Building communities, networks and brands that make an impact
Kara Walsh
Marketing Strategy Consultant & Fractional Executive
I work with CEOs and CMOs to harness the transformative power of human connections to drive business growth.
With over two decades of experience as a marketing and brand leader, I specialize in architecting high-impact communities, two-sided networks and brand platforms that create lasting value for companies and their customers.
Let’s grow
The most forward-thinking CEOs and CMOs are seizing an opportunity in a shifting marketing landscape. This isn't just a trend; it's a fundamental shift in how businesses connect with their audience, build lasting loyalty, and unlock sustainable growth… read more
Mastering the dynamics of two-sided platforms – ensuring both sides thrive and the flywheel spins faster – can yield outsize, defensible results. However the strategies to ignite and sustain exponential growth are unlike those of traditional linear businesses… read more
Brand & Platform Launches
A stellar brand name, brand architecture and brand identity are critical, but that’s only the beginning. A successful brand or platform rollout requires comprehensive project planning, risk mitigation, communications finesse and much more to establish a fertile foundation for future growth.
For execs at a strategic crossroads—these are the situations where I make the biggest impact:
You’re leading a business through a major transition—and your brand and growth marketing need to evolve to match your ambitions.
You’ve outgrown your early-stage marketing playbook, and your tactics are no longer moving the needle.
Your growth has stalled, and you’re looking to move beyond transactional tactics to build stronger engagement with your ideal customers.
You’re gearing up for a brand or platform relaunch and need a savvy partner to connect the dots across your ecosystem to ensure you stick the landing.
You’re building or scaling a two-sided network and need help accelerating traction and monetization on one or both sides.
You’ve launched a community, but it’s not yet delivering meaningful business outcomes—and you want to determine if and how it will.
You’re hiring a new CMO and want strategic interim guidance to avoid losing momentum and to help set your new CMO up for success.
How I work:
Collaboratively, partnering closely with you and your team
Iteratively, delivering value early and often
Cross-functionally, aligning teams for seamless execution
Vision to action, driving innovation into tangible results
Focused project engagements, delivering targeted expertise
“Kara doesn’t just offer insight—she builds momentum. She’s a sharp strategist who sees patterns fast and spots what others overlook.
In a fast-moving, operationally complex environment, she stayed focused, persistent, and unfazed through cross-functional collaboration and expert execution. She made sense of the chaos, helped us align, and equipped us with the tools and confidence to further accelerate our progress beyond her engagement.”
— Kristin Hambelton, CMO, The Suite
Ready to grow?
If you’re interested in learning more about building communities, growing digital networks or launching brands, let’s have an exploratory chat. Share your info and I’ll be in touch shortly.