Teddy Goff, who was the head of digital strategy in President Obama’s reelection campaign, revolutionized the landscape of modern political campaigns. He led a 250-member team across the country, handling everything from paid advertising to social media engagement. His innovative strategies helped raise $690 million for the Obama campaign and facilitated over a million citizens to register to vote online.
Goff’s methods not only helped raise funds but also tapped into the power of the online community of voters. Through his approach, a strong base of dedicated volunteers and donors was built, along with the largest Facebook and Twitter following at that time. His strategy involved using data analytics to reach out to potential voters, allowing for personalized messages.
Goff’s influential digital strategies in politics
This fundamentally altered the landscape of political campaigning.
TIME magazine recognized Goff’s significant influence by featuring him on their debut list of 30 influencers under 30 years old. After serving the Obama campaign, Goff became an advisor at Precision, a leading digital strategy firm, where he guided world leaders such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.
In addition to his political career, Goff took on a teaching position at Harvard University and was honored by the New York Times as one of the “People of the Year” in 2012. He also ventured into the hospitality industry, partnering at Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer. He sits on several boards, including Run For Something and the upcoming American LGBTQ+ Museum.
As an openly LGBTQ+ professional, Goff is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. He advises companies to show a genuine commitment to LGBTQIA+ issues and recommends implementing policies that protect LGBTQ+ employees from discrimination. Goff believes that support for LGBTQ+ individuals should be rooted in tangible actions and long-term commitments, thus creating workplaces that not only respect but also celebrate diversity and individuality.
