CV

Lawrence Hryb

Communications and Community Architect

Communications and Community Executive | Platform Narrative | Crisis Leadership | Trusted Public Voice

Seattle, WA USA

Professional Summary

Executive leader who has shaped the public voice of global consumer technology platforms and built durable trust with highly engaged communities at scale. Known for aligning executive leadership, product, engineering, marketing, and legal around clear narratives that hold up under scrutiny and remain credible through change.

Over two decades at Microsoft (Xbox), helped define and scale one of the industry’s earliest direct-to-player engagement models, establishing patterns of transparency and leadership accountability that became foundational to modern gaming communities. Contributed to Emmy Award–recognized work tied to Xbox Live’s multiplayer console technology, and translated complex platform change into communication that customers, developers, press, and internal teams could act on.

Most recently led Unity’s global Advocacy and Community organisation through platform change and trust rebuilding, establishing feedback systems that brought creator sentiment into executive decision-making. In an AI-accelerated world, I focus on clarity, judgment, and human-centred leadership.

Career Timeline

Work Experience

Senior Director of Advocacy and Community

Unity Technologies
June 2024 - December 2025
Seattle, WA (Remote/Global)
  • Led Unity’s global Advocacy and Community organization across awareness, engagement, and sentiment, supporting a worldwide developer ecosystem during a period of platform change and trust rebuilding.
  • Managed a distributed team across advocacy, community, and influencer programs, aligning strategy and execution at global scale.
  • Represented Unity at major global events, showcasing platform capabilities and creator-focused narratives.
  • Launched and scaled developer livestreaming and engagement programs to deepen participation and visibility.
  • Established formal feedback loops that brought creator sentiment directly into product and marketing decision-making.
  • Improved overall community sentiment through consistent engagement and transparent communication.
  • Partnered closely with Communications, R&D, Marketing, and Business Units to align external messaging and internal strategy.

Senior Director of Corporate Communications (Xbox)

Microsoft
January 2012 - September 2023
Redmond, WA
  • Led corporate and executive communications for one of the world’s most visible consumer technology platforms, operating at global scale across launches, transitions, partnerships, and moments of crisis.
  • Helped define and scale one of the industry’s earliest direct, ongoing engagement models between platform leadership and a global player community, setting patterns later adopted across gaming and consumer technology.
  • Served as a strategic partner to executive leadership, aligning product, engineering, legal, and communications around clear, credible public narratives.
  • Advised senior leaders on messaging, risk, and audience impact across media, community, and partner ecosystems.
  • Translated complex technical and platform changes into clear, accessible communication for customers, developers, press, and internal teams.
  • Built durable trust with highly engaged global communities through sustained transparency, direct dialogue, and visible leadership accountability.
  • Influenced how the organization showed up publicly during periods of rapid industry change, new business models, and evolving customer expectations.

Senior Project Manager (Xbox)

Microsoft
January 2003 - December 2011
Redmond, WA
  • Partnered with engineering to develop foundational platform features including Achievements, Party Chat, Cloud Saves, and messaging systems.
  • Played a formative role in shaping early Xbox community engagement, helping establish direct communication, feedback, and trust-building practices that became foundational to the modern console ecosystem.
  • Supported long-term product planning and roadmap development across Xbox platforms.
  • Contributed to Xbox 360’s rise to a market-leading position, reaching 84 million units sold worldwide.
  • Acted as a primary liaison across engineering, marketing, PR, and support teams during major launches and updates.
  • Served as a key spokesperson for Xbox during platform announcements, feature rollouts, and service updates.
  • Helped establish early community feedback and communication practices that informed platform priorities during rapid growth.
  • Played a central role in shaping console hardware, service messaging, and early community growth.

Editor in Chief, MSN Music

Microsoft
January 2001 - January 2003
Redmond, WA
  • Led a 23-person editorial and product team to launch MSN Music as one of Microsoft’s earliest streaming media platforms.
  • Defined digital content strategy, audience engagement, and editorial identity for a global consumer service.
  • Oversaw large-scale programming and content operations supporting hundreds of online music stations.
  • Developed commercial partnerships and sponsorship models tied to major cultural events.
  • Built an operating model that aligned editorial, product, and partner teams to deliver a consistent platform experience at scale.

Director of Communications, Marketing & Promotions

Clear Channel Communcations
January 1989 - December 2000
Hartford, CT
  • Led communications, marketing, and promotions across a five-station radio cluster, overseeing brand alignment and audience growth.
  • Directed the consolidation of promotional operations as stations merged into a unified regional cluster.
  • Designed and executed integrated campaigns across on-air, digital, and live-event formats.
  • Built and maintained major national and regional brand partnerships, expanding long-term sponsor value.

Education

Bachelor of Science (BS), Television, Radio & Film Production

Syracuse University — S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Directly admitted to Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and completed the full four-year program, earning a BS in Television, Radio & Film Production. Built a rigorous foundation in media production, storytelling, and broadcast communications that later informed leadership roles spanning digital platforms, community engagement, and global communications at scale.

