City of PasadenaCandidate for City Council, District 7

Sheena Tahilramani is co-founder of Pasadena-based, SVN Public Relations, where she develops and executes public relations campaigns that deliver quality media coverage for SVN clients (broadcast, print, digital, social) to build credibility through brand awareness and thought leadership. She is also founder of Banter & Bliss Candle Co. located at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles, LA's only permanent handmade marketplace featuring works by Southern California artisans.

Prior to founding SVN PR and Banter & Bliss, Sheena worked in Washington, DC, at The White House Office of Political Affairs and at Karl Rove & Company where she managed all media relations and operations responsibilities as Chief of Staff to Karl Rove. She developed relationships with top tier media outlets over the years, ultimately securing more than 1,700 interviews for Rove. Sheena also managed all facets of the book tour for Karl Rove’s memoir, Courage and Consequence, landing it on the New York Times bestseller list.

Sheena earned her B.A. at University of California, Irvine and received an M.S. in Journalism from The Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. She was named to OC Metro magazine’s annual “Forty Under 40” list in 2013 and recently completed the Tory Burch Foundation Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) program for female-owned businesses. She has contributed articles to Entrepreneur.com and has appeared on CNBC, One America News Network, and The Hugh Hewitt Radio Show. She is a real estate salesperson licensed to practice in the State of California (CalBRE #01996566).

Shaping Tomorrow Today: Building A Brighter Future for the Next Generation

I moved to Pasadena in 2012 from Washington, DC, and of all the places in Southern California that I considered in my transition back to the West Coast, I chose Pasadena for the economic, social, and educational opportunities that it provides to residents of all ages. One lifelong community member that I recently had the opportunity to sit down with said it best, “Think of anything you could possibly want to do or be at any point in your life—you can do it all in Pasadena.”

Prior to founding Pasadena-based SVN Public Relations, I worked in Washington at The White House Office of Political Affairs and then at Karl Rove & Company where I served as the company liaison to high-level clients and external organizations such as Fox News Channel, The Wall Street Journal, Simon & Schuster, and the Harry Walker Agency, among others. Effective City Council members must be good liaisons and engage the public in decision-making to encourage community buy-in and support for initiatives and projects. Actions that promote transparency and foster trust in the process, along with dialogue that engages the public in decision-making, are the only way to get to long-term solutions—Pasadena’s issues are much more intricate than YES/NO votes on a ballot.

My background in communications and public relations lends itself well to working with the citizens of Pasadena, our thought leaders, and businesses to make sure the needs and expectations of our community are not only met but also exceeded. As a small business owner and resident of Pasadena's District 7, I am committed to ensuring that local stakeholders—residents and businesses alike—are contributing to the City's economic development in a manner consistent with the best interests of our citizens and the community. I’ve worked in public relations long enough to know that perception is reality and we need a representative in District 7 that is willing to listen and understands when and how to pivot when local projects and initiatives run counter to public interest.

The City of Pasadena’s greatest strengths are its people, its neighborhoods, and its character. As we endeavor to create and carry out a future-focused vision for the City, it’s imperative that we preserve our character and neighborhoods and recognize the expertise of our citizens to help guide growth. At the end of the day, we all want the same things for the City and our communities—job opportunities, safe neighborhoods, good schools, quality infrastructure, to name a few—so let's keep our eyes on the prize and keep Pasadena competitive by cutting through partisanship. Let's look for the best solutions, not the right solutions. And let's shape tomorrow today by building a brighter future for the next generation.