hello.
I’m Deneen Hopkins Wiske (pronounced WHY-skee but I’m okay if you say it whiskey).
In late 2019, I stepped away from an incredible organization and career to focus on helping teams and organizations do meaningful work that positively impacts our world. In particular, I decided to focus on advancing the work to solve the climate crisis, protect and restore critical ecosystems and habitats, and conserve the biodiversity that keeps our planet healthy and thriving. It was a vital, life-affirming commitment.
And then, Covid-19. With the onset and then the persistence of the pandemic, this exciting new direction faltered, as everything else did. Scheduled travel and workshops were canceled or postponed indefinitely. Many promising projects were put on hold as organizations faced the realities of shifting their staff to remote work and had to re-imagine their work, budgets, and priorities. Just as exciting and important efforts were getting underway for my nonprofit clients, the world paused.
During that pause—and amidst parenting and educating kids at home—I was introduced to Threshold, a Peabody Award-winning audio documentary program that deeply explores one pressing environmental issue each season, taking listeners on journeys to meet the places and people most directly involved. Threshold blends investigative journalism with well-crafted storytelling, making connections between history, culture, science, and politics.
Since 2021, I’ve had the privilege of leading Auricle Productions, the 501(c)(3) organization that produces Threshold. During that time, we released Season 4: Time to 1.5. In it, we ask: Will we take decisive action to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius? What might that look like?
This work is a thrilling culminations of over 20 years in science, communications, and philanthropy. While I am not currently engaging clients as a consultant, I encourage you to contact me if you need guidance with your project or organization. I will do my best to offer advice or connect you with a respected and experienced colleague who may be able to help. We’re in this work together, whatever that work is.
I am available for a limited number of speaking engagements in the US, or virtually. Let’s talk about your event and needs to see if it’s a good fit.
about me
My career has covered a wide and diverse landscape: research biologist, nonprofit executive, communications strategist, freelance writer, and entrepreneur.
In all of these roles, I've been a storyteller (yes, even in science!). I find meaningful stories that should be told—that must be told—and then find the connection points with the intended audience, whether that be donors, employees, partners, or readers. Then, I tell those stories in a way that—I hope—is compelling, targeted, and impactful.
I'm a writer first. Creating compelling content or editing the work of others has always been both a chosen pastime and profession. Translating thoughts into words that make people pause, think, laugh, cry, wonder, change, or take action will always be what I do best.
My consulting approach is thorough, patient, realistic, efficient, and process-driven. My educational roots are in science and scientific research, and that has molded me into a creative professional grounded in process and analytical thinking (read: I love information and data).
Nonprofit management is where I feel most at ease. I know the nonprofit mindset and instantly understand where things often go right and wrong for almost all nonprofit organizations at their various stages of growth. I've worked in nonprofit operations, development, marketing, and education/programming, so I have a 360-degree perspective.
While genetics cast me as an introvert, I love connecting and engaging with audiences of all sizes through workshop and retreat facilitation and public speaking engagements. My style is natural, honest, and positive, and my talk topics cover the spectrum from personal experience to business strategy (complete with data and charts!).
Please take a look to see how we might work together and what I can offer you, your team, or your organization.
With gratitude,
