Social Impact + External Affairs Leader
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianadawson/
ADRIANA DAWSON
Social Impact + External Affairs Leader
Current Position:
Director, Responsible Business Verizon
Adriana Dawson is a seasoned social impact and external affairs leader with over two decades of experience aligning business priorities with community impact. She is recognized for mobilizing stakeholders, advancing corporate objectives, and delivering measurable outcomes that strengthen both reputation and market position.
Adriana joined Verizon in 2019 and most recently served as Director of Community Engagement, leading efforts across the Central and East regions. She advanced the company’s Citizen Verizon CSR programming and commitments by expanding strategic partnerships, directing Foundation investments, and producing high-impact market activations. Her stakeholder engagement approach contributed to Verizon securing more than $150 million in broadband expansion awards in just nine months.
In 2025, Adriana was entrusted with a national assignment to accelerate business priorities in key markets. She has since led signature community engagement activations across the country— reducing market entry risk, supporting regulatory clearance, and ensuring every launch or expansion is matched with stakeholder confidence.
A multi-sector contributor, Adriana has held leadership roles in higher education, banking, and state government. Most notably, she was appointed the first woman State Director of the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center, earning national recognition for significantly advanced minority- and women-owned businesses in RI.
A first-generation professional, Adriana is a sought-after speaker and thought partner on corporate responsibility, stakeholder engagement, and inclusive economic growth. She serves on several boards advancing economic self-sufficiency and holds degrees from Northeastern University and Emerson College.