Keep Calm and Cara On: A Conversation with Cara Gustafson Cara Gustafson has no interest in karaoke, but she’ll step onto a stage in front of a thousand strangers without a second thought, a telling glimpse into how she moves through life and her career.

The Spark

Gustafson’s path into communications began in a college political science class, where a classroom debate made her realize she had something to say. She began taking public speaking courses and quickly found herself drawn to nonprofit advocacy, grassroots organizing, and campaign work. By 23, she had completed her first legislative internship, volunteeredzA on a gubernatorial campaign, and appeared on television to discuss state policy. Together, those experiences laid the foundation for her eventual role as Communications Director in the Texas House of Representatives. Early in her career, the first press release under her name required a correction. A mentor’s response left a lasting impression: every experience is an opportunity to learn and improve. Not long after, the policies she worked on were being covered in The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times. Her confidence is unmistakable from the very first exchange. And when asked where it comes from, Gustafson doesn’t point to a single defining moment. Instead, she credits a mindset instilled early on, one reinforced by her mother: “Don’t be the one to tell yourself no.” Her commitment to advocacy began early. As a child, she was deeply concerned about environmental issues, a passion that led her to attend a magnet program for environmental research in Jupiter, Florida. Years later, that drive helped her play a role in passing anti-shark finning legislation in Texas while she was still in college. That same resolve was tested early in her career. In her first interview at the Texas Capitol, she was told she was “too nice” for politics and lacked the experience to succeed. Rather than taking the advice to pursue a different path, ironically in “something easy, like public relations,” Gustafson doubled down on her ambitions. Shortly afterward, she secured a role at the Texas House of Representatives and began building the career she had envisioned. Her advice to those entering unfamiliar professional spaces is to know how you want to be perceived. Have a strong elevator pitch, present yourself with intention, and “curate your brand,” she says. “Wear something you’d feel comfortable asking a professor for a recommendation in, or interviewing for a job. You never know who you’re going to meet.”

Building a Career with Intention

A defining period in her career came while working on criminal justice reform legislation in the Texas House. With hearings running until 1 or 2 a.m., late-night calls with reporters, and headlines she directly influenced, she learned crisis communications in real time. She identifies it as the moment she truly grew into the role of Communications Director, learning through experience rather than study what it actually meant to lead. “Even if you’re not feeling confident,” she says, “if you project that you are, people will believe you.”

The next major shift in her career came when she moved from Texas politics into New York City public relations. When the right opportunity arose, she packed up her life and relocated to New York in just five weeks. Her experience in Texas didn’t automatically translate and required rebuilding her professional identity from the ground up.

Asked to define success today, Gustafson says it remains a work in progress, less about titles and more about doing meaningful work and building a life she loves in New York. In a city where anything can happen, she believes in staying open to opportunities and trusting yourself to take the leap. “Every day has the potential to be a good day,” she says.

In one conversation, Gustafson will talk to you about everything from your voter registration status to Bravo TV drama and, surprisingly, Doritos. She’s spent her career in political communications and public affairs, but she’s always been fascinated by the people-side of things. Whether it’s a cause, a brand, or a cultural moment, she’s drawn to the stories that get people talking and showing up.

Communication in Today’s World

For Gustafson, the core qualities of effective communication – honesty, clarity, and a genuine understanding of one’s audience – haven’t changed. “There are too many gray areas in life,” she says. “Say what you mean clearly and say it out loudly.”

What has changed is the communications landscape itself. Social media grew alongside her career, and AI is now reshaping the field further, introducing new challenges around misinformation and content quality. Her view, drawn from a book she recommends, Super Skill: Why Storytelling Is the Superpower of the AI Age by Joe Lazer, is that AI won’t replace communications professionals, but those who learn to use it effectively will have an advantage.

Uplifting Others

Gustafson credits much of her early professional growth to Leslie Lemon, her first intern advisor at The Laney Center for Public Service. Lemon held her to a high standard,

offered direct feedback, and was consistently available and supportive. Years later, Gustafson told her that support had changed the trajectory of her career.

“It’s not always easy to get in the room, but once you’re in, the harder part is being heard. No one will listen if you don’t speak up.”

Her connection to NYWICI began on a phone call with Sunita Tsiames, who graciously offered guidance as she navigated life in a new city. Through NYWICI mentoring hours, volunteer opportunities, guest blogging, and networking events, she built connections and confidence while expanding her view of the communications profession. She also discovered the Matrix and Trailblazer Awards, honors she hopes to one day earn herself.

While mentoring younger communicators, she has also remained focused on her own growth. “I’m walking into rooms bigger than I’m used to,” she says. She believes professional development isn’t something that happens passively. It requires consistently showing up and embracing new challenges.

The Takeaway

Gustafson’s advice to those starting out is the same guidance she follows herself: know who you are, be able to clearly articulate your story and strengths, and communicate them often. She encourages people to seek out connections, ask for help when needed, and recognize that anxiety is not always telling the truth. When self-doubt surfaces before a big moment, she asks herself a simple question: “Who told you that?” as a way of separating fear from fact.

She believes there is no single path to success in communications, a lesson reinforced through her involvement with NYWICI and the diverse careers of the women she’s met along the way. Her advice is to stay open to new opportunities, embrace pivots when they feel right, and keep moving forward. Or, as she likes to say: “Keep calm and Cara on.”