Kara Brown
About
Detail
CEO | CRO | Advisor | Best Selling Author | B2B Lead Gen + Demand Gen
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Résumé
Jobs
verified_user
0% verified
Board MemberFreightJan 2025 - Current (1 year 10 months)Board Member of 28Freight and Marks Logistics, partnering with an exceptional team that’s redefining how logistics companies move, manage, and grow. I’m passionate about helping innovative freight businesses scale with clarity, discipline, and measurable results.- AdvisorFrontJan 2024 - Current (2 years 10 months)
- Chief MemberChiefDec 2021 - Current (4 years 11 months)Chief is a private network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. Chief is the only organization specifically designed for senior women leaders to strengthen their leadership journey, cross-pollinate ideas across industries, and effect change from the top down.
- Young Entrepreneur Council MemberYECNov 2020 - Current (6 years)
- AdvisorLavenderMay 2020 - Current (6 years 6 months)Write Thoughtful, Effective E-mails Using Social Data & Linguistic AI
Lavender rests in your Gmail inbox and gives you relevant rapport-building insights on the people you e-mail, then scores your e-mail for effectiveness and emotional intelligence.
Get started for free at www.trylavender.com - AdvisorRoadSyncAug 2019 - Current (7 years 3 months)
- Network LeaderVillage GlobalJul 2019 - Current (7 years 4 months)Village Global is a $100M early-stage venture capital fund backed by some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs. Village is not a traditional VC. We’re a network. From how we invest in startups to how we help founders - we operate as a network. When you raise money from Village, you’re not just getting money. You’re getting connected capital.
- Founder + Chief Revenue Officer (CRO)LeadCoverageJan 2019 - Current (7 years 10 months)LeadCoverage is the only Go-to-Market agency in supply chain, the largest analyst relations, public relations, revenue operations and lead generation consultancy in the space. Will Haraway and Kara Brown come from deep corporate experience in logistics and lead a team of 30. Their team of experts follow a simple philosophy: share good news with the ●right● people, track the interest of your TAM, and follow up as soon as possible. Easy in theory, difficult to practice diligently. LeadCoverage clients range from top tier 4PLs to VC-backed freight tech companies.
- OwnerLeadCoverageAug 2016 - Current (10 years 3 months)B2B Conversion Consulting.
Marketing and sales enablement consultants specializing in all the pieces of the B2B conversion cycle: mar-tech stack building (CRM/Automation), sales/marketing operations and enablement,inbound/outbound content, SEO/SEM, and social conversion. With clients in Atlanta and Chicago, SmithBrown is a full-service outsourced marketing department specializing in B2B conversion. - GrowthX Corporate, B2B ConversionGrowthXJan 2016 - Current (10 years 10 months)Partner with GrowthX to support the B2B Conversion cycle: marketing and sales enablement, mar-tech stack building (CRM/Automation), sales/marketing operations and enablement, inbound/outbound content, SEO/SEM, and social conversion.
- VP MarketingRubicon GlobalFeb 2016 - Aug 2016 (7 months)Tech-enabled waste and recycling solutions provider focused on gaining market share through SaaS offerings and an SMB sales strategy. First and only marketing leader, self-identified responsibilities included brand management, public relations, online marketing, event marketing, recruiting support, lead generation, sales enablement and creative services.
Delivered press coverage including Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Vanity Fair, Inc. Magazine, Atlanta Business Chronicle, and Hypepotamus profiles and press releases
Single-handedly developed a brand-new revenue marketing-driven revenue stream resulting in $100K+ revenue in 90 days
Managed a website re-design and re-engineering effort in 12 weeks, resulting in a 23% incre - OwnerSmithBrown MarketingApr 2013 - Feb 2016 (2 years 11 months)Boutique marketing and communications firm specializing in small and mid-cap supply chain management and supply chain management SaaS companies as well as B2C early-stage ecommerce businesses. Outsourced CMO for seven small business clients on annual contracts delivering projects on time and on budget.
Generated automated email campaigns resulting in a 26% marketing qualified lead rate in 60 days
Built and executed against strategic robust multi-year marketing plans per client
Implemented dynamic email marketing campaigns using best practices and low-cost tools (Outreach, MailChimp, Unbounce)
Incorporated social media, website best practices and content generation expertise into execution (Sprout Social, Hootsui - Marketing and Communications DirectorOHLSep 2010 - Jan 2012 (1 year 5 months)One of the largest 3PL’s in the world ($2B), at the time owned by Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, providing integrated global supply chain management solutions. Responsible for internal and external communications including PR. Handled major PR crisis in 2010 involving a whistle blower, CBS Evening News and the TSA.
Created and directed the implementation of OHL’s communication strategy across the global, 7,000 employee enterprise
Determined agencies and suppliers of record and negotiated contract terms
Prepared the marketing plan, long and short term strategy, go-to- market approach and budget to support marketing and sales objectives and plans
Ensured effective control of marketing results and guaranteed mar - Director, Global MarketingSeko WorldwideJan 2010 - Oct 2010 (10 months)Global franchised airfreight forwarder developing an IT solution and moving from transactional to consultative strategy. Responsible for developing brand and marketing strategy for 120 locations in 40 countries in coordination with company strategy.
Identified opportunities for vertical market penetration and created marketing strategies for under-served segments
Developed competitive analysis procedures and customer profile evaluation strategy
Built marketing strategy and execution plan for updated global website and 100+ microsites
Generated and defined updated value proposition, sales tools and strategy for new IT solutions
Managed PR and marketing vendors, measured investment and benchmarked results - Director of Marketing and Investor RelationsEcho Global LogisticsJan 2007 - Jan 2010 (3 years 1 month)First and only marketing resource for the first tech-enabled 3PL. Responsible for development and execution of marketing strategic plan in coordination with overall business strategy. Participated in 2009 successful IPO.
