Her Story
About Lily
Lily Elena Lopate is a strategic communications leader and Director of Content Writing at the CHRO Association, a well-funded nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of C-suite executives and Chief Human Resources Officers. In her role, she oversees comprehensive content programs, including two flagship newsletters, while collaborating with lawyers, HR professionals, academics, and industry leaders on strategic initiatives focused on topics such as workforce transformation, DEI, artificial intelligence, and the future of work. She develops both short-form and long-form content designed to inform executive audiences, strengthen organizational credibility, and drive meaningful conversations around critical business issues.
With more than 12 years of experience spanning publishing, public relations, journalism, enterprise technology, and content marketing, Lily has built a diverse career centered on storytelling and strategic communication. She began her career in book publishing at HarperCollins Publishers before transitioning into strategic communications roles with organizations including Degosian, Columbia University, the Barnes Foundation, and the National Museum of Qatar. After earning her Master of Science in Journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, she expanded her expertise into journalism and B2B content strategy, eventually founding a small SaaS company and leading a $13 million annual digital content program at an agency supporting major technology brands, including CDW and its partners such as Google, Salesforce, and NVIDIA.
Lily earned her undergraduate degree in English with a minor in Philosophy from Bryn Mawr College, graduating magna cum laude, and completed an executive certification program in business strategy and statistics through Yale School of Management. Her accomplishments include driving significant growth in engagement and conversion rates, developing award-winning content strategies, and contributing to recognized industry achievements, including a Webby Award for Best Tech Trends, a DigiDay Award, and a Webby Content Marketing Award. A dedicated advocate for quality journalism and impactful storytelling, Lily is also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and continues to help organizations navigate complex topics through clear, credible, and influential communication.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lily
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to grit, resilience, and a deep commitment to pursuing my passion. Since I was a teenager, I have known that I wanted to build a meaningful career as a writer and create a sustainable professional life in New York. While there are many factors in the world that are outside of my control, I have always focused on what I can influence: crafting compelling stories, shaping ideas, and using the power of the written word to connect with others. My persistence, adaptability, and dedication to continuous growth have allowed me to navigate challenges, embrace opportunities, and build a career centered around storytelling.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is that you should genuinely enjoy your work most of the time, while recognizing that every role will come with challenges and moments that are less rewarding. Finding the right environment also means surrounding yourself with people you respect and enjoy working with, because strong relationships are essential to long-term success. I believe that if you are no longer creating work that feels meaningful, challenging, or pushes you beyond your comfort zone, it may be time to make a change. Growth comes from taking risks, staying curious, and continuing to pursue opportunities where you can bring your best ideas and authentic voice to the page.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to embrace every opportunity as a chance to learn and grow. Each role, project, and experience will teach you something valuable, even if it does not turn out exactly as you expected. I encourage women to pursue opportunities that align with their goals and values while trusting their own intuition and judgment. Not every position will be perfect, but even the most challenging experiences can provide important lessons, skills, and perspective that shape your career. Stay open, remain curious, and recognize that every step along the way contributes to your growth and success.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges and opportunities in my field right now center around the evolving relationship between content, technology, and audience attention. There is an increasing focus on optimizing time, which means writers and communicators are competing more than ever for people’s limited attention. The content landscape is highly saturated, and the rise of AI has accelerated the need to create work that is truly valuable, relevant, and meaningful. This challenge has raised the standard for every piece of content, requiring a deeper understanding of audiences and their needs. At the same time, this creates an exciting opportunity to leverage data, insights, and audience segmentation to better understand who we are reaching and deliver more targeted, impactful storytelling. The future of communication lies in combining creativity, strategy, and technology to create content that genuinely resonates.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.