Research before the positioning. Build a Brand Foundation That Lets You Compete Above Your Weight Class
I bring enterprise-quality thinking at growth-stage budgets and timelines.
Strategic brand positioning, messaging architecture, and digital presence — built on Fortune 500 rigor, delivered in 6-8 weeks at boutique prices.
Picture your brand commanding attention in every conversation. That's what happens when companies discover their true competitive position.
Compete on your vision, not on price.
Discover Your Brand's Hidden Advantage. Get a Free Brand Audit.
“Kate did an outstanding job shepherding our organization through a rebranding process. We needed multiple, integrated logo images and had multiple stakeholders involved, but she smoothly guided the process and helped us weave all of the threads together resulting in a new dynamic and modern brand suite that everyone is in love with! She's a consummate marketing professional AND a delight to work with!”
Board Officer, Women’s Business Owners Organization (WBO)
“Kate and I have worked closely together for over 5 years…on Microsoft Tech for Social Impact's Global Demand Center. Together, we (and the extended team) have built out a globally scalable lead acquisition and nurture engine designed to serve our nonprofit customers and deliver business outcomes. I have loved working with Kate and consider the program we built together and resulting impact as a highlight in my career. Kate [has] a keen ability to manage all the details while keeping an eye towards the end goal and outcomes. She has been a trusted advisor to me and someone that I knew I could always count on… And, she's really, really fun to work with!”
Sr. Director, Microsoft Tech for Social Impact
AI is rewriting the competitive landscape faster than most companies can track. Execution is being commoditized — any competitor can now produce decent content, proposals, and positioning. What they can't replicate is a brand foundation that's genuinely clear, differentiated, and internalized by your team. The companies that build that now will own their category. The ones that wait will be defined by someone else.
My results: 3× inbound leads in 6 months · $1.5M in strategic savings · Launched into high-end spa market · 60% velocity improvement at Microsoft · Award winning campaigns for HP at Draft FCB
See how I positioned a boutique staffing firm as ethical alternative to AI-driven recruitment
The Problem:
AI is accelerating category disruption and your window to define yourself is closing.
Your company has evolved, but your brand hasn't kept pace | Traditional brand consultants want 6 months and six figures | Design agencies focus on logos, not strategy | Stakeholders don't understand what makes you different
You need strategic brand foundation work—at your stage, on your timeline, at prices that make sense.
Whether you're:
A growth-stage company competing for customers, market share, or category definition
A B2B services firm or specialist consultancy scaling past founder-led growth
A small business on the cusp of becoming a medium-sized business
The Solution:
Structured for Your Growth-Stage Reality
Strategic Foundation
Competitive/ecosystem analysis & positioning
Brand differentiation strategy
Value proposition development
Brand ethos & personality
Messaging Architecture
Core messaging framework
Stakeholder-specific narratives
Proof points & impact stories
Consistent voice across channels
A good fit:
You're $1M–$50M in revenue and your brand has fallen behind your business
You need strategy and immediate execution-ready deliverables
You've outgrown DIY but can't afford 6-month, six-figure agency engagements
You're competing in a category being reshaped by AI
Not a fit:
You're pre-revenue and need a logo (start with a design freelancer)
You want a 2-week sprint without research depth (FletchPMM or Genesys Growth are good options)
You're a global enterprise needing multi-market activation (Prophet, Interbrand, or Landor)
Stop Choosing Between Strategy and Execution
Most Consultants:
Frameworks without execution; you build the website, decks, and content yourself
2-day workshops or 2-week sprints; surface-level customer input
B2B SaaS specialization only
"Contact us for pricing"
One-size-fits-all approach regardless of your model
Presence That Converts
Website content strategy
LinkedIn brand strategy
Creative brief for visual identity
Implementation roadmap
20 years at Microsoft, T-Mobile, BECU, FCB, as well as other enterprise, agency, and startup environments has given me a unusual skill: I can walk into an organization and quickly map how its market position, internal culture, product roadmap, and communication strategy are interacting — or failing to. That cross-domain visibility is how I find positioning that actually sticks. I don't lead with assumptions. I lead with questions, competitive data, and stakeholder interviews, because the insight that changes your trajectory is almost always hiding in the evidence, not sitting on the surface.
