Vanessa Newkirk

• Advise on digital transformation, CX, and data strategy to align technology with measurable outcomes. • Led CX/UX and MarTech audit for healthcare portal, identifying UX, compliance, and integration gaps. • Guide AI readiness and operating model design to improve adoption and performance.

• Collaborate with HBR editors and product developers to provide feedback and insights on management and leadership ideas. • Contribute to enriching understanding and perspective on HBR research and the wider world of management. • Engage in discussions to enhance the quality and relevance of content for HBR readers.

Led enterprise transformation initiatives across data, CX, and MarTech strategy, delivering $20M+ in business impact. • Built global audience and commerce strategy for Hasbro (Transformation 2027). • Developed enterprise 1P data and clean room strategy for NBCUniversal (~$300M impact). • Led transformation audits and optimization programs for PlayStation, Indeed, and Ally.

• Built and led global MADTech capability with 50+ experts and $2M+ consulting P&L. • Developed audience and data strategies for top global clients, improving ROI and personalization. • Established global partnerships with Google, Adobe, and Salesforce to expand platform capabilities.

• Led global digital strategy for Dell Technologies, managing a 50-person team across regions. • Increased revenue through performance marketing, data activation, and eCommerce optimization. • Improved programmatic efficiency by ~30% and modernized global ad tech infrastructure.

• Led digital strategy for pharmaceutical and beauty portfolios, improving campaign performance by ~25%. • Strengthened senior stakeholder relationships and drove innovation adoption in regulated environments.

• Led Samsung North America digital strategy across channels, managing team of ~40 and +$100M in paid media • Increased online revenue by ~25% through data-driven strategy and cross-channel optimization.

• Led AdTech, programmatic, and innovation strategy across Fortune 500 clients including: Aflac, Bloomin' Brands, Duracell, Keurig, New York Life, Post Foods/Mom Brands/Active Nutrition, Pur, Tracfone, Travelers, Sam’s Club and Yahoo! • Increased Comcast subscriptions by 50%, generating $3M in new revenue. • Drove 30% conversion and 25% revenue growth for Keurig through advanced media strategy. • Delivered 25% membership growth and $1M+ revenue for Sam’s Club.

• Led digital media strategy across Fortune 500 clients including Verizon (Telecom) and Microsoft (WW & NA Consumer Marketing Group), spanning programmatic, paid social, search, and direct media partnerships. • Directed a team of 20+ digital specialists across channels, driving integrated planning across media, analytics, creative, and technology functions. • Advanced early adoption of first-party data strategies, leveraging audience insights to optimize campaigns in real time and improve performance and ROI. • Built and managed senior client and partner relationships across marketing, data, and technology stakeholders, strengthening cross-functional collaboration and strategic alignment. • Drove innovation by introducing emerging platforms and programmatic capabilities, enabling more advanced targeting, measurement, and scalable digital execution.

• Led media services across paid media (Display, SEM), social (earned), and SEO, driving integrated strategy and execution across client portfolios. • Managed and developed a team of 12, reporting to GM and CEO, and overseeing cross-channel delivery and performance. • Improved operational efficiency and client outcomes by implementing new processes and a performance scorecard system across departments. • Introduced and scaled new media platforms (e.g., Marin Software), increasing campaign efficiency, optimization capabilities, and reporting accuracy. • Served as agency digital lead and media expert, supporting new business efforts, industry thought leadership, and speaking engagements at national events.

• Led global digital strategy for HP across North America, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM, coordinating cross-market planning, execution, and performance. • Oversaw all digital initiatives, including multicultural/Hispanic and emerging social media strategies, ensuring alignment with business and growth objectives. • Directed integrated data and analytics initiatives, advancing early adoption of data-driven decisioning and performance optimization. • Managed a team of 7 with 24+ cross-market stakeholders, driving collaboration across regions, functions, and agency partners. • Launched OMG’s trading desk platform, integrating multi-source data to improve targeting, efficiency, and sales performance for HP. • Established strategic publisher partnerships (e.g., CBS), enabling new monetization models and supporting HP’s wireless printing ecosystem.

• Led digital media strategy across a diverse client portfolio including VTech, REI, Harris Bank, Cars.com, Chicago White Sox, Field Museum, and Busch Entertainment Group. • Developed integrated digital strategies across paid, owned, and emerging channels, driving engagement and performance across retail, finance, and entertainment sectors.

• Led digital strategy across a diverse portfolio of clients including NBCUniversal (Entertainment, Sports/Olympics, News, Cable), Nestlé Purina PetCare, NYC Tourism, Disaronno, Avaya, and Northwestern Community Hospital. • Served on the executive leadership team, owning senior client relationships, driving new business, and advancing digital innovation across client and agency organizations. • Managed and developed a team of 10–17 professionals, overseeing execution of integrated digital strategies across complex, multi-channel environments. • Acted as strategic digital lead for entertainment and CPG accounts, and as a senior advisor to a global technology client, translating emerging capabilities into actionable marketing strategies. • Drove first-to-market innovation across content distribution, media partnerships, mobile, gaming, social, and video—including pioneering custom executions such as NBCUniversal’s first “video cube” rich media format.

Completed a comprehensive course on the foundations of contract law, including offer and acceptance, consideration, mistake, fraud, misrepresentation, and remedies for breach. Explored how legal systems interpret agreements and allocate risk between parties, using real case studies and landmark decisions to examine how contracts are formed, enforced, and sometimes voided.