Kelly Giles Email & Phone Number

Shinebig helps organizations create surveys that connect.Ask questions.Start conversations. Build Relationships. Shinebig was one of five startups selected for the Raleigh Innovators Program, a 3-month accelerator sponsored by Citrix and Red Hat.

Sometime in middle school, I saw a purple wrench in Sears and said it was the start of "Generation Color." That's the first time I noticed and named disruption, and it's never stopped. I started Purple Wrench to help organizations create and capitalize on disruptive change. Sample projects:- Created an adtech's corporate incubator and launched 7 products using lean startup principles- Redesigned the business model for a health and wellness app- Designed and delivering technology trainings for government agencies- Reimagined the customer experience for an ecommerce gifting site- Architected video-driven social media strategy for a financial services company- Modernized B2B telcomm company's sales strategy with digital research and outreach

37 Angels is a community of women who are passionate about investing in early stage companies (founded by both men and women). Together, we conduct due diligence and invest in cross-sector startups with innovative ideas and talented teams.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

Accelerator program based on Google's lean sprints, designed to accelerate business progress and product-market fit.

I was recruited to develop and manage the company’s digital brand, and was promoted to a sales and marketing management role within one year after creating a one-person marketing department. I wrote a request for proposal that won a six-figure state workforce contract, created the company's first-ever sales and marketing plan, planned (logistics, booth display, collateral) and/or attended regional and national trade shows, and conceptualized an email marketing strategy based on geographic and vertical segmentations.

Who knew that a blog I created when I was deciding between law school and the real world would lead to a media mentions, speaking engagements, and a full-time job. But that's exactly what happened. I graduated when "What is a retweet?" was a topic on the nightly news, and UNC's career services couldn't keep up with changing technology. I decided to start a blog about personal branding and social media, met a bunch of great people, and one of them introduced me -- through a tweet, of course -- to a career technology company that hired me as a social media strategist. It was less than a week from tweet to contract.

(Little did I know) my first turnaround!Just after I'd assumed the role of Creative Director and finished redesigning the monthly magazine from the ground up (its first style guide in nine years of existence!), the Editor IM'd me at 3 a.m., telling me the magazine was in debt, couldn't get anymore school funding, and oh, by the way, would I take over as President and fix all that so we could keep printing without missing an issue? Call it crazy, stupid, or always up for a challenge, I said yes. I immediately figured out cost-cutting measures so the magazine could continue printing. Then I implemented ad sales, lobbying, and fundraising strategies, which got the magazine out of debt within two months. At the same time, I started building a business team to the lay the foundation for sustainable revenue, and we joined the Chamber of Commerce to generate sales and partnership leads. Maybe most importantly, I became good friends with a lady in the finance office -- she knew way more about 501(c)(3) tax law than I did!The non-profit expanded to a staff of 80 and a budget of $18,000. With debt behind us, we focused on bigger goals, including planning the magazine's first alumni reunion and printing in full-color in time for its 10th anniversary.

My first start-up! I worked with two incredibly talented, inspiring women as they built a content and branding agency, taking it from home-based business to award-winning agency in the time I was there. This was the perfect first job in Chapel Hill. We created the Chamber's visitors guide and the Visitors Bureau relocation guide, so I learned my way around town while designing ads and layouts, plus got my first taste of economic development. We also worked with other women entrepreneurs on a monthly local newspaper and quarterly wedding magazine.

I realize no one lists their high school yearbook as a position on LinkedIn, but I'm probably one of the few people in history who had a $100,000 yearbook budget. My 50-person staff and I created an amazing 435-page book that year, complete with copper spot color ink. We had to spend the money somewhere...

Classes In Innovation And Negotiation

Ba, Journalism, Public Relations, Psychology, 3.98

Graduated summa cum laude (top 1% of class).

Business Essentials Program

Piloted one of Kenan-Flagler's first forays into online education. Took virtual courses in accounting, business theory and marketing.