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About Mandy

Human Insight, Meet Business Smarts

My career started after college at ESPRIT, where I saw the power of customer demand for corporate transparency long before social media. Then came CitySearch during the dot-com boom (which eventually merged with Ticketmaster), an MBA from Kellogg, and Amazon, where I launched the initial apparel store and credit card program.

From Amazon, I moved to Starbucks to track consumer trends feeding the beverage innovation pipeline. That’s where I learned a core truth: baristas are your first and most critical customer. If they don't buy into a product, it’s doomed. At Iconoculture (now Gartner), I served as Vice President of Insights for 9 years, partnering with top ad agencies, media companies, and CPG brands to uncover the consumer truths that drive authentic, high-impact product innovation and campaigns.

In 2014, I founded LEV Strategies as a personal advisory practice. I work directly with start-ups, agencies, and legacy companies at every stage of growth (and growing pains). There’s no junior team or hand-off-I build trust fast, plug in at the senior level, and have a knack for asking the unasked questions.

Through LEV Strategies, I served as interim CMO of Roland Foods, an 85-year-old company deeply in need of brand modernization and a unified commercial strategy. For two years, I worked directly with the CEO, interviewed dozens of stakeholders, supported the sales team, modernized the brand while honoring its heritage, and launched Larder magazine, which won a James Beard Award.

Busy, Busy, Busy

My other great projects now and recent past:

  • Reverba Global: Served as strategic advisor to the CEO through acquisition and global integration, defining the merged company’s mission, values, operating standards, and marketing strategy.

  • Advisor to Morning Consult.

  • Forever Cheese: Directed a full brand refresh for a 25-year specialty brand—including brand identity, strategic roadmap, and a playful relaunch of their flagship Drunken Goat line.

  • Strategic advisor to the CEO/founder of Green Circle Salons.

  • Consumer Insights & UX: Conducted in-depth qualitative research for Amazon (financial wellness and cardholders behavior) and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (patient-centered digital redesign)

  • Brand Strategy & Campaigns: Rebranded Bandwidth, a recruiting and employer branding firm lead agency work for Kari Gran’s lip whip product campaign.

  • Helped Microsoft launch a retention campaign focused on employee benefits.

  • Keynoted the Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute Converter conference and presented to leaders at the Ecuador Family Business Network annual meeting.

  • Published a book of my Grandma Thelma’s best sayings, advice, and jokes.

When I'm not consulting for smart and fun clients or volunteering, I market the accomplishments of my three amazing daughters. Together, we mix up batches of Greater Good Granola, our “front-porch” nonprofit which has raised over $100,000 for local and national non-profit organizations. And if the weather cooperates, I try to make regular bike dates with my favorite guy, Clay.

Enough about me. Let’s talk about you, your company, customers, and employees! Call, WhatsApp, or shoot me a message.