While I started as a journalist, the bulk of my career has been in sales and business development. I've sold advertising for all types of media and worked at a range of ad agencies as the new business lead and I've worked for and with tech and media start-ups.
After a while, I realized that business development could only be consistently successful if the company was constantly evolving, so I got a Master's Degree in Transformational Leadership and moved into management.
I have led new business at agencies including Razorfish (Seattle, Portland), Publicis West, FCB (Seattle, San Francisco), McCann (Seattle).
I've also been in leadership positions at a creative boutique and a production company, both of which experienced significant growth during my tenure. I was responsible for managing teams as well as the often-boring stuff that keeps companies profitable and running smoothly. I have hands-on experience managing P&L, implementing major structural changes like new timekeeping and project management systems, hiring and retaining creative talent, mentoring women into positions of leadership, and increasing diversity. I worked as a fractional CMO for a global advertising agency and have experience managing teams and stakeholders across Europe, India and Australia.
I have a BA from Stanford University and an MA in Transformational Leadership from Seattle University.
I am a Board Certified Coach (BCC) and a member of the International Coaching Federation and abide by their code of ethics.
You can find my newsletter about leadership at The Consigliera Papers. I do a podcast with Eugene S. Robinson called The Bad Boss Brief which you can find on most podcast platforms.
My articles on women in leadership have appeared in The Drum and Adweek. My storytelling is featured in a best selling anthology from the Moth called All These Wonders, True Stories about Facing the Unknown, as well as Reader’s Digest.
I've been a panelist at conferences on diversity at the AAF (American Advertising Federation) of Western Washington and I've led sessions on Negotiation Skills for Women and People of Color at Tech Inclusion and the 3 Percent Conference.