The Real Olivia Pope

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Nearly two years ago, I came across a commercial for a new show called Scandal. Set in Washington, DC, the show features actress Kerry Washington as crisis management consultant Olivia Pope. At first I was unsure what a 'crisis consultant' did exactly, but I soon learned that Olivia handles all of Washington's problems, no matter how crazy. Everything from corruption to murder by high government officials, when Olivia's on the case, "it's handled." (Her, and now my, favourite saying!)Olivia exudes confidence, and her fearless personality makes her respected and trusted by all of her colleagues. 

Although the scandals Olivia handles on the show every week are fictional, the inspiration for her character comes from Judy Smith, a crisis management expert for the last twenty five years in Washington, DC and Los Angeles. 

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Judy Smith is the President of Smith & Co, a crisis management firm she founded. She draws on communication, media, legal and political knowledge she honed over the years working for public relations firms, NBC, the US Attorney of the District of Columbia, and the White House under George W. Bush. Judy's worked with countless high profile clients and corporations, and has even counseled federal agencies and multiple heads of state. Her resume's more than I can list, so check it out here!

Judy attended Boston University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations. From Boston University, she graduate from the American University Washington College of Law. At American, Judy was the first African-American women to be the Executive Editor of the Law Review. Talk about fearless!

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Quick Plug! You may Love Boston University too!
Boston University is set right in the heart of Boston, and with over 33,000 students, 10,000 faculty and 250 areas of study, there's so much to explore. BU boasts over 500 student organizations, including 85 Broads, UNICEF Campus Initiative and Student Government. Check out their website here for more information on their campus and student life!