Generated innovative lead generation campaigns, contributing to Echo’s 2,667% three-year growth
Website development and management, search engine optimization for the first LTL ecommerce tool, myfreight.com, generated ~$2MM in first month (February 2010)
Developed sales support tools, sales and advertising campaigns, analysis and product branding
Managed request for proposal qualification, strategy, ma - Marketing and Communications CoordinatorSmithBucklin CorporationFeb 2006 - Jan 2007 (1 year)Developed relationships with client organizations, committee chairs and board of directors. Prepared and presented strategic marketing plans and updates to client and senior level management. Created strategic marketing plans and contingency plans across marketing channels. Secured conference sponsorships, develop collateral and provide onsite support. Conducted horizontal and vertical marketing to multiple target audiences and qualify results.
- Spinning InstructorDavid Barton GymJan 2006 - Jan 2010 (4 years 1 month)
- Senior Association AssistantAssociation of Steel DistributorsJul 2004 - May 2005 (11 months)Direct communication with ASD Board of Directors and Committees
Implemented new marketing plans for continued membership growth and retention using Lyris and Dreamweaver to promote the ASD "Online Marketplace" and online Newsletter reaching 27% larger audience online vs. by direct mail
Analyze data from database and email blast tool Lyris reports to direct marketing strategy
Develop/maintain ASD Website - increased website usage by 36%
Education
verified_user
0% verified
- EO with Harvard: Inspiring Entrepreneurial Strategy, Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsHarvard Business School Executive EducationNov 2022
- MBA, MarketingDominican UniversityJan 2013 - Jan 2017 (4 years 1 month)
- MBADominican UniversityJan 2011 - Jan 2017 (6 years 1 month)
- BS, Political ScienceUniversity of Illinois UrbanaChampaignJan 2000 - Jan 2004 (4 years 1 month)
Projects (professional or personal)
verified_user
0% verified
Awards
verified_user
0% verified
- ITop Innovator 2021Issued by Atlanta Innovation Forum
Publications
verified_user
0% verified
- FThe Best Way To Make Business Decisions That Are Right Under Your NoseForbes JulI know I don’t have a confidence or sales gap, but I most definitely have a finance and operations gap. The greatest gift I’ve given myself as I’ve matured as an entrepreneur, leader and person is to surround myself with people who complement me and my skill set. I can offer my perspective and assistance to those who can benefit from it, and they can help me in areas where I’m not as strong. That’s a win-win.
- FHow To Use Marketing To Drive Your Business DecisionsForbes JulSophisticated marketing online doesn’t take tons of money, but it does require time, attention and tracking. You should measure the effectiveness of your marketing (and its level of sophistication) by how often the numbers it produces are used in important decision making. If this isn't the case, then you’re missing an enormous opportunity to step up your marketing game.
- FThis Is Why Your Business Has Plateaued And How To Scale ItForbes MarGet comfortable being uncomfortable. The truth is that comfort and scaling can’t coexist.
- FThe Marketing Landscape Has Changed: Three Ways B2B And B2C Can Leverage ItForbes SepAs B2B specialists, we’re always willing to take cues from B2C marketers to make our clients successful. And because we’ve measured ROI for the last 10 years for our clients, we’re happy to share our thoughts with our consumer-focused marketing friends.
When we work as a community of marketers to foster greater collaboration between B2B and B2C, we’re open to finding new ways to demonstrate value and prove marketing’s ROI, which is a win-win in everyone’s book. - FA New Way To Think About Your ‘Top 5,’ And 3 Tips To Cultivate ThemForbes DecMany of us are familiar with the adage coined by Jim Rohn: “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
He asserts that the people you spend the most time with shape who you are, so it pays to surround yourself with those you admire. And while that may be true, I’ve found that there’s an equally powerful influence: those who infiltrate your Top 5 by dominating your headspace.
Think about it: We all have those people who play a starring role in our thoughts, even if they’re physically not present in our lives. It could be a teacher, a family member, a counselor or a work associate. The question is whether or not they belong in your Top 5. - FHow To Immediately Improve Your Lead Generation In Three StepsForbes JanEvery day, I witness businesses (or the marketing agencies they work with) overcomplicating their lead generation process with unnecessary jargon or some fancy formula.
But it's simple: Share Good News, Track Interest, Follow Up
Let’s stop calling it the “sales team” and start referring to it as the “follow-up team.” After all, there is no sales versus marketing; we’re all one team with one goal: revenue - FThree Unexpected Ways To Find The Best Talent (And Three Ways To Keep Them)Forbes OctWith the advent of Covid, our default is now working from home, so there’s not much opportunity for in-office working, let alone lunching with the boss. Imagine what a positive impact you’d make if, when you were in the office, you were intentional about spending time with your new hires in their first 90 days on the job. There’s simply no substitute for being present for your team when you’re both in the office. Giving them your time and attention lets them know they matter.
The bottom line is this: When employees feel valued, they’re more likely to stick around, so it makes good business sense to do all you can to keep them. - JInvest In Professional Relationships To Grow Your BusinessJunInvesting in five coaches — actively building my tribe — helped me get through the hump last year and grow my business. In 2021, I’ll continue to make adjustments that align and support my goals. Because as we move forward, finding a community that works for you is one of the best investments you can make.
- FHow To Do The One Thing All Leaders Dread: Having Hard ConversationsForbes FebWhether it’s delivering less-than-stellar feedback to a colleague (or receiving it), redirecting an employee or broaching a touchy subject with a client, having difficult discussions is hard. Even when you know it’s the right thing to do, you can feel physically sick at the thought of a potentially explosive confrontation.