ABOUT ME

Hi, I’m Audrey Baker.

I’m a civic strategist, executive leader, and lifelong fiddler based in Ellensburg, Washington. Over the past decade, I’ve worked across organizational strategy, business operations, public service, and systems leadership. I’ve learned that how we show up matters and that good leadership, like good music, starts with listening.

Most recently, I served as Executive Director of the Washington State Leadership Board (WSLB), where I led the transformation of a nonprofit organization into a fully funded state trustee-agency, securing over $2 million in ongoing government investment for youth leadership programming. I’ve built high-impact partnerships with elected officials, legislators, educators, professional sports teams, and communities across Washington, all in service of expanding access and opportunity for the next generation of leaders.

My story doesn’t start in boardrooms or at the Capitol. It starts in small towns and tight-knit communities, where I learned early on that leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about listening deeply, asking better questions, and showing up when it matters most.

Growing up in Eastern Washington, I developed a strong sense of resourcefulness, accountability, and the importance of meeting people where they are. That perspective has shaped every role I’ve held, especially in systems that too often overlook small communities.

I began my career as an Office Manager at a medical clinic, where I learned what it takes to keep mission-driven work moving. I gained practical experience in operations, people management, and day-to-day leadership which were lessons that grounded my belief that no task is too small when it’s in service of something greater.

From there, I stepped into public service as a Session Aide to Chief Budget Writer Representative Timm Ormsby. This role taught me to advocate for clarity, long-term sustainability, and the big-picture view - while also helping me find my voice in complex political environments.

Later, as Office Manager to former-Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib, I was challenged to navigate competing priorities, communicate across political divides, and hold urgency alongside patience. I gained a deep respect for the complexity of government systems, and developed the capacity to move through them with strategy, diplomacy, and focus.

Since joining WSLB, I’ve served as Programs Director, Director of Operations & Development, and ultimately as Executive Director. Across each role, I’ve led statewide initiatives, built high-functioning teams, driven strategic planning, and championed systems-level change that reflects both mission and impact. I’ve learned how to prioritize people without losing sight of outcomes, and how to scale structures without compromising values.

Each chapter of my journey has shaped how I lead: with curiosity, clarity, and a deep commitment to building systems that actually work for people, especially for those in communities like the one that raised me.