I believe work without humanity isn’t work worth showing up for. That’s it.
Ellen Griley is the Creator of Internal Calms
My work and my life are a continuous exploration of what it means to be human. Every essay I write. Every fiscal year strategy I create. Every crow pose I fail at. And yes, every Fleetwood Mac song I sing in the shower. (There are several.)
They're all part of the process.
What defines my approach can’t be found in yesterday’s playbooks. It’s in the actual moments: the triumphs, heartbreaks, and sometimes aching work of progress.
I’m a trauma-informed leader, employee communications strategist, and proven storyteller passionate about building clarity, trust, and resilience in the workplace. With 20 years’ experience across tech, healthcare, construction, and journalism, I empower organizations to communicate with empathy and purpose, creating lasting impact for teams everywhere — even in an era of perpetual uncertainty.
As an internal communications consultant and former Director of Global Employee Communications at Cisco, I’ve led award-winning teams through AI integration, mergers and acquisitions, crisis communications during geopolitical conflicts, and the ongoing work of building psychological safety during constant change.
My approach to leadership and communications has been profoundly shaped by personal experience: navigating loss, recovery, and understanding firsthand how trauma and resilience show up at work. These experiences aren’t separate from my professional expertise — they inform it.
They’re why I believe work without humanity isn’t work worth showing up for.
Education & Credentials
MA, Trauma-Informed Leadership, Dominican University (2024-2025)
MA, Communication & Leadership Studies, Gonzaga University
BA, English, University of Notre Dame
PRSA Executive Chair, Employee Communications Section
Speaking & Teaching
Advanced Learning Institute Employee Experience Conference Workshop
ICology Campfire Session
PRSA Employee Communications Section Webinar
Women of Cisco Global Executive Shadow Program
Awards & REcognition
2025 Ragan Employee Communications Team of the Year
Multiple Ragan finalist awards for AI, employee newsletters, campaigns, and innovation
Ragan CSR & Diversity award for executive shadow program
working with me
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My work is grounded in trauma-informed practice and anti-racism, and I affirm the rights of LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, immigrants, neurodivergent folks, and those marginalized by economic inequity. I’m a committed, ongoing student of how to build a better tomorrow, and I bring this lens to every engagement. This work isn’t the right fit for organizations that aren’t genuinely committed to equity and belonging.
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Curiosity I don’t arrive with all the answers. I arrive with good questions, an open mind, and a genuine interest in what’s true — even when it complicates things.
Honesty I’ll tell you what I see, even when it's uncomfortable. I expect the same in return. Good work can’t happen without it.
Discernment Not every problem has the same solution, and not every solution fits every organization. I take the time to understand context before I make recommendations.
Ethics I won’t help you craft messaging that obscures, manipulates, or misleads — even under pressure, even when the ask seems small. Words have consequences.
Integrity I try to live the values I work from. That means holding myself accountable when I fall short, staying curious about my own gaps and assumptions, and doing the work I ask others to do.
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Internal communications leaders and HR and People Ops folks who show up to work because they genuinely care about the humans doing it. You’ve always thought about the people on the other end of the message. You believe the way an organization communicates with its people says something about who it is. And you want your work to reflect that.