“Go the Extra Mile — Lead with Purpose, Communicate with Impact, and Inspire Meaningful Change.”
Toneisha Smith is an accomplished marketing communications executive, strategic storyteller, and transformational leader with 18 years of professional experience helping global organizations strengthen their reputations, accelerate innovation, and navigate complex business environments. With an extensive background spanning healthcare, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, consumer packaged goods, and emerging technologies, she has built a distinguished career translating sophisticated business strategies into compelling narratives that inspire confidence, deepen stakeholder relationships, and drive organizational growth. Her leadership philosophy is rooted in the belief that effective communication is more than the delivery of information; it is a strategic business capability that connects people, builds trust, and creates lasting value. Through her executive leadership experience and nonprofit board involvement, Toneisha brings a combination of commercial insight, strategic foresight, and purpose-driven leadership to organizations seeking sustainable growth and meaningful impact.
Most recently, Toneisha served as Director of Enterprise Digital and AI Communications at Merck & Co., where she played an instrumental role in shaping the company’s external narrative around digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and enterprise technology innovation. Collaborating with more than 25 subject matter experts and C-suite executives, she helped redefine how Merck communicates its technology capabilities to investors, policymakers, journalists, and prospective talent. Her work contributed to an enterprise technology narrative that attracted more than 40,000 users to company-owned digital channels, demonstrating her ability to connect complex innovation strategies with measurable stakeholder engagement. She also directed integrated communications across conferences, social media, executive messaging, and earned media initiatives, strengthening the company’s positioning within an increasingly technology-driven healthcare landscape.
At Merck, Toneisha’s strategic influence extended to communicating advances in artificial intelligence for drug discovery, corporate partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions. Working across Investor Relations, Legal, Compliance, Information Technology, and Research and Development, she helped ensure that innovation narratives aligned with business priorities, regulatory considerations, and stakeholder expectations. One of her notable achievements was securing Merck’s recognition among Fast Company’s 2026 Top 20 Most Innovative Companies in Healthcare, its first appearance on the list since 2020. Through a compelling earned media submission highlighting novel AI genomic models, she demonstrated the power of strategic storytelling to elevate corporate reputation and reinforce industry leadership. Her contributions reflect a sophisticated understanding of the intersection between technological innovation, public perception, and enterprise value creation.
Before assuming responsibility for enterprise digital and AI communications, Toneisha served as Director of Early Pipeline Communications for Neuroscience at Merck. In this position, she developed integrated communications and earned media strategies supporting early-stage research programs in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. She translated complex Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical developments into accessible, scientifically grounded narratives for healthcare professionals, investors, journalists, and the general public. Her communications initiatives supported clinical data announcements, scientific congress activities, and digital educational campaigns, contributing to more than 12 original news articles with 90% key message penetration. This experience further strengthened her ability to communicate scientific innovation responsibly while supporting business objectives and stakeholder confidence.
Toneisha’s leadership journey also includes an extensive and progressively senior career at Johnson & Johnson, where she held influential communications roles across the company’s MedTech and Consumer Health businesses. As Director of Global Digital Technology Communications for Johnson & Johnson MedTech, she supported the launch of the company’s first surgical software offering, the POLYPHONIC® Digital Ecosystem, and served as a key business-to-business public relations contact for Johnson & Johnson’s groundbreaking collaboration with NVIDIA. These initiatives placed her at the forefront of digital healthcare transformation, where connected technologies, advanced computing, and software-enabled solutions are redefining medical innovation. Beyond external communications, she developed organizational change and employee engagement strategies in collaboration with Human Resources, Research and Development, Information Technology, and Commercial leadership, helping teams align around evolving business priorities.
Previously, as Director of Global Innovation and R&D Communications at Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Toneisha worked closely with senior innovation executives to strengthen the company’s strategic positioning and articulate its future-focused technology pipeline. She partnered with the Global Head of Innovation and R&D and the R&D Chief of Staff to develop executive presentations, board-level materials, investor-focused narratives, and strategic messaging supporting high-profile events, including Johnson & Johnson’s 2023 Investor Day at the New York Stock Exchange. She also contributed to the company’s corporate identity transformation through the introduction of its updated brand identity. Her leadership extended into organizational culture and talent engagement, where innovative onboarding initiatives, senior leadership communications, and opportunities for meaningful employee dialogue contributed to a 20% year-over-year improvement in talent retention.
As Director of Executive Thought Leadership for Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Toneisha played a pivotal role in shaping the executive communications strategy of one of the world’s largest medical technology businesses. Supporting an organization that generated nearly $30 billion in annual revenue in 2021 and employed more than 70,000 people globally, she developed strategic platforms that amplified executive perspectives, innovation priorities, and corporate values. She also served as project manager for the transition from Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices to Johnson & Johnson MedTech, helping establish a refreshed market identity and unified strategic narrative. Additionally, she led employee communications surrounding a $16.6 billion acquisition announcement and provided strategic counsel to senior communications leadership, facilitating alignment across teams and reinforcing organizational clarity during periods of significant change.
