Goli Sheikholeslami

Goli Sheikholeslami is a media executive in the United States with more than three decades of leadership experience across major news organizations. She serves as chief executive officer of the POLITICO Media Group, which includes POLITICO's operations in North America and Europe. Sheikholeslami oversees all operations of the POLITICO Media Group, developing growth strategies to strengthen POLITICO's position as a global news and information source on politics, policy, and power. Working with a global executive management team, she implements long-range plans to expand POLITICO's presence in Europe and the United States, with the organization operating seven newsrooms across nine time zones.

Sheikholeslami's career spans both legacy institutions and digital innovation in political media. She began as an associate producer at a Washington, D.C.-based film and video production company, working on documentaries, before earning an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. After holding leadership roles at media companies such as Time Warner and Condé Nast, she joined The Washington Post. As a senior executive at The Post, Sheikholeslami oversaw the integration of print and online operations, leading its transformation into a digital news organization. She later served as chief product officer for Everyday Health before moving into public media.

Sheikholeslami joined public radio as CEO of Chicago Public Media, home to flagship station WBEZ, which produces, in partnership with NPR, shows such as "Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me!" and "This American Life." During her tenure, she increased the organization's focus on local news coverage, expanded the newsroom, and launched new digital properties and podcasts, including "Making Oprah" and "Public Official A." She then joined New York Public Radio, known for its flagship station WNYC, the 24-hour classical music station WQXR, and nationally syndicated shows like "On the Media" and "Radiolab." During her time at WNYC, the station became the top public radio station in the country and ranked among the leading news talk radio stations nationwide.

At POLITICO, Sheikholeslami leads through a volatile media and political climate, focusing on political reporting and expanding the brand across formats and geographies. She has addressed the challenges of operating in today's media environment, particularly the rapid spread of misinformation. Sheikholeslami holds a Bachelor of Science in international economics from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, an academic background that informs her data-driven, audience-first approach to media leadership.