lost in the Airport. Since then, I have written movie scripts, magazine articles, and much more; my first book, Four Dollars and a Dream, was published in 2016. My work has appeared in Newcity Magazine, Edutopia, BayArea.com, KQED.org, The Stanford Daily, and beyond.
An experienced graphic designer, photographer/videographer, and editor, I have produced several short films, crafted marketing materials for start-ups, written blog posts for arts nonprofits, and published six books. Check out my portfolio for more!
WORK EXPERIENCE
Content, Communications, and Project Management
HEAD OF CONTENT,
CITI VENTURES
March 2018 - March 2025
Led content strategy and production for Citi’s venture capital team.
-
Helped define and evolve brand voice and messaging, supporting 100+ startup investments and establishing Citi Ventures as a leader in financial services innovation.
-
Partnered with executives to develop annual content themes and publish cutting-edge insights on key fintech trends such as GenAI and digital assets. Set and managed editorial calendar.
-
Supervised in-house creative team and external vendors (writers, developers, PR team, etc.).
-
Ghostwrote/edited 750+ articles, press releases, social posts, videos, printed materials, etc.
-
Published monthly internal newsletter: curated content, oversaw process and team, navigated cross-functional review, and QA’d email. Grew audience to 60,000 (the max Citi allowed).
-
Promoted annual Citi Gen AI Summit, driving 4,000+ in-person and virtual attendees in 2024.
-
Programmed webinar series Innovators@Citi, engaging 1000s of colleagues with innovation.
-
Assisted PR team with media pitches, interview talking points, and award submissions.
-
Analyzed content metrics and adjusted strategy to maximize target audience engagement.
-
Codified comms processes, playbooks, and templates for consistent, efficient output.
-
Managed internal and external websites, updating content and ensuring ADA compliance.
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, PROJECT DRAWDOWN
April 2017 - March 2018
Supported PR and editorial efforts for the launch of the best-selling environmental book, Drawdown. Drafted op-ed, newsletters, and social media posts; wrote talking points and developed style guide; edited 85+ technical documents for general audiences; arranged 25+ media interviews; managed and helped redesign website.
COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE, YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS' THEATER
January 2014Â - January 2017
"Official Storyteller" for arts education nonprofit. Managed website and social media accounts; wrote blog, e-newsletter, press releases, and feature articles; designed print and digital graphics; published 5 books and 3 annual reports; filmed and edited dozens of videos and thousands of photos. Visit yptdc.org for more.
PROJECT LEAD, LIVE DIBS
October 2010 - September 2011
Managed partnerships and marketing for a mobile e-commerce platform. Liaised with clients including Caesar's Palace and The Chicago Tribune; co-produced business plan, investor decks, sizzle reel, and MobileBeat presentation; ran live promotional event garnering 500+ listserv sign-ups. Winner of the People's Choice award in the Infrastructure category at MobileBeat 2011!
COMMUNITY AND CONTENT MANAGER, SHOWBIZZLE
January 2010 - June 2011
Managed website and 3,000-member online community for digital Hollywood talent showcase. Updated Drupal-based website daily; ran online auditions; produced and marketed digital videos; liaised with media partners; wrote social media and blog copy.
ARTS AND CULTURE INTERN, KQED
June 2007 - August 2007
Summer intern at KQED, San Francisco’s public broadcasting station. Edited The Writers’ Block literary podcast for style and clarity.
 Updated website, wrote author bios and book synopses.
Wrote film and theater reviews for Arts & Culture blog.
WRITING PORTFOLIO
Select Projects and Pieces
FOUR DOLLARS AND A DREAM: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CINO CHEGIA
Author, Editor, and Publisher
The biography of an Italian World War II survivor who illegally immigrated to the U.S. and founded a youth soccer league. I spent 6 months researching the book - including translating Cino's handwritten memoir and spending one month in Italy - then wrote, edited, designed, laid out, self-published, and marketed the book. Over 750 copies sold to date, with articles in local and national publications!
NECESSARY MEANS: "THE DIARY OF MALCOLM X" AND THE FIGHT FOR AN AMERICAN LEGACY
Cover Article - Newcity Magazine
A cover article I wrote for Newcity Magazine, a Chicago cultural weekly. Researched the story through primary and secondary sources, including Malcolm's unpublished biography; revised article based on editorial feedback. Published November 11, 2014.
OLDMAN, TAKE A LOOK AT MY LIFE
Book Review, Gary Oldman Is a Building You Must Walk Through - Atticus Review
A review of the novel Gary Oldman Is a Building You Must Walk Through, which I wrote for the literary magazine Atticus Review. An intellectual exploration of a dense, complex novel. Published February 26, 2018.
