Phoenix Ricks is the founder and CEO of Girl Friday, a global affairs agency based in Washington, DC.

Girl Friday was founded in 2020 with a newsletter focused on pressing international issues, and it has evolved into a consultancy and media platform.

Previously, Phoenix led SHEIN's public affairs strategies in the United States and directed PepsiCo’s government relations initiatives and trade negotiations in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Prior to joining the private sector, she worked in public diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State. She has led teams and projects around the world, from Armenia to Thailand.

She is also the host of The Friday Brief news podcast, which explains politics and international events in under 15 minutes.

Phoenix is an alumna of Howard University, American University, and the University of Cambridge. She serves on the board of directors for the Tidey Ocean Foundation and Partnerships for Trauma Recovery.