Skills & Expertise

Leadership & Operations
Executive LeadershipStrategic PlanningNarrative LeadershipCross-Functional Team ManagementGlobal Team OperationsProgram ManagementProject ManagementBudget ManagementPartner AlignmentStakeholder AlignmentInfluencer RelationsCreator RelationsRoadmapping
Communication & Media
Executive CommunicationsCorporate CommunicationsGlobal Communications StrategyCrisis ManagementPublic RelationsPublic SpeakingOn-Camera HostingStorytellingNarrative DevelopmentMedia Production LeadershipCommunity EngagementSocial Media Strategy
Brand & Content
Platform Narrative StrategyExecutive Public VoiceLong-Form Content LeadershipPodcast Creation & HostingMulti-Format StorytellingLive Event Content DirectionAudience Trust & EngagementDeveloper & Partner StorytellingStrategic Messaging ArchitectureProduct Evangelism & Feature FramingEditorial Direction for Global PlatformsBrand Reputation Management
Gaming & Technology
Video Game Industry ExpertisePlatform Ecosystem StrategyProduct DevelopmentProduct DesignDigital Engineering CollaborationFeature InnovationReal-Time 3D ContentAchievementsParty ChatIn-Game MessagingUser Sentiment AnalysisDeveloper AdvocacyCreator Advocacy

Featured Projects

Xbox Live

Played a foundational role in the evolution of Xbox Live from an early online service into one of the longest-running consumer platforms in gaming. Supported a service that scaled to tens of millions of active users worldwide across multiple console generations, helping introduce features such as Achievements, Party Chat, Cloud Saves, and in-game messaging that became industry standards. Served as a steady public-facing leader through thousands of updates, launches, and platform changes, contributing to Xbox Live’s reputation for stability, continuity, and trust at global scale.
Online Platform StrategyGlobal Online Service OperationsCommunity & Social SystemsCloud InfrastructurePlatform Communications

Xbox 360

Contributed to product planning, feature development, and global community strategy throughout the Xbox 360 lifecycle, supporting a platform that sold more than 84 million units worldwide and reached players in over 100 countries. Participated in the rollout and communication of core platform features used daily by tens of millions of players, while serving as a global spokesperson across press, live events, and community engagements. Helped shape an era widely credited with bringing online console gaming to mass-market adoption.
Platform Growth & ScaleGlobal Hardware PlatformsOnline Services StrategyCommunity Engagement

Xbox Kinect

Provided frontline communication and community storytelling during the development and launch of Kinect, one of the most high-profile hardware introductions in consumer electronics. Helped guide public understanding of motion-sensing technology as Kinect set a Guinness World Record as the fastest-selling gaming peripheral, averaging 133,333 units per day in its first 60 days, and later surpassed 10 million units sold. Participated in global demos, media coverage, and content efforts reaching millions of viewers worldwide, helping establish Kinect as one of the fastest-selling consumer devices of its generation.
Emerging Consumer TechnologyHuman-Computer InteractionReal-Time SystemsProduct Narrative & AdoptionGlobal Launch Communications

Unity Advocacy & Community

Led Unity’s global Advocacy and Community organisation during a period of trust rebuilding and platform transition. Oversaw programs supporting a developer ecosystem of millions worldwide, aligning community, influencer, and creator initiatives while launching and scaling livestreaming and engagement efforts reaching hundreds of thousands of developers annually. Established formal feedback loops that brought creator sentiment directly into executive decision-making and product strategy, helping stabilize relationships across a highly vocal global community.
Developer Ecosystem LeadershipCommunity Trust & GovernanceCreator & Influencer StrategyFeedback Systems & InsightsPlatform Advocacy

Xbox One

Led communications and community engagement through the Xbox One launch and subsequent recovery period, navigating one of the most closely scrutinised console introductions in the industry. Served as a primary public-facing leader across video, podcast, social, and live event channels, helping stabilise community sentiment, clarify platform direction, and rebuild trust following early launch challenges. Drove sustained, transparent communication through multiple platform resets and strategic shifts, supporting a return to momentum and long-term confidence across a global player base with tens of millions of consoles in active use worldwide.
Platform CommunicationsHardware Lifecycle LeadershipCommunity Trust & TransparencyLive Services StrategyDevice Ecosystem

Xbox Series X|S

Supported communications and community guidance for Xbox’s next-generation hardware platforms during launch and early lifecycle. Helped explain and position systems delivering 4K/120Hz performance, real-time ray tracing, and fast-resume architecture to a global audience. Provided coverage and clarity during a supply-constrained global launch, hosting interviews and feature deep dives consumed by millions of viewers and listeners worldwide, and supporting a smooth transition across console generations.
Next-Generation PlatformsHigh-Performance SystemsReal-Time ArchitectureDeveloper EcosystemGlobal Launch Communications