Kathleen Schaller
Partner
Boston, MA
A goal without a plan is just a wish” (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) resonates strongly with me. Vision must be backed up with strategic direction, organizational alignment, and clear action plans. I find that many leaders agree but are concerned their organizations do not have the time to explore strategic options, make data-driven decisions, or communicate as effectively as they should. I enjoy partnering with time-challenged business and marketing leaders to help them tackle their big questions and to develop the strategic planning capabilities of their teams.
Kathy is known for her enthusiasm and collaborative approach to leading teams through strategy development and strategic planning initiatives. She has a passion for digging into the drivers of success in companies and industries to uncover and analyze opportunities to optimize results.
Kathy started her career at Andersen Consulting (Accenture) and moved on to strategy consulting at a boutique firm, corporate planning at Ocean Spray, and launching new products at Pearson Education. While employed by a venture-funded field services company, she partnered with Apple Retail executives to launch and manage a nationwide program of on-site installation and consultation services offered in all U.S. Apple stores. Her most recent corporate position was VP, Marketing Strategy and Customer Research at Staples where she drove strategic alignment and insights-driven decision-making across consumer and B2B segments.
Kathy’s latest projects include: partnering with a CMO to transform a B2B marketing organization through strategic planning, team formation, and process development; and integrating marketing and communications functions for a health benefits company following an M&A transaction.
Kathy holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan. Since 2008, she has volunteered with Community Consulting Teams of Boston to help nonprofit clients solve their most pressing strategic issues. She regularly tries out new hobbies and endeavors – the latest are acrylic painting and attempting to successfully complete The New York Times crossword puzzle seven days in a row.
