Mustafa Rashed is the president & CEO of Bellevue Strategies and is responsible for the firm’s strategic planning and vision. The firm relies on its vast network of relationships with elected officials, community leaders, and media to deliver tangible results for its clients. A native Philadelphian, Mustafa’s first exposure to politics was as a high school intern at the Philadelphia Tribune, the country’s oldest and longest published Black newspaper. There is where he learned the value and importance of controlling the narrative. His experiences in communications and policy have covered political campaigns, advocacy efforts, and crisis communications for some of the region’s most well-known issues. He leads political strategy and engagement for corporations, organizations, and advocacy efforts and serves as a strategic advisor for policy leaders, governors, senators, mayors, and presidential candidates.

Mustafa Rashed received the Philadelphia Business Journal Minority Business Leader Award in 2019, The Philadelphia Business Journal Veteran Business Leader Award (2021), the Gerald Wright Fatherhood Award in 2022, and the Comcast Business Entrepreneur Spotlight Award in 2021. He was also recognized by City & State's 'Philadelphia Power 100' in 2021 and their 'State Diversity PA 100' in 2022.

Bellevue prides itself on being able to do good work by investing in projects we are passionate about and believe in. Some of those projects have included:

• Leading the messaging and implementation of social impact, justice, and equity initiatives for advocacy groups, corporations, and nonprofit organizations.

• Successfully lobbying Philadelphia City Council to restore full funding for the African American Museum of Philadelphia in the city’s Capital Budget for the fiscal year 2021;

• Secured RACP funding to support the Village at Haverford Square – a two-phase development that will bring 166 units of housing to 36th Street and Haverford Avenue, along with 31,145 square feet of commercial space anchored by a “full-service” supermarket;

• Leading the coalition to advocate for and successfully pass the Philadelphia Beverage Tax to fund PreK, Community Schools and Rebuild (the city of Philadelphia’s $500 million dollar capital works program);

• In response to the Opioid Crisis and the damage it is doing to the state’s foster care system – building bipartisan support in the General Assembly to introduce the Adoption and Foster Care Tax Credit for children in PA’s child welfare system. When passed, it will be the first of its kind in the nation;

• Securing city and state public funding and Federal Preservation Historic Tax Credits for one of the jewels of Southeastern PA – Smith Memorial Playground to support their capital campaign to revitalize free space for families and children;

• Working with city and state elected officials and key stakeholders on legislation to advance Schuylkill Yards, a $3.5 billion development that will include 4.6 acres of residential office, research, and retail space and will transform the University City neighborhood in Philadelphia.

Prior to this role, Mustafa served as the Vice President of Media and Brand Strategy of the Bellevue Communications Group, a subsidiary of Wojdak & Associates, one of Pennsylvania’s premier government relations firms. He has also worked for media organizations NBC10, KYW Newsradio, and the Philadelphia Public Record. His work in advocacy includes political campaigns, corporate and nonprofit clients. He utilizes his ability to turn challenges into opportunities and his extensive experience and leadership in the industries to provide a plethora of benefits for his clients along with the competitive edge they need. Rashed’s work experience is diverse which gives him the ability to unite his passion for advocacy to provide Bellevue’s clients with innovative direction and exceptionally positive results.

A veteran of the United States Navy, Rashed served with distinction in Operation Desert Storm in Iraq and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. Rising to the rank of Petty Officer Third Class, he received numerous commendations for achievement and leadership. Rashed has also always been invested in educational and entrepreneurial opportunities for youth and minorities. As such he serves on the Board of Directors of the African American Museum in Philadelphia, PCCY, on the Dean’s Council at Temple University’s School of Tourism & Hospitality Management, on the Leadership Council of the Philadelphia Global Identity Project, a member of the National Urban League’s Philadelphia Chapter and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia. He also serves as a Governor Wolf appointee as a Commissioner on the Pennsylvania Early Learning Commission.

Rashed is an advocate of public education and a strong municipal public school system. He’s a graduate of the Philadelphia school system (John Bartram, H.S). He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Temple University. A frequent media commentator on politics, social and community affairs, Rashed is a guest columnist for Philadelphia Magazine and Al Dia. You can find his brief musings on Twitter @mustafarashed.