FAQs

I help organizations uncover and express what matters most. Sometimes that means naming a company. Sometimes it's shaping a brand strategy, clarifying positioning, helping teams think through product flows, or general creative ideation. Every engagement is vastly different, but they all begin with the same question: What are you really trying to say—and why?

Agencies have significant overhead—rent, salaries, benefits, and more—and those costs inevitably end up in inflated project fees.

As an independent consultant, I work differently. I offer retainer-based engagements with no hidden padding or budgetary bloat. While my hourly rate is competitive, it’s still a fraction of what you’d pay an agency. That means that you’ll get the same high-quality work, minus the markup.

I live in the SF Bay Area, but given that I work remotely, and am often on the road, at the moment I could be just about anywhere.

:::taps you on the back of your shoulder:::

Given my tech focus, many of my clients are Bay Area–based. But I’ve also partnered with companies in Australia, Canada, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Israel. This night owl doesn’t blink at midnight calls, so if you’re up to big things, I’m more than happy to collaborate, no matter where you’re located.

My clients typically fall into three categories:

• VC-BACKED TECH STARTUPS
  I’m often brought on by technical and business-focused founders to tackle pretty much everything creative, all at once—and I bring it. One day, I might be crafting messaging or naming, and the next, I could be collaborating closely with product designers on new features or developing marketing assets for an upcoming launch. These types of projects are my fave because I get to leverage my entire creative toolkit, all at once.

• ALREADY WELL-ESTABLISHED COMPANIES
  In-house department heads hire me for temporary, senior-level help when they don’t have a fully-built-out team assembled yet, or when their team is at maximum capacity, but the work just keeps on coming. Either way, I jump in, function as a senior thought partner and clear out the backlog, leaving them with a clean slate—and a deep sigh of relief.

• CREATIVE SHOPS (BRAND, COMMUNICATIONS, PRODUCT, & DESIGN AGENCIES)
  Creative leads reach out when they’re short-staffed, or, when they just need fresh eyes and a crisp new perspective on a tricky project. Why does working with me work so well for agencies? Because they can pull me in as a reliable asset when they’re in feast mode, then cut me loose when things slow down. As a trusted agency partner, I drop right in, go deep, and do my part to help make the agency shine.

Occasionally! While most of my work is with consumer-facing tech companies, I started my career out in the non-profit sphere and have a soft spot for helping organizations doing the good work. To this end, I’m happy to offer certified non-profit orgs a 20% discount on my rate.

• WITH BRANDS
  I work on a retainer basis with a three-month minimum commitment to start. This model is transparent, results-driven, and ideal for the integrated, hands-on work I do. Nearly all of my clients extend beyond the initial term, often signing a second, third, or even fourth contract together.

• NEED A SHORTER ENGAGEMENT?
  I also offer day-long deep dives, perfect for targeted needs without a long-term commitment. Contact me for my day rate and availability.

• WITH AGENCIES
  Agency engagements are customized to fit the unique needs of each project. Let’s connect to discuss what’s possible!

Having spent years on the client side, I know very well how frustrating it can be to hire someone who makes big promises at the outset, but ultimately hands off the work to a more  junior team member, and/or fails to deliver on those promises. That’s why I work with no more than two clients at a time—so that you can get my undivided attention and the high-quality work that you deserve.

Reach out via my contact form, or via the email at the bottom of this page, and if it makes sense to, we’ll schedule a call to learn more about each other. Should you decide to move forward at that point, I’ll send over my simple, 3-page contract, and once it’s signed, it’s official: I’m all yours!