High Alpha的动态

Tl;dr: I’m now CMO at Visible.vc! A new season is here. As Fall is here in the Midwest, we see the most beautiful scenes of our landscape in the form of vibrant leaves. That beauty, unfortunately for the leaves, is found at the end of their life. They’ve now mostly fallen, are turning into nutrients for the trees from which they came, and empowering next year’s leaves to have a better beginning - because of their end. I know of no better picture to describe the season I’ve been walking, filled with bittersweet experiences of difficult endings and exciting beginnings. In late April, Demandwell - the business I and so many others poured life into and helped so many people grow for 5 years - entered an ABC process due to many factors, but primarily, the combination of market forces and internal decision-making along the way put us in a position of being unable to weather the storms we faced. This was and is really tough to process. But, as with the changing leaves, this ending and every ounce of learning throughout that chapter of my life, has led to a much stronger and brighter beginning. I’ve been intentionally offline since then to work through a lot of emotions, spend time with my family, cross off a ton of house projects (from 1,000+ feet of fencing to a shipping container office conversion), get very off-road in my RZR, and evaluate what’s next for my professional journey. After a lot of reflection, I’ve landed on a mission that I believe will make up at least part, if not all, of my day-to-day for the rest of my career: To Help Founders and CEOs Grow. For a long time, my personal mission statement has been to “Help Others Grow” but as I’ve progressed in my career, I know that the “Others” I enjoy helping the most are at the helm of a business because 1. They impact every part of the org and sometimes you simply need to have that reach to effectively grow (it’s not always about more leads) and 2. Having first-hand experience of how the decisions of that role impact the lives and families of everyone at their company in significant ways, helping the tip of the spear be better leads to an exponential growth factor for everyone on the team. So that’s my calling in this new season, now what? This will take shape in many ways, but for starters, I’m excited to share that I’ve joined the incredible team at Visible as CMO to push forward their mission of equipping Founders and Investors to thrive! They've built an impressive suite of education, insights, and software that 5k+ Founders and Investors are using every day for things like fundraising, investor updates, and portfolio reviews. I’m thrilled to join and be able to help so many business builders grow with such an amazing team! Lastly, quick shoutout to everyone who’s been so unbelievably encouraging to me in this season. There are far too many to list here, but I am so incredibly thankful for each of you. Old leaves are gone, new ones are here, but as I’ve always said, LET’S GROW!!

It’s ironic that throughout a career working alongside founders, I’ve never felt a strong entrepreneurial calling. Though I prefer my people and experiences to lean toward the off-kilter, I like my work life to be steady and predictable. So I was surprised to hear the siren song recently – but I saw an opportunity to follow a gut feeling (strongly informed by our rapidly changing comms market) and go out on my own. And so I did! Sawmill Strategies is a consultancy at the intersection of brand, marketing, and comms designed to meet the unique storytelling needs of founder-led brands and hypergrowth companies. Why Sawmill? It’s inspired by my family's long history in lumber yards and construction sites, and my own career has been defined by helping brands transform raw materials into something to build with. Also, it’s not a bad way to remind people how to pronounce my last name (“SAW-chuck”, best imagined with Ulysses King (he/him) screaming it at you from across a room.) I owe a massive thank you to Kerry Walker, Whitney Topping, and Julie Bishop for welcoming me into the Walker Comms crew and supporting me in this new journey. Through Walker I’ve had the privilege of working with scientists, engineers, and investors who are building companies that will save the world. (Not in the trite Silicon-Valley-parlance-way, but in the actual, not-all-heroes-wear-capes-way.) I’m thrilled to not be going far and am still working closely with Team Walker on brand strategy, naming, messaging, and other integrated comms projects. And I’m tickled “Sink” to partner up with a longtime creative collaborator, M B, on her new creative agency, SINK. The best part of this new leap has been the chance to catch up with former colleagues, clients, and friends, many of whom have turned into clients. What a thrill. The brilliant Debra Jack once described what I do as a “General Contractor'': someone who brings together multiple disciplines and people to get complex projects done. I do love a theme. I’m so excited to build this new thing (and eventually a working website) alongside the builders that inspire me day in and day out – taking on their challenges and pushing them to tell stories in ways they hadn’t previously imagined. ??♀? Hardhat optional.