Find all my Atticus Review book reviews here.
IPADS AND ARTS EDUCATION: REWRITING CULTURAL NARRATIVES WITH THE 524 PROJECT
Blog Post - Edutopia
A blog post I wrote for Edutopia about The 524 Project, an educational initiative run by Young Playwrights' Theater and InsideOut Literary Arts to connect a high school classroom in Washington, DC with one in Detroit for artistic and cultural exchange via new media. I also helped run The 524 Project and managed its blog.
Other writing highlights: The Laughing Mexican (screenplay rewrite; WGA #1411781); "Things to do in the Berkeley Marina" (BayArea.com); "The Kickstarter Chronicles" (Newcity.com); Film and Theater Reviews (KQED Arts)
EDUCATION
English, Creative Writing, Philosophy
B.A. ENGLISH (FICTION WRITING), STANFORD UNIVERSITY
September 2005 - August 2009
Graduated with distinction (GPA in top 15% of class). GPA: 3.8. Member: Stanford Fleet Street Singers (singer/head of skits); The Stanford Daily (film reviewer/columnist); Ram's Head Theatrical Society (writer/performer, Big Game Gaieties); Stanford Cardinal Broadcasting Network (writer, The Dorm).
M.A. HUMANITIES (FICTION WRITING), UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
September 2012 - June 2013
Studied fiction writing and philosophy. GPA: 3.7. Thesis: "The Tale of the Longnecks" (short story) + "Ishmael and Original Myth: A Study in Paradigm" (critical essay). Developed book of environmental fiction and philosophy; performed music for campus open mics. Completed post-graduation internship at the Illinois Humanities Council.
OTHER CREATIVE WORK
Graphic Design, Desktop Publishing, Photography, Video Production, Etc.
YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS' THEATER'S FY16 ANNUAL REPORT
Designer, Writer, Project Manager
A 36-page, full-color booklet I designed and project-managed from end to end. In addition to writing all copy, taking most of the photos, and working with the printer, I commissioned a student to draw cartoon superheroes, which I used to guide readers through a year at YPT. I also produced YPT's FY14 and FY15 annual reports.
MY ART IS SO LOUD: POEMS AND PLAYS FROM THE 524 PROJECT
Editor-in-Chief
The final book of plays and poems from The 524 Project. I led the editorial process for this book, developing the book's thematic flow and managing editors in DC and Detroit. I also designed the book's cover and interior word-cloud graphics.
THE 2016 NEW PLAY FESTIVAL - NIGHT TWO
Photographer
Night Two of Young Playwrights' Theater's 2016 New Play Festival. I photographed the performance on a DSLR camera, selected and edited photos in Adobe Lightroom, and posted a photo essay on Facebook. You can see more of my YPT photos at facebook.com/pg/YPTDC/photos - all albums from 2014-2016.
"WHAT HAPPENS WHEN..." COMPILATION VIDEO
Producer and Editor
A compilation video for Young Playwrights' Theater, of DC-area students and theater artists answering the question, "What happens when a young person realizes the power of her voice?" I sent out a call for videos, filmed several myself, and edited them into this promotional montage.
WOODBRIDGE WINEÂ COMMERCIAL
Production Manager
Production-managed a spec commercial for Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, filmed on-location in Napa Valley. Oversaw shooting schedule, equipment, crew, and talent; assisted with pre-production; performed tagline voiceover.
THE GATHERING
Co-Founder
Co-founded an arts collective that held events geared toward collective self-expression through music, art, and language. Co-wrote mission statement; led multidisciplinary team; organized "Speak" and "Listen" events; raised funds; promoted events; managed personnel, budget, and logistics. Held five successful events in one year!
LANGUAGES AND SKILLS
SPANISH AND ITALIAN
Conversational in Spanish and Italian. Experience speaking, interviewing, reading, writing, and translating in both languages. Excellent accent and comprehension; comfortable conversing with native speakers.
COMPUTER SKILLS
Microsoft Office, Teams, and SharePoint; Google Drive; Adobe Creative Suite; Amazon CreateSpace; iMovie; HTML; Drupal; Wordpress; Hootsuite; email marketing platforms; analytics platforms
OTHER SKILLS AND INTERESTS
Skills: Music Performance (Voice and Piano); Acting (Stage and Screen); Dance Performance; Public Speaking
Interests: Environmentalism; Philosophy; Education; Social Justice; Theater; Literature; Sports; TV/Movies
CONTACT
Contact me for more information. Available for full-time, part-time, or freelance work!