An important chapter in Toneisha’s career was her international assignment in Singapore, where she served as Senior Manager of Commercial Communications for Johnson & Johnson’s Asia-Pacific MedTech business. Selected for this two-year opportunity, she worked across diverse markets, including China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, and India, aligning regional communications priorities with global business objectives and local regulatory requirements. Her leadership helped elevate the company’s reputation throughout the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to a 35% increase in Net Promoter Score through integrated campaigns spanning 11 surgical specialties. She also developed business-to-business and direct-to-patient marketing initiatives that increased healthcare professional registrations across customer relationship management systems by nearly 50% over two years. This international experience enhanced her cultural intelligence, adaptability, and ability to lead through complex, geographically diverse business environments.
Earlier in her career, Toneisha served as Manager of Research and Development Communications within Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, where she helped establish a stronger scientific narrative for globally recognized brands such as Neutrogena, Aveeno, Johnson’s Baby, and Listerine. In a newly created position, she advanced the organization’s first global innovation narrative and strengthened engagement with prominent media outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg, STAT News, and Allure. She also collaborated with the Office of the Chief Scientific Officer on communications related to ingredient safety, regulatory issues, product recalls, and the Facts About Talc campaign. These responsibilities deepened her expertise in reputation protection, science-based communication, crisis management, and navigating sensitive issues affecting public trust.
Throughout her career, Toneisha has distinguished herself through her ability to connect strategic vision with disciplined execution. Her professional capabilities span corporate reputation management, digital transformation, marketing communications, executive positioning, data analysis, stakeholder engagement, business development, project management, and integrated campaign development. She understands the importance of using data and market insights to inform decisions, measure communications effectiveness, and identify opportunities for business improvement. Her experience working alongside senior executives, scientists, commercial leaders, legal teams, and government affairs professionals enables her to evaluate challenges from multiple perspectives while maintaining a clear focus on organizational performance and long-term stakeholder value.
Beyond her corporate accomplishments, Toneisha brings meaningful experience serving nonprofit boards and contributing to organizations dedicated to community advancement. Having participated in several boards throughout her career and remaining active in nonprofit governance, she recognizes the importance of responsible leadership, collaborative decision-making, and aligning organizational resources with mission-driven objectives. She is particularly interested in applying her corporate expertise to help businesses and community organizations address complex challenges, strengthen their market positioning, and scale in a positive and sustainable direction. Her background makes her a valuable prospective contributor to boards and advisory teams seeking expertise in healthcare, technology, consumer products, corporate communications, digital innovation, organizational transformation, and stakeholder relations.
Building on her experience serving nonprofit boards, Toneisha is eager to expand her board involvement into the corporate sector. With a strong background in global communications, business strategy, healthcare, and digital innovation, she brings valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing businesses today. She is particularly interested in serving on corporate boards where she can help strengthen brand reputation, guide strategic growth, navigate change, and contribute to long term business success.
Toneisha’s academic foundation combines business leadership with a deep appreciation for human behavior and effective communication. She earned a Master of Business Administration in General Management from Centenary University and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Anthropology from Seton Hall University. This multidisciplinary education has influenced her approach to leadership, allowing her to balance commercial strategy with cultural awareness, analytical thinking, and compelling storytelling. Her professional journey reflects a consistent commitment to learning, adaptability, and understanding the human dimensions of organizational success.
At the heart of Toneisha’s professional identity is her personal motto, “Go the Extra Mile.” This principle reflects her dedication to exceeding expectations, investing in relationships, and pursuing outcomes that create meaningful benefits for organizations and the communities they serve. Outside her professional and board commitments, she enjoys gardening and reading, interests that complement her appreciation for continuous growth, patience, creativity, and lifelong learning. As she continues expanding her board and advisory involvement, Toneisha remains committed to bringing thoughtful leadership, global perspective, and a collaborative spirit to organizations navigating change and pursuing new opportunities. Her career exemplifies the impact of combining strategic communications expertise with business acumen, innovation, and a genuine commitment to helping people and organizations succeed.
Character:
Toneisha exemplifies integrity, accountability, and purpose-driven leadership through her commitment to building trust, supporting organizational missions, and contributing to nonprofit boards. Guided by her personal philosophy of going the extra mile, she approaches professional and community responsibilities with dedication, empathy, and a genuine desire to create positive change.
Knowledge:
With 18 years of professional experience across healthcare, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, consumer products, and emerging technologies, Toneisha possesses extensive knowledge of corporate communications, global marketing, innovation, and organizational transformation. Her combination of advanced business education, international experience, and collaboration with executive leadership teams equips her with the multidisciplinary perspective needed to address complex business challenges.
Strategic:
Toneisha demonstrates exceptional strategic capabilities through her experience guiding enterprise narratives, supporting major acquisitions, positioning breakthrough technologies, and aligning communications with measurable business outcomes. Her ability to anticipate stakeholder needs, integrate cross-functional priorities, and translate ambitious organizational goals into actionable strategies positions her as a valuable contributor to executive and board-level decision-making.
Communication:
An accomplished communicator who transforms complex scientific, technological, and business information into clear, persuasive narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. Her expertise in executive thought leadership, media relations, investor communications, employee engagement, and international stakeholder management enables her to build consensus, strengthen reputations, and inspire meaningful organizational progress.
