aBOUT THE president/CEO

isaiah webster

Isaiah Webster is President and Chief Executive Officer of Savvy Counsel, LLC. He founded the company in 2023 to center practicality in consulting and media, and oversees its strategic vision, training design, and consultant acquisition.

  • With more than 20 years of professional experience in the grassroots and nonprofit sectors, Isaiah Webster brings an unmatched innovation to his consultancy; his approach to work is guided by intentionality, social justice, and public awareness, and he prides himself on practical outcomes. Known as an accomplished trainer and skilled facilitator, he has worked with more than 100 companies, community-based organizations, universities, and health departments.

    Isaiah is a creative designer of diverse resources and has experience providing technical assistance on minority leadership development; leadership assessments; public health-related stigma; health equity; capacity building; strategic planning; digital media; facilitation; and communication strategies. As an executive, he has supervised teams of professionals and managed more than $25 million in state and federal programs.

    Isaiah is certified to lead the Interpersonal Leadership Styles (ILS) assessment, a tool aimed at understanding and working across differences; and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®(MBTI) assessment, a renowned framework for life-long people development. He is also a certified Mental Health First Aid trainer, as designated by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. And he is a certified parliamentarian by the National Association of Parliamentarians.

    Since 2021, Isaiah has served as an advisor for the Transformative Leadership in Disruptive Times Certificate Program at the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University.

    Isaiah is editor-in-chief and host of BLACK/SHREWD, the blog and podcast that chronicles the intentionality of rogue ideas in public affairs and pop culture. From 2021-2023, he served as co-creator and co-host of Ward & Webster, a weekly opinion podcast about living the best possible life. He is also a contributor to the Southern Steep podcast, which centers community leaders in the southern United States.

    Though he built his career in public health, Isaiah (Aries/Scorpio) is a graduate of the University of Louisiana with a degree in mass communication. Originally from rural Louisiana, he now lives in Washington, D.C., and enjoys astrology/astronomy, bourbon-tasting, football, tennis, and traveling.

  • Certified Practitioner – Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Assessment (The Myer-Briggs Company, 2020)

    Certified Facilitator – Interpersonal Leadership Styles Assessment (Stratton Consulting, 2018)

    Certified Mental Health First Aid Trainer (National Council for Mental Wellbeing, 2022)

    Certified Parliamentarian (National Association of Parliamentarians, 2001)

  • Since August 2023, Isaiah has served as Chief Executive Officer of Savvy Counsel, LLC. He leads its strategic vision, training design, professional coaching, and consultant acquisition, and directs development of new divisions and products; he also serves as the company’s chief spokesperson.

    Since January 2022, Isaiah has served as Senior Director, Organizational Excellence for NASTAD in Washington, D.C. He initially joined NASTAD in 2012 and has held numerous leadership roles during his tenure. Most recently, he led implementation of the organization’s strategic priorities related to professional development and work culture; directed work of the Capacity Building, Leadership Development, and Workforce Wellness teams; and implemented dynamic training and technical assistance for health departments and community-based organizations across the United States. Additionally, Isaiah oversaw planning and execution of NASTAD’s National HIV and Hepatitis Technical Assistance Meeting, an annual conference of 400+ public health professionals. He also managed the facilitation team for NASTAD’s Minority Leadership Program (MLP) and its related retreats, while serving as a crucial member of the organization’s leadership team.

    Prior to joining NASTAD, Isaiah worked for three years as Capacity Building Director for Metro Teen AIDS in Washington, D.C., a community-based organization that focused on working with young people. He led development of capacity building activities for community-based organizations in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and led partnership building activities – such as co-chairing the DC Concerned Providers Coalition. Isaiah also managed workplans, and supervised program staff, consultants, and interns.

    From 2006 – 2009, Isaiah served as Director, Communications and Special Projects for the National Youth Advocacy Coalition in Washington, D.C. He led training and technical assistance related to social marketing, HIV stigma, and health equity, while directing the organization’s communication strategy and media engagement.

    In his home state of Louisiana, Isaiah served as Program Manager for Brotherhood, Incorporated in New Orleans from 2003 – 2006, and managed a CDC-funded HIV prevention program for young gay men and young transgender women. He oversaw work plan implementation and supervised program staff, while coordinating partnerships with external subject matter experts and consultants. During this time, Isaiah also served as Community Co-Chair for the Louisiana HIV Prevention Community Planning Group (CPG).

    Prior to joining Brotherhood, Isaiah worked as Mpowerment Coordinator for Acadiana CARES in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he coordinated the Mpowerment Project – a community-level HIV prevention intervention for gay and bisexual men. He also conducted street outreach and provided HIV testing services in rural Louisiana.