Rachel Zenner

Rachel Zenner is known for creating and executing strategies that solve policy problems on issues ranging from the environment to healthcare, labor, food and beverage and taxes, to name a few. Her extensive policy experience allows her to understand and anticipate the future impact of legislative and regulatory changes in progress.

Rachel has more than 15 years of experience working in government relations and Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) for Fortune 500 companies and has worked at the federal, state and local levels of government. At the state level, she has particular expertise and understanding of the legislative and political landscape in California, which with its status as the world’s fifth largest economy and most populous state in the nation, has an outsized impact on public policy. Unlike many other lobbyists and consultants who have only worked for elected officials, Rachel’s extensive in-house corporate experience allows her to better understand and meet the needs of large organizations.

Over the course of her career in corporate government relations, Rachel has seen companies at all stages miss opportunities because they did not effectively utilize government relations and sustainability/ESG programs. From working at the wrong level of government to not aligning internal stakeholders, missteps can cost organizations significant time and capital, and degrade the operating landscape for their businesses. Rachel founded Golden Coast Strategies to help clients navigate legislative and regulatory challenges and create better internal structures to run more effective government relations and ESG programs. 

Rachel’s experience also includes work for members of Congress and elected officials in California. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.