Nancy and I didn’t know each other very well but I was looking for a designer. Someone, maybe Nancy, recommended a man named Dari. I had no idea who Dari was but I liked his work. Anyway, we interview Dari, communicate with Dari, plan to enlist his help all while I remain entirely oblivious to the fact that he and Nancy are together. When I found out, Nancy and I laughed, a lot, at my ignorance.

Nancy is a steadfast colleague full of good humor and optimism. I always know that she gives her best and is willing to assist on the fly, even when my asks are ridiculous and last minute. I am proud to be her colleague and wish her many more successful years at the Council or wherever she may choose to go.

Nancy, working with you has been a joy these past years that we’ve known each other! Your commitment, creativity, and conscientiousness speak for themselves in every interaction, and are one of the biggest reasons behind the quiet revolution that has led to the Atlantic Council’s quantum digital leap. Thank you for everything you do and wishing you much joy and fulfilment in the next 10 years!

Not a specific story but what stands out to me is Nancy’s patience, along with her technical wizardry when creating these very intricate data visualizations with our team and others. She is always willing to go many, many, many rounds of tweaks and edits to create beautiful products and she never once grumbles—even though she has every right to!

Nancy, be proud of your service to the Council and its important mission! In our work together, I learned a great deal from your purposeful leadership and I encourage you to keep doing things your way and to keep figuring out what that means. I believe in you.

Nancy – you’ve been a great colleague over this past year and a half. Your approach is optimistic, thoughtful, reasonable and always appreciated.

My best wishes to you upon this decade at the Council!

Nancy was one of the first Hariri Center people I met when I joined the Council in December 2012. Years later, when I had become the Center’s Director, I lost Nancy to someone in the Council who not quite approached my assessment of her enormous talents but who exceeded my ability to give her a mission appropriately challenging for those talents. Shortly thereafter I decided it was time for me to leave. The Council has been very fortunate to have had Nancy on board for a decade. I hope she will bless the organization with her presence for many years to come.

The Atlantic Council team couldn’t ask for a better colleague. Nancy has transformed the way we tell our story to the world through her creativity, innovative spirit, and extraordinarily leadership. Her collegiality and commitment to producing some of the very best (and coolest) work in our field, has made her one of my favorite colleagues at the Council—a sentiment shared by everyone on the Engagement Team. I can’t imagine what this team would look like without Nancy, and I’m so glad that our staff over the past 10 years has had the opportunity to learn from her. You’re the best, Nancy!

On behalf of ParsonsTKO,

Nancy is an integral part of the partnership that Atlantic Council and ParsonsTKO have built over the past several years. With each passing year, Nancy continues to bring creativity and a strong work ethic to the team. While her dedication and passion make her a valued partner, it is her kindness that really sets her apart. Nancy sets an exemplary standard for us all and the team at ParsonsTKO are grateful to get to work with her. Happy Work Anniversary, Nancy!

Nancy: Congratulations on your work anniversary at the Council! It was so great to be your teammate at the Council. You were always so calm and collected during those big gala events. I could always count on you for your attention to detail and commraderie during those long nights (and early mornings!!). Wishing the best for you and congratulations again!! David W.

In our few interactions, you have gone over and beyond to accommodate our special requests! Thank you for that and congratulations on such a great milestone!!! I look forward to working with you more.

Dear Nancy,

Big congratulations on completing 10 years at the Council!! I am reminded of your warmth, kindness, and your big bright smile, even on a bad day. I miss going out for lunch with you and miss our conversations. Jealous of everyone on the team because they get to see you every day. Admire you so deeply.

With lots of love, Roshni

Nancy, I still remember approaching your desk as an intern at the Atlantic Council asking for how-to guides on everything. You are always so warm and thoughtful in everything you do. Thank you for being such a great mentor and boss. Happy ten years with the Atlantic Council!

It was a joy to work with Nancy since we both started at the AC in 2012. We shared an office toward the end of her tenure with MEP, and we had so many great memories talking about podcasts, crafting, business, and Middle East politics of course. Nancy was always there to help when needed and provide a listening ear. Nancy and I endured so many ups and downs, leadership transitions, and many moments of celebration at the Hariri Center—I can’t imagine my time at the AC without her! Attached are a few photos of us at AC events, including an epic Unwind that we planned which featured Nancy’s amazing craft work and creativity 😊

NANCY ‘the GOAT’ MESSIEH! It is so rare to meet someone with such incredible talent, intelligence, creativity, and kindess all in one package! You tactfully take to new challenges while always making time to support the people around you and make them feel appreciated and valued. I firmly believe there is nothing you can’t accomplish! We are all so much better for having you in our lives!

All my love,
Bridget

Nancy – it has been wonderful working with you for three years of my time at the Atlantic Council. Your deep knowledge, creativity and hard work have made many great things happen! Thank you for the 10 years of service you have given to the Council. Your dedication inspires me! Congratulations my dear!

Dear Nancy,

Congratulations on your Atlantic Council decade! Did you get a watch? 😉

Wishing you continued personal and professional success.

All the best,
Ashish

Nancy, thank you for your intelligence, insight, and your patience when everyone else is losing theirs. The most valued colleague of the decade.

Nancy,

Congratulations on 10 years at the Atlantic Council! It was a privilege to have the opportunity to work with you on so many incredible projects! You taught me, and many others, so much!

