"In an era of noise, fear, and confusion, this book is a call to higher ground. But the only way to get there is by finding common ground. Bradley offers leaders not just a strategy but a moral compass. His words remind us that conviction still matters, and trust can still be earned."

― Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

Civil rights icon

"Bradley’s steadiness under pressure is remarkable―the kind of composure you can’t teach. This book reflects the same calm, clear-eyed approach he brings to navigating the most complex communications challenges of our time."

― Robert Gibbs

Former White House Press Secretary; Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer, Warner Bros. Discovery

"Trust is built slowly and lost instantly. Bradley understands how leaders earn credibility under fire―and how organizations keep it when the world is watching. While there’s a trust deficit in American institutions, they should learn from Bradley’s insights before they’re in crisis."

― Honorable Patrick J. Murphy

Thirty-second army undersecretary; former US congressman

"Bradley Akubuiro has seen firsthand how high the stakes can get, and Faster. Messier. Tougher. delivers the kind of honest, actionable advice leaders rarely get. Bradley is a clear, essential voice, and this book is a road map for staying grounded when it matters most."

― Michael Gonda

EVP & Chief Communications Officer, Nike

"Crisis doesn’t build culture―it exposes it. Bradley Akubuiro understands this with a clarity few can match. Drawing on deep experience, this book offers practical, hard-earned wisdom to help leaders safeguard what matters most when the stakes are highest and the future feels uncertain."

― Whitney Eichinger

Chief Communications Officer, Southwest Airlines

"Bradley distills the chaos of the modern communications landscape into a playbook that's sharp, current, and unflinchingly real."

― Katie Hill

Senior Vice President for Communications, National Football League

"Part memoir, part master class, Bradley Akubuiro’s Faster. Messier. Tougher. shows leaders how to harness the power of storytelling to turn crises into defining moments. Bradley’s deep understanding of how to guide others through uncertainty is evident throughout―it’s a brilliant comms and strategy playbook for the perma-crisis era."

― Emily Ramshaw

Co-founder and CEO, The 19th

"'Even with limited power, you can change anything.' That’s the lesson of Bradley Akubuiro’s career and the message of his compelling book, Faster. Messier. Tougher. From foreign war zones to the corporate suites of Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, and United Technologies, Akubuiro conducts a master class in strategic communications and vivid storytelling. A must-read for every aspiring great communicator."

― Chris Whipple

New York Times best-selling author of The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency and Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History