Experience and expertise

SYPartners

Abu Dhabi, UAE · Feb 2021 - May 2022 | New York, NY · June 2023 - Present (Contract)

SYP is a boutique innovation consultancy that takes a human-centered approach to solving first-of-a-kind problems. The firm designs everyday actions and pivotal moments, activations, and tools to propel organizations forward and drive lasting change.

Strategy Director

  • Build trusted relationships with C-Suite and partners and act as day-to-day project lead

  • Translate ambition into execution and design the project plans, flow of work and measures of success

  • Lead through ambiguity to foster healthy, high-performing teams and coach teammates to do their best work

  • Faciliate conversations and craft communications that align stakeholders to a shared agenda and active them
    as champions in the work

  • Designed and oversaw cross-cultural research in multiple industries (hospitality, workplace, energy, etc)

  • Map system-wide implications, opportunities, and challenges to paint a picture of what’s possible

  • Originate frameworks that make sense of complex problems

  • Generate creative—yet viable—ideas to solve problems both big and small

  • Design and implement strategic initiatives (e.g., user journeys, repeatable processes and ways of working, product positioning, strategic planning and comms, org-design)

  • Design and implement activations (e.g., narratives, content strategy, immersive experiences, digital and analog tools)

  • Prototype and test initiatives and tools with key audiences to refine and create momentum

  • Design and facilitate top-tier gatherings and experiences for C-suite

Gensler

London, UK · Aug 2019 - Feb 2021

Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 49 locations networked across Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and the Americas. The firm serves more than 3,500 active clients in virtually every industry.

Strategy Director, Workplace

  • Set the vision and project roadmap, and acted as day-to-day leader of midsize teams

  • Built fit-for-purpose teams that can execute work to the highest standard

  • Defined and implemented bespoke workplace strategies and culture change programs

  • Conducted and analyzed extensive qualitative and quantitative data to diagnose workplace issues

  • Prototyped and tested solutions before finalizing and implementing at scale

  • Designed and facilitated workshops to engage key audiences in transformation efforts

  • Created communications, activations, and initiatives that are engaging, on-brand, and drove desired outcomes

SYPartners

New York, NY · Jan 2015 - Jul 2019

Senior Strategist

  • Led lean teams within larger engagements to create deliverables and experiences that solve clients’ challenges

  • Analyzed data and conducted research and interviews to define root issues and generate key insights

  • Designed and facilitated collaborative workshops to drive alignment with clients and co-create paths forward 

  • Concepted, piloted, and launched change management programs (HR and Comms) to change behavior at scale

  • Generated and stress-tested viable business ideas and interventions that fit within clients’ systems

  • Crafted narratives and marketing content that capture a brand’s essence and position it for growth

Business Development Strategist

  • Built and managed cross-functional pitch teams to develop and sell multi-million dollar consulting contracts 

  • Designed and facilitated workshops to assess needs, qualify the firm, and scope engagements

  • Wrote compelling proposals (from $150K to $5M) to energize potential clients around partnership with the firm 

Sotheby’s, Books & Manuscripts Department

New York, NY · Sept 2010 - Dec 2014

Sotheby’s is one of the largest fine art auction houses in the world, with a global network of 90 offices in 40 countries selling property in over 70 collecting categories. 

Cataloguer

  • Used expertise and relationship-making skills to consign and sell property from $5K - $500K in public sales
    (6 sales/year) and to private buyers

  • Conducted deep research and published academic marketing copy for physical catalogs (5,000+ distribution/sale)
    and digital site 

  • Analyzed trend, market, and sales data and partnered with internal brand strategists to plan and launch custom digital,
    print, and event marketing programs

Senior Administrator (Program Management)

  • Account managed 100+ consignors and buyers to coordinate public auctions with a revenue of $20 million per year

  • Trained and supervised a five-person team to manage incoming property, cataloging, and sales process

  • Chair of Administrative Strategic Goal Group, appointed to enact company-wide process improvement

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP

Washington, DC · Jun 2008 - Aug 2010

Skadden is one of the largest international law firms, and the fourth-highest-grossing firm in the world.

Legal Assistant

  • Selected as the sole legal assistant to the managing partner of the firm, supporting +20 high-profile matters at a time

  • Managed teams of legal assistants to ensure timely and complete filing in local and federal courts

  • Cite checked, shepardized, and proofread briefs, memoranda, and opinions 

Education

Hamilton College

BA in Classical Languages & History (with honors)

University of Virginia Rare Book School

Coursework in bibliographical studies and the history of printed illustrations