Best wishes,
Michael

Nancy, congratulations on your 10 year anniversary of dedication to the Atlantic Council. Your tenure is an inspiration, and in our work you’ve always brought such diligence and ability to balance the serious work with the light. Thanks for being an ever-engaged creative partner and collaborator!

Congratulations, Nancy! The Atlantic Council wouldn’t be what it is without your talent, intellect, passion, and genuine warmth. I remember our time working together very fondly, and I hope you’re doing well! 🙂 – Arego

Oh, Nancy! I remember when I first heard you were joining the Comms team—I think I asked you if you were sure about what you were doing! And yes, sorry to say my first thought was “Now who am I going to have to work with on Pubs from Hariri!?” 😭 Little did I know how great it would be to have you as a partner in DigiPubs and to learn so much from you (with a Flourish!). Your zen means everything on our most hectic days! Thank you doesn’t seem enough, but thank you so very much! Congratulations! Susan

Nancy has always brightened my day with her smile and kindness. It inspires me to be a kinder, more understanding person.

To the “Amazing Nancy in Comms“! I am deeply grateful for our professional relationship and friendship. You’ve helped me grow more confident and to be more comfortable with turning my weaknesses into strengths. You’ve done this for me because you keep it real, are honest, unflinching, and thoughtful. It amazes me how you always have such good advice; like never a misfire! Thank you for all of your guidance, support, and laughs either over the partition that divided our desks in the beforetimes, or now during our remote work. Shukran and congratulations! -Clintandra

Nancy’s professional success underscores that leadership comes in different forms. Her quiet and steady contributions have helped take the Atlantic Council communications effort to the next level. She is as creative as she is kind. As someone who prefers to remain behind the scenes, unheralded, it’s awesome that the Council is taking this moment to honor her contribution.

Dearest Nancy, you are such a power house here at the Atlantic Council and a TRUE testament to being a team player. The Atlantic Council (and we are on the Engagement Team especially!) are so lucky to have had your wisdom, kindness, and collegiality for 10 years. We’re ready for 10 more 😊 Thanks again for all you do – although we could never thank you enough!

Nancy, 10 years—that’s amazing! Your expertise, collaboration, support, and encouragement during the development of our microsite was invaluable, and I am so grateful to have you as a colleague. I hope the next 10 years of your career are even more rewarding. I’m excited to continue working together and learning from you! -Jess

Nancy, I appreciate you always sharing your honest perspective of where we’ve been as an organization, where we’re going, and where we need to be for continued success in the years ahead. We have only been working together for a short time, but the challenges we’re tackling together are not easy to navigate. I’m glad to have you as a partner in all things data management at the Council – and hope we’ll continue to share a few laughs along the way!

Nancy, congratulations on your work anniversary! Who knew those daily lunches in the couch corner would pave the way for what is now 9 years of friendship?! Thank you for being one of my dearest friends. I’m fortunate to know you, and the Atlantic Council is lucky to have you. Sending big hugs from Oum el Donya, habibti!

I’ve only worked with you on a few projects, but I’ve enjoyed it every time. I knew that I could come to you with questions, big or small, and that in the end the your contributions made my work more solid. It’s been a pleasure getting to work with you! Congratulations on ten (!!!) years at the Atlantic Council. That is an impressive amount of time and a testament to your heart and dedication for the work we do.

I want to send a congratulatory note to Nancy regarding her 10-year work anniversary at the Atlantic Council. Nancy is an awesome colleague and a special person to many.

I have worked with within Communications for 4 years with Nancy and can attest to her professionalism and effectiveness. However, it has always been Nancy’s consistent kindness and empathy throughout everything we do that has enriched my work experience at the council.

So, thank you, Nancy, for all your collaboration and leadership. And here’s to many more years of continued success!

-Deven Johnson

It’s rare to have a colleague who enriches and elevates every single project you work on together, no matter how challenging the assignment, in ways you could never do on your own. It’s rarer still for that colleague to be unfailingly generous and wonderful. I feel so fortunate that I have just that colleague in, as she’s known in Atlantic Council town halls, the “Amazing Nancy from Comms.”

Nancy, you’ve been nothing short of an inspiring leader and an awesome colleague. Your passion for innovation and technical magic-working stands out for truly having made the Council a better place. I can’t count the number of ways you’ve made our wildest dreams for editorial products happen—Markups, trackers, data-viz, scrolly-telling, and much more. But beyond that, your compassion and patience for your colleagues is something that has always kept our rowdy bunch thinking about how we can better serve our community and team. Congratulations on ten years of impact!

Congratulations— 10 years!!! When I first met with Nancy, it was on a Zoom call during my junior year of college to see how I can help out with our website. Fast forward to two and a half years later— I couldn’t be more proud to work alongside someone like her. Nancy has the steadfast, reassuring leadership that’s so rare to come by. She’s so versatile with so many different unique platforms, and I’ve truly learned a ton from her. Nancy’s sense of humor is also a huge highlight point; we always end up having great conversations with our colleagues together and it really makes time fly by. We have worked on countless tough projects together, and discovered so many new things in our digital realm here. Nancy is the voice of digital innovation for all of us at the Council, and I can’t wait to see what we do next.