My Approach:
Strategy and execution-ready deliverables in one engagement
6-8 weeks of stakeholder interviews, competitive analysis, and evidence-based positioning
Cross-domain Fortune 500 fluency: enterprise tech, telecom, financial services, agency
Transparent cost ranges published
Most Brand Consultants Are Either/Or; I’m Both/And.
Fortune 500 Brand Strategy Rigor - Microsoft | T-Mobile | BECU | FCB
Get the benefit of deep experience in tech (corporate and agency): $1.5M saved through strategic repositioning for mobile app; 60% velocity improvement at Microsoft; 25% increase in mobile sales at T-Mobile; $5M new opportunities uncovered for SE Asia media giant.
Comprehensive strategic foundation — equivalent to engaging a positioning consultant, content strategist, and creative director separately.
Brand Foundation Strategy Package (competitive analysis, market positioning map, differentiation strategy, brand positioning framework, creative brief) $45,000 - $65,000 | 6-8 weeks
Website Architecture & Content Strategy $15,000 - $25,000 | 4-5 weeks
10% Nonprofit 501(c)(3) mission-aligned concession.
Payment Terms: 50% at kickoff , 25% at midpoint, 25% at completion
Real results for growth-stage companies and mission-driven organizations
Humans Over Algorithms: Positioning boutique staffing firm as ethical alternative to AI-driven recruitment.
A relationship-driven staffing firm wanted to scale without losing their personalized approach. Through comprehensive competitive analysis, we identified white space no one was claiming: ethical staffing in the age of AI. The positioning gave them thought leadership territory and a competitive differentiator that automation-first firms can't copy.
Key Results:
3x increase in inbound leads within 6 months
Clear thought leadership platform in ethical recruitment
Defensible market position competitors can't replicate
LinkedIn strategy generating consistent qualified prospects
Project Details:
Timeline: 8 weeks | Investment: $50,000
— Read Case Study
From Artisan to Premium: Building Luxury Brand Identity on a Startup Budget
A young entrepreneur created an all-natural healing oil but had no brand strategy and very limited budget. Through creative positioning—using fine art imagery to convey luxury without expensive photography—we built a complete premium brand identity that successfully launched into high-end spas. His SBA mentor, a cosmetics industry veteran: "I have never had a mentee that knocked the branding out of the park upon launch."
Key Results:
Successfully launched into high-end spa market
Premium brand identity on bootstrap budget
Industry veteran validation of strategic approach
Fine art strategy eliminated photography costs while creating luxury positioning
Project Details:
Timeline: 12 weeks | Budget: Bootstrap/limited funds
— Read Case Study
From Legacy to Leadership: Strategic Visual Rebrand for Next-Generation Growth
After 15 years of building a thriving women's business community, WBO's visual identity felt dated and struggled to attract younger members. Through collaborative designer partnership, we delivered contemporary brand assets that honored their legacy while positioning for the future. The membership reveal generated an enthusiastic response—immediate validation the rebrand captured who they'd become.
Key Results:
Contemporary brand positioning for next-generation members
Enthusiastic membership response at reveal luncheon
Visual identity finally matching organizational evolution
Foundation supporting ambitious growth strategy
Project Details:
Timeline: 6 weeks | Strategic execution project
— Read Case Study
What is Brand Strategy?
Brand strategy is the set of decisions that determine how a company is understood, chosen, and remembered—by customers, employees, and the market.
It’s not your logo.
It’s not your colors.
It’s not your tagline.
Those are outputs.
Brand strategy is the thinking that makes those outputs make sense—and work.
Why it matters
Without brand strategy:
You compete on price or features
Your messaging changes constantly
Your marketing feels disconnected
Customers don’t remember you
With it:
Decisions get faster (clear filter)
Marketing compounds (consistent story)
Trust builds (coherence over time)
You can charge more (perceived value increases)