Navigating Change.
Driving Impact.
BrightWork Strategies exists to help leaders strengthen the mission-critical parts of their organizations - strategy, programs, and systems - so they can navigate change with clarity.
Innovative Program Development
Smart, impactful program design that transforms good ideas into high-functioning, results-driven initiatives.
Executive Leadership and Management
Thought partnership for leaders who want to elevate performance, strengthen teams, and deliver meaningful results.
Collaborative Problem-Solving
Working with teams to tackle tough challenges and deliver smart, actionable solutions—together.
About BrightWork Strategies
AJ Pearlman, Principal
AJ Pearlman is the Founder of BrightWork Strategies. AJ believes that the strongest organizations are built when clear strategy, thoughtful leadership, and well-designed systems work together in service of a mission. She believes change is inevitable—but impact is intentional—and that leaders are most effective when they have trusted partners to help them translate big ideas into practical, results-driven action. Grounded in collaboration and equity, her work centers on strengthening teams, building durable programs, and creating solutions that are not only innovative, but sustainable in the real world.
AJ is a results-driven, collaborative leader with more than two decades of experience building innovative public-private programs and partnerships from the ground up. AJ served as the inaugural director of Public Health AmeriCorps, a $400 million partnership with the CDC to increase local public health capacity and build the next generation of leaders through service.
AJ was the Chief of Staff to the COVID-19 Response at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), ensuring coordinated efforts across federal agencies to rapidly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerating distribution of billions of dollars, partnering with the health sector to administer vaccines, and ensuring access to health information. AJ also led political appointee hiring for five health-related agencies on the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition Team.
Before joining the Biden-Harris team, AJ was the Senior Director of City Partnerships at KABOOM!, where she developed KABOOM!’s first impactful, multi-year partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools. During the Obama Administration, AJ worked in the Office of the First Lady at the White House, as the Associate Director for Policy for Let’s Move!, where she led interagency efforts to ensure that all kids have the opportunity to grow up healthy.
AJ received her JD from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and her BA in Psychology from UCLA. She lives in Washington, DC with her family and is the Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the St. Alban’s Early Childhood Education Center.