Hughes is the Global Vice Chair of the public relations firm Burson-Marsteller. She was the director of George W. Bush’s campaign for governor of Texas and also served as counselor to President Bush from 2001 to 2002. She managed the White House Offices of Communications, Media Affairs, Speechwriting and Press Secretary. She is a past executive director of the Republican Party of Texas and a former television news reporter. Hughes is the author of Ten Minutes from Normal, a memoir of her experiences working with President Bush.
Penn is the worldwide CEO of Burson-Marsteller, CEO of the polling firm Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, and author of Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow’s Big Changes. Penn has consulted for more than 25 leaders in the U.S., Asia, Latin America and Europe and served as chief adviser to President Bill Clinton in the 1996 presidential election and to Hillary Rodham Clinton through her Senate and presidential races.