Paradox Public Relations has emerged as a breakout communications firm uniquely fluent in global influence, narrative, and policy. Founded by Davis Richardson, Paradox operates at the intersection of emerging technology, geopolitical strategy, and frontier-market storytelling, with clients ranging from quantum computing startups and defense tech companies to cultural institutions in conflict zones.
Unlike traditional PR firms, Paradox combines the sensibility of a newsroom with the precision of a black-ops unit. Whether advising a NATO-aligned defense innovator on securing U.S. contracts, producing frontline media from Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine, or launching an award-winning international art campaign from London, the firm’s work resists easy categorization. What unites it all is a fierce commitment to influence.
Pulse 2.0 sat down with Richardson to explore the philosophy behind Paradox, lessons learned from operating in some of the world’s most volatile markets, and how the firm is betting on the next decade of communications — one high-stakes mission at a time.
Davis Richardson’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Richardson said:
“Prior to founding Paradox, I covered U.S. foreign policy as a staff writer at the New York Observer, and published freelance reports for VICE, The Daily Beast, Interview Magazine, and WIRED.”
“This editorial experience was engrained into Paradox’s DNA very early on. We launched an independent media platform, Paradox Politics, alongside our core product, Paradox Public Relations, and actively invested into quality journalism.”
“We commissioned frontline reporting from Ukraine, Afghanistan, and the Nagorno-Karabakh blockade, from foreign correspondents at CNN, Fox News, and The Guardian, while producing financial analysis across emerging markets. I don’t think I ever lost that writer’s perspective in applying knowledge horizontally across a multitude of sectors.”
Evolution Of The Firm’s Thesis
How has your firm’s thesis evolved? Richardson noted:
“We were one of the first communications firms to bet big on emerging technology like blockchain. Our first international campaign was for the Founder of the World Bank’s ID4D initiative, well before the pandemic thrust digital assets into mainstream conversation.”
“What I didn’t understand at the time was just how early we were. I assumed that just because a global institution invested billions of dollars into piloting technology, adoption was around the corner. We underestimated just how nascent the space was.”
“This understanding has nurtured Paradox’s thesis. While the markets we operate in are “new,” they are also decades away from coming to fruition. Building for the long haul, with integrity and a strong foundation, has become essential to our mission.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for your firm so far? Richardson reflected:
“We were on the ground in Australia for our longstanding client Agnieszka Pilat’s first major museum show, HETEROBOTA, at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. Agnieszka is a genius, and one of the most brilliant contemporary artists working today.”
“For HETEROBOTA, Agnieszka trained three Boston Dynamics robots to paint using advancements in AI and robotics. We coded different personalities into the robots, so they all had their own unique identities, and reacted to the environment differently with problem-solving abilities.”
“For a week prior to the opening, we were in an all-white museum space with these robots, and I remember just being alone with them and feeling their different personalities. They study you. It was a bit like we were the scientists in Jurassic Park; ‘What have we created? Is this the end of us?'”
“And then to see billionaires and celebrities like Liam Hemsworth react to these robots during the private preview the same way we did during the installation, and the same way that little children did during opening weekend — with a mix of awe, fear, and excitement — was very special.”
“At that moment, I remembered why I entered this profession: to tell stories that matter. We actually wrote the museum forward to Agnieszka’s show, and HETEROBOTA is a finalist for several media awards from PR Daily, alongside media campaigns featuring Jeremy Renner and Martha Stewart.”
Paradox PR Managing Partner Davis Richardson accepts the 2025 SABRE North America Gold award for the “Preserving Art in Crisis” media campaign executed alongside partners Art Shield and Dom Master Klass
Significant Milestones
What have been some of your firm’s most significant milestones? Richardson cited:
“Paradox PR was awarded the prestigious SABRE North America Gold award last month for the international media campaign, ‘Preserving Art in Crisis,’ with partners Art Shield and Dom Master Klass. “Preserving Art in Crisis” uplifted Ukrainian artists, and showcased their work at international gallery exhibitions in London, New York, and Kyiv.”
“Our ‘Kyiv Art Sessions’ festivals in London drew hundreds of guests, including celebrities like Oscar-nominated actor Jeffrey Wright, who posed for photos with the Ukrainian artists we flew out from Kyiv. Ukrainian Ambassador Valery Zaluzhnyi endorsed this campaign as a “testament to the unyielding spirit of Ukrainian art and culture.
