I decided to return to consulting because I am passionate about helping people and tackling new challenges. Slalom was a natural choice for me. I was impressed with the capabilities of the firm, emphasis on long-term client relationships and commitment to employee experience. I’m back doing what I love, which is helping businesses drive lasting transformation. I serve clients across industries with my broad, enterprise perspective. My experience as a former client makes me unique. I know first-hand what it is like to identify the need for big change and how to make it happen in a larger organization. My commitment to applying that knowledge drives me to provide quality solutions for clients. And, my commitment to the people I serve drives me to go above and beyond to ensure they succeed.

As a Category Portfolio Director, I was responsible for new strategic growth categories, including electric transportation, toys, and sustainable living. I built a high-impact team and empowered them to achieve results. Prior to the pandemic, we worked to develop a new model for launching growth categories in digital channels first, and then transitioning to other channels like the store. This approach was accelerated during the pandemic, driving high customer engagement and creating new revenue streams.Results during this time were:• Created a business case to support a new “Digital-First” Category Management team responsible for testing customer response to emerging categories, in a fast-low investment manner.• Developed a strategic framework to assess emerging product categories to launch at Best Buy, including Electric Transportation, Sustainable Living, Recreation & Outdoor Fun; and Seasonal.• Developed a profit-reinvestment model allowing growth categories to invest a percentage of their profits in activities dedicated to accelerating market share. • Managed merchandising, e-commerce and demand planning functions with $220M P&L responsibility.

As the Associate Director, E-Commerce Category Management, I was responsible for the end-to-end digital experience for new products and services, including Best Buy health, and In-Home Advisor. During this time, I proposed a big idea about how to launch new growth categories in a digital-first manner, in response to an enterprise-wide campaign to "find the next billion dollar business". I dug into data and collaborated across the enterprise to identify product categories that could unlock new revenue. I used these insights to build a business case and my idea was selected. This created the opportunity to implement the strategy and to lead the launch of the new categories. My commitment to excellence and strong collaboration skills enabled my team and I to achieve even more than was hoped for. As a result, I was promoted into a director role that oversaw the function that I helped launch.Achievements during this time were:• Developed a strategic framework to assess emerging product categories to launch at Best Buy, including Electric Transportation, Sustainable Living, Recreation & Outdoor Fun; and Seasonal.• Developed a standard online playbook of tools and tactics to launch new categories and gain early momentum.• Developed recommendations on direct-to-consumer tactics that can be applied to new, growth businesses.

As the Associate Director of Omni-Channel Growth & Development, I was responsible for testing new omni-channel capabilities including curbside pick-up, in-store appointment booking and store pick-up lockers. This newly created role reflected the changing retail industry, and directly addressed customer’s desire to get product when, where and how they want it. I was responsible for identifying innovation opportunities, securing cross-functional sponsorship, and guiding teams through execution. My ability to think strategically and to deliver results led to my pivot into a leadership role in e-commerce. Results during this time were:• Stood-up and managed Omni-Channel stakeholder network that included cross-functional representation from: Retail, Marketing, ECC, Services, Category Management, App, CDO, and IT. • Led the Omni-Channel planning process. This included holding cross-functional ideation workshops; conducting sponsor interviews; and aligning stakeholders and executives on key priorities. • Conducted industry and competitive shopping analysis to drive insights on where Best Buy may want to invest in the Omni-Channel space to stay in-line with competitive offers and customers changing shopping behaviors. • Led the development of charters for all Omni-Channel tests that outline the business goals; test scope & measurement criteria; critical dependencies; impacted audiences; and key delivery dates.

I joined Best Buy as a Senior Manager responsible for Supply Chain Innovation, responsible for the Weekend Delivery Program. I stepped in to this role with a breadth of retail consulting and direct experience that enabled me to hit the ground running. This was a period of rapid innovation and opportunity in Supply Chain. As a result, I thrived in the department and was quickly promoted.My results in this capacity were:• Led the weekend delivery program including: developing a program delivery roadmap; identifying and managing dependencies; driving critical issues to resolution; and ensuring cross-functional sponsors supported changes required to execute and adopt weekend delivery and a multi-carrier network. • Developed a new carrier rollout strategy that balanced complex IT, operational and carrier dependencies with the need to quickly offer Saturday delivery. • Led the Distribution center workstream, responsible for delivery physical, operational/process and labor model changes needed to support Saturday delivery, as well as the onboarding of new national and regional carriers.• Created Small Package to Customer Board materials.

In this position, I was responsible for standing up a Change Management planning function for Target's Merchandising Process and Systems Development organization, as well as supporting the growth of Change Management across the Target enterprise. Some of my wins during this time were:• Created the organization structure, mission and vision for the MPSD Change Management Planning Capability Office. • Gained leadership alignment and funding for a capability office with three permanent head count.• Developed change management strategies and resource estimates for all new MPSD projects. • Conducted impact assessments and stakeholder analyses to create recommendations on change deliverables, timing and staffing. • Led the development of the enterprise scheduling system, an interactive data-visualization tool that applies business rules and logic to define where too much change is occurring in an organization.

I worked as a manager in Accenture's retail operations practice. In this position, I was primarily focused on large-scale retail technology rollouts for companies including: Best Buy, Pacific Sales, Future Shop (Canada), Telstra (Australia), Levi’s, Advance Auto, Toys “R” Us, Babies “R” Us and Pfizer. Roles varied from program and project management, to change management and training, to process development. A couple of my notable engagements were:• Fortune 500 Electronics Retailer – led change management activities including training, readiness, adoption, and communication strategies for over 100 stores in 3 markets that piloted a new order management capability. • Global Fashion & Apparel – designed processes for HR transformation across the geographically dispersed operation. Conducted user acceptance testing, and played a key role in the seamless launch of an employee self-service portal• Pharmaceuticals – created the year-long roadmap prioritizing strategic initiatives in the Primary Care division. Tracked adoption of new selling process incorporating customer analytics. Created action plan when adoption was not favorable.

As a media relations and communications coordinator for the City of Minneapolis, my primary responsibilities were to advise City officials and staff on strategic media response to issues on topics including housing, finance, law enforcement, fire, snow emergency and other public services. This included creating talking points, press releases and preparing officials for interviews. A few of my wins during this time were:• Created 5-year communications plan for Minneapolis Public Library (26-library system) that included recommendations for staff reorganization, media strategy, and website redesign.• City of Minneapolis Annual Report project manager - secured grant funding, created original concept, coordinated staff of 15, oversaw feedback process including surveys and focus groups.• Developed policy and process to streamline publications saving Minneapolis more than $100,000 in first month.