Katherine O'Connor Email & Phone Number

California, United States

KO Strategy is a brand and marketing consultancy that partners with B2C and B2B early growth and mid-size companies to provide fractional leadership, business and marketing strategy, product development, and go-to-market (GTM) services to build brands and drive growth. Recent Client include:- Skedago: Provided strategic advisory and marketing execution leadership to support brand relaunch for doctor-developed hydration mix CPG startup.- Building4Health (B4H): Served as fractional marketing lead to transform brand identity, website and content strategy for B2B health tech startup. Founded by a Harvard-trained physician, B4H invented the first real time Indoor Air Quality solution based on medical data and human health.

Sacramento, Ca, Us

Managed multiple new product innovation initiatives for plant-based beverages in various phases of the stage gate process from discovery to go-to-market launch, including brand development, packaging design, competitive and ingredient landscape assessments, and cross functional team management.

Berkeley, California, Us

EnChroma is a NIH-backed consumer tech company and inventor of the #1 patented lens technology and eyewear for color blindness. Color blindness affects 1/12 men and 1/200 women globally.As first CMO and VP Marketing, scaled marketing and ecommerce teams, created and implemented a transformative global brand platform, innovative growth roadmap, custom website redesign, digital strategy and launched major new products across DTC and B2B channels in a price competitive environment. - Co-championed launch of an innovative, mission-driven Color Accessibility Program, piloted at Georgia O'Keefe Museum in Santa Fe, and expanded to schools, museums, parks & libraries nationwide.- Partnered with sales to build major booth presence and live events at multiple international B2B optical shows held in NY, CA, Milan and Munich, contributing to retailer account and awareness growth globally.

Established marketing and brand strategy consultancy to help mission-driven companies uncover their distinctive brand message and to develop and execute integrated marketing, innovation, ecommerce and go-to-market strategies to achieve business goals. Client highlights included:Consumer Tech Startup: Developed Business Assessment, Brand Positioning, Email Strategy and marketing priorities for ecommerce and B2B startup.Healthy Directions, Health & Wellness: Led multi-year client engagements working directly with executive team to develop and implement new brand architecture and identities for five doctor-developed businesses for this DTC integrative health supplement and skincare company. Conducted primary research and new product innovation concepts. Additional engagements included Corporate Identity workshops with C-suite, major website redesign, go-to-market roadmap for new OxyRub Pain Relief cream, brand identity for vision and women's health brands. Healthy Directions was subsequently sold to Helen of Troy for $195MM.WA Rose Construction: Developed brand identity, marketing plan and revitalized website content for local construction company; Owner reported +100% sales growth within 12 months fueled by transformative initiatives.Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Monticello, a World-Heritage Historic Site: Completed comprehensive marketing and brand audit, marketing plan and revitalized brand and visual identity to rebuild relevance for this world renowned national treasure despite declining visitation of historic sites. Also directed development of a major print/outdoor media campaign with Smithsonian Museum of African American History for first joint premier exhibition held in Washington, DC. Orchard Brands, a +$1 billion catalog holding company: Worked directly with executive management team to develop strategic planning process and marketing assessment for 16 brand portfolio; presented to and approved by C-Suite management team.

Emeryville, Ca, Us

Innovative Pilot Project, Process Improvement Team: Captured key learnings and recommendations for process improvement for first Innovation Pilot Project during Design Phase designed to reduce product development time-to-market by 75%. Presented comprehensive findings to executive and 25+ cross-functional teams. Implemented change management initiatives across division to support new ways of working.

San Francisco, California, Us

SENIOR CONSULTANT and 6th hire for Prophet during startup stage, a global brand strategy and management consultancy. Key marquee client engagements included Levi Strauss & Co., adidas, Williams-Sonoma and Aspen Skiing Co.STARTUP LAUNCH: As project lead in partnership with client/founder, created and launched startup GoldViolin, an early omni-channel retail business targeting the senior segment, from business plan to market within six months. Developed name, brand identity, website, packaging, catalog, fulfillment strategy, budget and launch. Gold Violin was ultimately sold in 2007.HEAD OF MARKETING: Led development and execution of Prophet’s first brand redesign, marketing plan, national PR campaign, and new website to support significant period of revenue and client growth.

Chicago, Us

Successfully led $100 million Minute Rice business through a successful turnaround despite dramatic commodity prices fluctuations and competitive environment with marketing spending of $29 MM+. Responsible for P&L in addition to managing marketing, strategic planning, forecasting, external agencies, and cross-functional teams to implement national TV, print, direct mail, promotions, packaging and point of sale. Managed and revamped branding and marketing strategy for $40MM Good Seasons business, achieving +3% annual volume growth and +5% profit growth despite ten year decline in a mature business.Led Product Management MBA recruiting efforts at Northwestern.

Master Of Business Administration - Mba

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Mcintire School Of Commerce, Marketing & Information Technology