“It was an honor to be recognized by our peers in public relations, and to also have Ukraine represented during this awards ceremony.”
“One of our social media handles that we operate hit 7.5 million views last month which was very exciting.”
Paradox PR Managing Partner Davis Richardson, Ukrainian-American photographer Sasha Maslov, Oscar-nominated actor Jeffrey Wright, and Art Shield CEO Edward Akrout
Industry Focus
What are some of the industries that your firm is focused on? Richardson pointed out:
“We are focused very heavily on defense technology right now, both on the hardware and software side. With the changes underway in Washington via DOGE and other cost-cutting mandates, American companies face a tougher climb selling their products into the U.S. Government.”
“We help businesses communicate with decision-makers in Washington, while ensuring their selling point resonates to secure government contracts. Just because a VC fund like Sequoia invests millions into a defense tech startup, doesn’t mean the product fits key criteria. Presentation and framing are critical for demonstrating to military leaders why new technology should be adopted for national security.”
Differentiation From Other Firms
What differentiates your firm from others? Richardson emphasized:
“We operate not just in emerging markets, but frontier markets.”
“We’re a boutique firm, but we navigate internationally and across multiple jurisdictions to deliver results for our clients. We assemble teams at the drop of a hat to accomplish a strategic objective, and then amplify the results either to a singular decision-maker or across key markets to reinforce dominance.”
“We’re outcome-driven — aggressive when needed, always strategic.”
Taking On New Clients
How do you evaluate whether to take on a new client — is there a litmus test? Richardson replied:
“We ask one question first: Can we move the needle?”
“If a potential client has a meaningful story, a real-world challenge, and the courage to pursue an ambitious goal, we’re interested. But if they just want visibility without substance, we’re not the right fit. We’re not a traditional agency — we operate like a special operations team. We go deep, move fast, and aim to make asymmetric impact.”
“We also assess alignment across three dimensions: mission, access, and leverage. Is the mission consequential — either technologically, geopolitically, or culturally?And does the client understand how to leverage our capabilities, or are they just checking a box?”
“That filter has helped us stay lean, focused, and extremely effective — especially in high-stakes sectors like defense, AI, and reconstruction. We don’t chase retainers. We chase results.”
Vision For The Firm
What is your vision for Paradox Public Relations? Richardson forecasts:
“We’re building Paradox into the most trusted communications firm operating at the edge of global transformation. Whether it’s defense tech, AI policy, or postwar reconstruction, our goal is to shape the narratives that shape geopolitics — and to do so with integrity, precision, and cultural fluency.”
“We’re doubling down on frontier markets, especially in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia — places where perception isn’t just a marketing lever, but a matter of survival. We plan to grow our team of fixers, analysts, and journalists on the ground, and expand our footprint in Washington and Brussels to better serve our institutional clients.”
“On the media side, we’re investing in Paradox Politics as an independent platform — a space where world-class reporting and strategic insight converge. Long-term, we see this as both a public good and a competitive advantage: a newsroom and a think tank, built into the fabric of our firm. Ultimately, we’re not chasing scale for the sake of it. We’re building a networked, elite team capable of delivering extraordinary results in extreme environments. That’s our north star.”
Evolution Of Communications
How do you see communications evolving in frontier markets over the next 5–10 years? Richardson concluded:
“As geopolitical risk rises and foreign investment accelerates, perception management will determine whether deals close, capital flows, and alliances hold. Over the next decade, I believe we’ll see communications firms in these regions evolve into hybrid operators: part intelligence agency, part media house, part fixer network.”
“In places like Ukraine, storytelling isn’t just brand work — it’s risk mitigation. It’s diplomacy. It’s national survival. We’re already seeing governments and insurgent groups alike deploying sophisticated narrative warfare tactics. In response, public relations firms must act with speed, cultural fluency, and operational depth — not just spin.”
“At Paradox, we’ve embraced this shift. Our goal isn’t just to land media hits; it’s to shape the information terrain where policy and capital decisions are made. That’s the future of communications in frontier markets: The ability to execute and deliver.”
