Heather Samples Email & Phone Number

New York, New York, United States

New York, New York, United States

New York, New York, United States

Independently and with boutique creative agencies, strategized the messaging and brand expression for health, apparel, tech, and nonprofit clients such as Cigna, Zocdoc, Bonobos, Cole Haan, Kate Spade, Crown Castle, Citrix, and USRowing–Architected ownable brand strategy by clarifying business and marketing objectives, synthesizing competitive and secondary research, and surfacing credible positioning to solve problems, appeal to audiences, and foster growth –Crafted messaging for actionable, resonant storytelling with content strategy, channel planning, intuitive frameworks that kept communicators agile and on-message, and direction of copywriters–Conducted primary research for meaningful insight, including designing, executing, and analyzing in-depth interviews, focus groups, social listening, surveying, and A/B testing at every level of scale from small internal teams to global target audiences –Aligned teams in common cause by leading executive presentations and workshops, facilitating communication and socialization, and designing cross-functional processes and practices–Facilitated creative wins with clear, inspiring briefs, unexpected references, collaboration that positioned ideas for sell-in, and supportive partnership that kept creative development exciting and productive –Regularly helped land new business through pitches, client relationship building, and proposal and scope development

New York

With the executive strategy lead, co-crafted startup brand consultancy’s positioning and methodology while supporting engagements with retail fashion, nonprofit, and tech clients–Repositioned global shoe retailer ALDO with its first purpose program, consumer testing, a new communication platform, and a 360° brand campaign, while serving as daily strategic partner to the Creative Director through development and production

New York

As the executive director and teacher-of-teachers tasked with ensuring 18,000 students attained meaningful communication skills, led a team of 22 and served as college Senior Staff –Envisioned and led a strategic transformation with collaborative internal and competitive audits, objectives and action plans, and performance measures for all academic programming, professional and faculty development, and business practices–Flipped an inherited deficit into surplus through personnel restructuring, redesigned operations, and renewal of donor relations in partnership with the college President and VP for Development –Rebranded the Institute with new content strategy, publications, and brand identity executed in every digital, print, experiential, and environmental channel–Advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion by creating the first program to train faculty in inclusive teaching, increasing underrepresented hires by 24%, and launching regular compensation equity audits–Co-authored mission-critical college publications including the 2018-2023 Strategic Plan and 2018 accreditation self-audit –Received the 2018 Presidential Excellence Award for Innovation

New York

Co-led a team of 25 writers teaching 8,000 students annually, doubling the Center’s impact through new cross-channel services, teacher training designed for professional writers, and new metrics for learning and engagement

New York

Brought a new brand strategy to life for the business-critical Fall season with a full-funnel messaging framework and copy for all global retail and e-com executions

New York

Consulted with client faculty to integrate writing strategies across curriculums, and redesigned strategic planning as part of the VP for Finance & Administration’s Planning and Assessment Council

New York

Designed and taught the Core Curriculum course in argument-based writing, and served by invitation as a Peer Mentor and member of the Instructor Advisory Committee

New York

Packaged new and backlist titles for subsidiary rights sales including magazine excerpts, paperback and special editions, and film options

Mfa, Fiction

Ba, Writing Seminars