I help ambitious CPG brand leaders make real progress on critical projects that create more stress than they should.
Does that sound like you?
Hi! I'm Kathy
CPG brand leaders are in a never-ending, ever-growing struggle to get more done, more quickly. Competitive stakes are higher, company goals are loftier, and your ambition drives you towards even more.
You love this life, right?
But at the same time, timelines are shorter, resources are tighter and days are still, somehow, just 24 hours long. Leaving you stressed to get it all done with strategic, thoughtful care, instead of just slappin' something together.
I have heard this story so many times! The struggle is real -- and it's not just you.
This is where I jump right in. I make your 24 hours work harder so you can accomplish more.
In my 15 years of experience, I've learned how to define a vision and then translate it into an actionable plan quickly and effectively. I use a strategic and pragmatic approach to get it done well and get it done now.
So you can walk in that boardroom confidently
because you've got a smart plan in hand.
Then, all that's left are big wins for your brand, your team, and, of course...
big wins for you.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY ABOUT ME
VP & GM
Kathy possesses the perfect balance of strategic thinking, project management, business acumen, and brand management expertise.
Director of Brand Marketing
She is my go-to and first choice strategist/consultant, hands down. If you are looking for a strategic, innovative and dependable consultant, Kathy is the one for you.
Sr Marketing Director
Kathy is an incredible strategic thinker. She has a rare ability to break down and analyze a problem and determine the best path forward.
Click here to visit my LinkedIn page and see what else people say about me
Services
CPG Brand & Innovation Consulting
Brand Strategy & Planning
Development of short and long term brand strategic plans to identify & capture new growth or solve business challenges
Innovation Strategy & Execution
Identify incremental, profit-driving opportunities thru consumer and data insights, develop product or platform concepts and ready for launch
Marketing Strategy & Planning
Full plan development that aligns with strategic objectives and drives brand growth
Tap into my 15 years experience across 20 different product categories to tackle the toughest business challenge.
product categories of expertise
TYPE: Natural, organic and conventional
FOOD: salty snacks, baked snacks, applesauce, cottage cheese, pouch snacks
BEVERAGE: juice, juice drinks, mixers, CSD, bottled water, sparkling water, ready-to-drink coffee, ready-to-drink tea, conventional milk, flavored milk, plant-based milk, coffee creamers, eggnog
BEAUTY: natural, multicultural haircare
Case Studies
BIG BET INNOVATION
A high priority project was at risk by limited bandwidth from a very lean team. Partnering with the Director of Innovation, I drove the consumer research agenda, drove packaging structure and graphics design work resulting in a consumer preferred package, partnered with R&D on the formulation development, and helped craft the communications brief based on consumer insights learned. The products will launch nationally in March 2018.
PORTFOLIO STRATEGY
With several existing bottled water brands and additional water innovation imminent, the client's team was too busy with their annual growth agenda to think about portfolio management. I partnered with the team to lay out a vision for their water business and provided deep analysis of the competitive water landscape. Using both, we established the role of each brand and upcoming innovation. This Water Portfolio Strategy maximizes reach, profitability, and efficiency, and has since led to additional innovation and acquisitions.
WHITE SPACE
The client was eager to get in on the growth of plant-based beverages but did not have the knowledge base to develop a strategy. I led a research agenda that defined the landscape, the consumer and competitors. Plus, dove deep into POS data and secondary research to fully understand category drivers. We partnered on a strategic innovation recommendation including positioning, brand development, graphics and structural design, formulation and more.
MY SECRET SAUCE
HEART
I work with people and brands that are personally meaningful to me - and it shows
WIZARDRY
Intuitively connecting & integrating the big picture + the small details to see the problems & possibilities
EXPERTISE
15 years working with ultra-large ($10B) & modestly small ($10MM) brands in over 20 product categories
How I got here
I'm originally from NJ and got to Texas by way of the University of Texas at Austin, where I earned my MBA at the McCombs School of Business in 2004.
After school, I spent close to 5 years at Pepsico's Frito Lay, learning the craft of data-driven, last-mile-execution, strategic CPG marketing.
In 2010, I joined the marketing team at Dean Foods, the country's largest dairy company that at the time was building a brand-roster. I learned how to think like an entrepreneur while managing the complexities of century-old manufacturing and go-to-market system.
In the spring of 2012, I joined a very small, 40-person company where I ran a multicultural beauty business - Cantu Shea Butter - and I dove even deeper into the entrepreneurial process, thriving with much smaller budgets, and even bigger aspirations.
In 2013, I decided to make a shift to consulting. I wanted to focus my work on my strategic, analytic and planning strengths so that I could truly help other brand leaders succeed at their own work.
Over the years I had learned that brand leaders across all types of organizations are struggling with getting mission critical projects done with a strategic vision and a smartly crafted plan because they were are often under-resourced or time-crunched.
Since then, I have helped my clients with numerous projects and I am proud that every single one has become a (many times over) repeat client or has generously provided a recommendation. I am motivated by the fact that I can be a small part of their success.
I look forward to being a part of your success, too.