Gurgen Hakobyan

Communications & Reputation Advisor

I help organizations and leaders navigate the space between what they stand for and how the world perceives them, through sharp strategy, honest storytelling, and communications that actually move people.

Gurgen Hakobyan

I’ve worked where words
carry real weight.

With over 8 years across NGOs, government, international development, and the private sector, I’ve built communications strategies in some of the most demanding environments.

I’ve advised government bodies, led donor engagement campaigns, managed media relations for major public events, and helped organizations tell stories that inspire action. My work sits at the intersection of strategy, empathy, and craft.

Now I bring that experience directly to clients who need a trusted advisor, not just a consultant, in their corner.

Total digitalization of donor communications at Tufenkian Fund
Two rounds of special crisis comms trainings delivered for government spokepersons
On-ground work in 60+ communities in Armenia

Experience

Across government, international development, NGOs, and the private sector.

Current UN CBD COP17 Armenia PR and Media Manager (Contractor)
Current Yerevan Central Library Development Projects Advisor (Contract)
Feb 2023 – Aug 2026 Children of Armenia Fund NGO & Executive Advisory
Aug 2021 – Feb 2023 Dexis Consulting Group Advisory (USAID Contractor)
Sep 2020 – Aug 2021 VOLO Tech & Startup
2020 Undisclosed Contract Wartime Communications
May 2019 – Oct 2020 Tufenkian Foundation NGO & Philanthropy
Jan 2018 – Aug 2018 Yerevan Municipality Public Sector
Aug 2016 – Dec 2018 Pan-Armenian Media Group · Armenia TV Media & Broadcasting
2016 – Present Freelance Writer

Strategy that speaks.
Advice that sticks.

Tailored consulting for organizations, leaders, and brands.

Communications Strategy

End-to-end communications planning, from message architecture and channel strategy to stakeholder mapping and narrative development. Built around your mission, not a template.

Crisis Communications

When things go sideways, you need a steady hand and a clear voice. I provide rapid response strategies, message control, and stakeholder communications for high-pressure situations.

Media Relations & Training

Building and maintaining productive relationships with media, plus training your team to speak with confidence, clarity, and consistency in front of cameras, microphones, and journalists.

Reputation Management

Protecting and strengthening how your organization is perceived, through proactive narrative building, stakeholder engagement, and consistent brand positioning across channels.

Public Affairs & Advocacy

Helping NGOs, foundations, and institutions communicate their policy positions and social impact, to government, donors, media, and the public, with purpose and precision.

Digital & Content Strategy

Developing coherent content ecosystems across digital platforms, from editorial strategy and tone of voice to social media architecture and digital transformation communications.

Ideas worth sharing.

On communications, reputation, propaganda, and the narratives that shape perception.

Propagapolis Series · Medium

View all
Brand & Culture

Jul 22, 2026 · Medium

The Dog Named Schweppes

A labrador named Schweppes in Yerevan sends the author down a two-century rabbit hole, from an 18th-century watchmaker’s surname to a brand so ordinary it became a pet’s name. A look at how brands become immortal by disappearing into everyday language.

War & Media

Apr 14, 2026 · Medium

War Coverage 101: What Was Shaped in Karabakh 2020 Became the Standard in Iran 2026

Every conflict opens the same way: explosions reported, channels going dark, a scramble before the story sets. Tracing the collapse of traditional war journalism from Karabakh 2020 to Iran 2026, and how social platforms and AI aggregators became the new front line.

Propagapolis · Ed. 1

Sep 26, 2025 · Medium

How Soviet Propaganda Shaped Armenian Media After Independence

The Bolsheviks didn’t use propaganda occasionally. They made it the operating system of the state. This piece traces how that architecture survived the USSR and shaped Armenian media for decades.

Propagapolis · Ed. 2

Nov 10, 2025 · Medium

When Governments Start Believing Their Own Myths

From the British Empire to Mao’s China: a look at how state narratives grow larger than the policies they were meant to explain, and why every myth has an expiration date.

History & Comms

Oct 20, 2025 · Medium

A Cliff in Iran That Taught Governments to Control the Narrative

In 520 BCE, Darius I carved a communication system into a cliff face that still underpins how modern governments announce power. An 18-minute deep dive into Behistun and what it means today.

My résumé.

A full rundown of my experience, roles, and background.

View CV Download CV

Let’s build something worth saying.

Whether you’re navigating a communications challenge, building a strategy from scratch, or simply want to explore what’s possible, I’d love to hear from you.

Yerevan, Armenia