With 20+ years of experience mastering the strategic insights, marketing and brand building trades, I've recently applied my skill sets to a consultancy that leverages behavioral science to drive instinctive brand preference for some of the world’s biggest and most beloved brands.
I've also helped progress a rising creative agency called Human Design. Here, I established Human’s Portland office and built a new strategy team from the ground up, which created the marketing strategies that inspired design, film, media and integrated marketing campaigns for many mission-driven organizations trying to make the world a better place.
Before Human, I developed a deep passion for consumer-derived insights, marketing strategies and actionable application of those findings at Egg Strategy. During my eight years there, I grew brands and businesses across a multitude of industries with particular emphasis in consumer packaged goods, especially food and beverage.
My passion for marketing and strategy stems from degrees I earned in Marketing and International Business from Miami University of Ohio as well as an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management with triple majors in Marketing, Strategy and International Business.
"Kelsey is one of the most adept leaders I have ever had the pleasure of working for. She will stop at nothing to help push both the work and her teams development further.
Over the years I saw Kelsey build a highly effective team from the ground up by masterfully balancing unparalleled expertise with earnest humility. She possesses a wealth of information to share with her subordinates, but is still perfectly comfortable rolling up her sleeves to dive into the work.
While working for Kelsey I always felt supported, guided, and empowered. She knew when to step in pushing my work further, and when to take a back seat allowing me to shine. I cannot over emphasize how much growth I personally experienced as a result of Kelsey’s leadership.
Any organization would be lucky to have Kelsey Sullivan on their team."
- Rob Troller, former direct report
"Kelsey is a breath of fresh air, strategic minded, data driven and sharp as a tack. I had the pleasure of working with Kelsey as her client and she was always impressive, tenacious and ready to tackle whatever the challenge was in front of us. She always asks the right questions to elevate our brainstorm sessions and her work translated onto paper like a New York Times best seller. Kelsey is always ready, always positive and always willing to do what it takes to get the work done. Kelsey is an amazing leader and is always present despite having a busy home life. She is truly an asset to any organization that she is a part of."
- Kristil Nicholas, Director of Integrated Marketing at Finance of America
"Kelsey is a brilliant thinker, strategist, and leader that I had the pleasure to work under at Egg Strategy for a number of years. Kelsey has an incredible ability to take complex information and make it look and sound simple and digestible. Not only did Kelsey excel in the behind the scene strategy work, but she's also a great writer, a skilled storyteller, and a gifted speaker.
While Kelsey worked more predominately on quantitative work at Egg Strategy, she was also extremely skilled at qualitative methods, and was able to weave insights together in a way I've never seen anyone do. She listens and engages with her clients, takes smart risks, and delivers top notch work.
Kelsey is truly one of the best leaders I've ever worked for and we remain friends to this day. She has a keen ability to meet people where they're at and is eager to help people learn along the way. She's a selfless leader and is never above spending time (that she often doesn't have) with those who need support or clarification. Now a Director myself, both the insights and managerial skills I observed from her have been invaluable to me as I progress in my career. She's a mom, a wife, and a friend on top of everything she does professionally - and the way she balances it all continues to amaze me."
- Molly Carstensen, former direct report
"Kelsey and I have collaborated on a number of strategic projects across qual / quant research, brand and product positioning, creative strategy and campaign development. I've also been lucky to have her as a mentor and she's one of the smartest leaders that I’ve had the opportunity to work with. I’ve been able to see her amaze both clients and her agency team, sharing breakthrough strategic insight alongside her quick-wit humor. She’s a relentless force of positivity and is always committed to being an advocate for her team. Her leadership style is one that inspires and excites, and makes people want to go above and beyond with her. Any organization would be privileged to have her on their team."
- Chris Burton, former direct report
"I had the pleasure of working with Kelsey Sullivan at Human, she has been an early mentor in my career. Kelsey is a strategic powerhouse who is so deeply impressive to see in action.
As a manager, she embodies earnestness, loyalty and compassion. She is dedicated to the growth and success of every team member by paying attention to goals and making sure they get done. She made my work better, and never hesitated to help me along the way.
When it comes to the work, she is the foremost expert in frameworks and distilling complicated, dense information into hard hitting-points to lead to “aha” moments. In presentations, she is succinct and elegant. She has mastered the ability to translate data into insights and craft stories that are compelling and resonate -- to a point that it seems like second nature. Kelsey not only adds value but she develops, creates and nurtures value. Any organization would be lucky to have her."
- Kaitlyn Fujii, former direct report
"Your magic sauce is making everyone on your teams want to work harder and do better work for you. You have such a strong leadership style that I learned so much from...your willingness to jump in wherever / however means necessary, to fight for each member of your team, to be an advocate for our growth...and to do that while also masterfully leading clients through complicated problems - it's the type of leader I hope to emulate."
- Beth Kerscher, former direct report
"THANK YOU. For being my champion, my cheerleader, my challenger (in a good way - pushing me to grow, learn and stay open to feedback)...thank you for reminding me 'you got this, girl!' even when I really didn't feel like I had it, and leaning in to pick up/takeover/finish off work when I was overwhelmed. You're a real partner, but also a mentor and coach to me."
- Colleen Teresi, former direct report
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