?? The countdown begins! ?? In just 24 hours, we're launching UP2JOURNEY, and we couldn't be more excited! Get ready to embark on a journey of growth, empowerment, and career success like never before. Stay tuned for the big reveal! It's going to be epic! ?? #UP2JOURNEY #CountdownBegins #ExcitingTimes #JourneyDefinesSucces #jobsearchstrategies #careersuccess

I came across a viral TikTok video from “The Loop” in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and it’s all in “Gen Z” lingo! The video creatively highlights the restaurant and has quickly gained traction online. Often, when I meet with business owners, they’re focused on hiring marketers with 10+ years of experience. But time and again, we see that experience doesn’t always equal innovation. Shoutout to the manager at #TheLoopWestEnd for showing humility and taking a risk that paid off! To all the business owners out there: humility and openness can push your business past the barriers you’re stuck behind! ???? #MarketingInnovation #BusinessGrowth #RiskTaking #GenZMarketing #TheLoopWestEnd #DigitalMarketing #Marketingforbusinessowners

“If you were stepping into the CMO role today for the first time, what would you do differently?” I was recently asked that during a panel I was on talking about my journey into marketing and the C-suite. Without advanced notice of the question, my quick response was simple: Nothing. (Hashtag no regrets!) And I meant it. Mostly. Because when I first stepped into the CMO role nearly six years ago, I trusted myself to make the best decisions I could with the information I had. And no, that doesn’t mean for six years I’ve been “perfect,” but I can say with conviction that I’ve made the best decisions I could at the time they were made. I’ve also learned during that time that trusting myself and following my intuition is critical for my success. It’s when I didn’t follow my gut that I made decisions that I later regretted in some form or fashion. So, with that in mind, here’s a short list of key decisions I’ve made (and continue to make) as CMO of Taylor Morrison that I’m most proud of (loosely based on data, 100 percent based on gut!): - Focus on building a strong internal brand first, external brand second. You can’t reverse this, folks! - Centralize key functions within marketing to increase brand consistency and creative offerings to the organization while being more efficient with our spend. - Hire top-tier marketing and communications talent from outside the industry. - Surround myself with industry veterans, like Stormy Rasmussen, who make me a better leader and marketer every day. ???? - Challenge the notion that “brand doesn’t matter” in our industry – EVERY. DAMN. DAY. And carrying that mindset throughout our marketing strategy and approach. - Push the boundaries of what’s “been done” in our industry in pursuit of finding the best ways to connect with and engage our future homebuyers. Maybe in retrospect, a better way to answer that question would’ve been: “Don’t let the “‘marketing is a science”’people fool you.” It’s also very much a business that relies on human emotion and nature. Even—and especially!—your own. #CMOpov #NoRegrets #TrustYourGut

Remember March 15th, 2020? The day the US shut down. Just writing this brings up that uneasy feeling, the old pandemic panic bubbling up again. That day, I knew it in my gut—our little family’s life was about to change forever. I was at home with my sweet newborn son, barely 3 weeks old, and my 21-month-old daughter. My plan? Go back to work after maternity leave. I had just been promoted to Marketing Director at a tech startup a few months before. It felt like everything was on track. But suddenly, everything was off-track. Deep down, I knew going back to work wasn’t right for me—not then. None of the alternatives felt right, either. So, I did what a lot of working parents, especially working moms, did at the beginning of the pandemic. With trembling hands and a racing heart, I called my boss and told him I wouldn’t be coming back. Not for the foreseeable future. Then, I had a little cry. But after that, I picked myself up, rolled up my sleeves, and got to work in my new role: CEO of our family. ?? I invented lunch picnics ?? Instead of brainstorming creative email campaigns ?? I scouted every playground and park in the greater Philly area ?? Instead of traveling to trade shows ?? I bribed my kids into eating their veggies ?? Instead of negotiating budgets with our CEO I’d love to say it was all sunshine and rainbows, but it wasn’t. I witnessed every tantrum, every blowout, every nap strike. Some days, I probably cried more than my kids. But it felt right. For now. Every now and then, I’d catch myself daydreaming about my old work life. I missed the hustle of launching marketing campaigns, the brainstorming for product launches, the rush of finding the perfect wording for an email. Going back to my full-time job still wasn’t an option. It was 2021, and things were far from normal. Then, out of the blue, I got a call from an old business acquaintance. They needed help with a product launch. Could I help? I was so excited I probably would have paid them to let me! (Obviously, I didn’t tell them that ??) And just like that, one client led to another. That’s when I realized... I could do this for the rest of my life. Now, I get to strategize over marketing plans and campaigns with the best clients in the world while still being there for my kids whenever I want. Dare I say, I got the best of both worlds. Sure, I may no longer carry the fancy title of Marketing Director. But maybe it’s time for a promotion. Fractional CMO has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? What were some of your favorite unexpected moments during the pandemic?

Wild that I started Social4TheWin one year ago. So cheers to that! ?????? Here's what people don't tell you about starting your own company: It's fucking hard! ?????????????????? ??????????????: I run every department: operations, sales, marketing, PR, strategy, finance, admin, customer service, design. ????????????????????! ????????????????????: Outside of calls, I'm by myself all day, every day. ?? ????????-???????? ??????????????: There is none. My life is my work. That's it. My happiness is directly linked to my success, and sometimes I feel bad about not doing something, which is pretty messed up. ?? ????????????????????????: It is a constant grind to get clients, meetings, and get anything built. But it's been incredibly rewarding: ???????????? ????????????????: Quoted in The Information, Digiday, The Washington Post, and Fortune—not once, but twice. ?? ???????????????? ????????????????????????: Worked alongside agencies like BBDO on renowned brands such as Wells Fargo and FedEx, and several dynamic DTC brands. ?? ?????????? ??????????????????????????: Spoke to 100+ markets at Bayer pharmaceutical with BBDO & the Raymond James TMT Investment Conference. ?????????????????? ??????????????????????: I've built a vibrant network of over 50 user-generated content (UGC) creators. ?? ??-???????????????? ????????????????????: Became a TikTok Shop Partner. ?? ?????????? ??????????????: Thrown events with some of NY's biggest creators. ?? ?????????????????? ?? ????????????????????: Planning to launch one this or next week, all about social media and marketing! There are so many people I could thank for how far I've come, whether it's making an introduction, setting up a time to catch up, or just showing up for me when I needed it. Day-to-day, I'm a one-man team, but it's impossible to do this alone. I've been incredibly lucky, which is why I try to help others as much as I can! Would I do it all again? Without a doubt. I've learned more in one year than in my entire career! I'm looking forward to making year 2 even bigger and better! ??

One of my happiest childhood memories is spending time at my family’s farm, a place that has been in our family since the 1940s. I would often hang out with my grandparents and great-grandparents, exploring the fields, watching how everything on the farm worked together, and learning about the intricate connections of the ecosystem. ?????? Those early experiences sparked a natural curiosity in me—an eagerness to understand how things are connected and work in harmony. It’s a lesson that stuck with me and shaped how I approach my work today. Just like those ecosystems, I now help solopreneurs and small business owners create and optimize their own marketing ecosystems. It’s all about building strong, scalable customer journeys that guide ideal clients from awareness to conversion, tailored perfectly to each unique business. Whether on the farm or in business, everything is connected, and every piece plays a role in the bigger picture. ??? Do you have a place or memory that helped shape your curiosity or career path? I’d love to hear your stories! ?? #BusinessEcosystem #SmallBusiness #ContinuousLearning #BuildingConnections #BusinessStrategy #MarketingStrategy #CustomerJourney #LessonsFromLife

Thinking of quitting corporate job to start on your own? Start now ! Don't waste time thinking. Today I feel time is the only thing running out. Started at 40. Explored & failed for 2 years. This was the unlearning phase .. unlearnt a lot or almost all that appeared strengths. It's been 2 years since the path is clear, direction looks correct & enjoying the process of creating, learning (through failing), scaling .... We are bootstrapped ....more than money its the time that seems ticking..... So start now! #marketinggoodness

Small Wins Matter: The Power of Celebrating Milestones in Career Transition Transitioning from finance to the creator economy as an Influencer Partnerships Coordinator has been a whirlwind of learning and growth. Over the past three months, I’ve experienced my fair share of challenges and breakthroughs. But one thing I’ve come to appreciate is the importance of celebrating the small wins along the way. It’s easy to get lost in the big goals and feel overwhelmed, but progress isn’t always measured by the giant leaps—it’s in the small, consistent steps. Whether it’s bringing a new brand partnership to life or simply learning more about the creator economy, each milestone is a reminder that growth is happening. These moments keep me motivated, grounded, and remind me to enjoy the journey. If you’re in the midst of a career transition, don’t wait for the "big win" to validate your progress. Celebrate the small victories—they're all adding up. #careertransition #creatoreconomy #growthmindset