Today we’d like to introduce you to Ilana Kearns.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ilana. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
Most recently, I was with Cox Automotive, and in May of 2018, after nearly four years, I took some time off for personal development and to explore running a small business.
Over the course of the last several months, I rekindled my love of running and trained and finished my first full marathon. Through my 18 mile outdoor runs, I rediscovered not only how beautiful Cherokee county is, but I also discovered how important it is to lead with an open heart regardless of what your title is.
I am an active member of our community, serving those in need through various nonprofit organizations. I am currently leading the Communications efforts for the Nonprofit Committee of the American Marketing Association, Atlanta Chapter.
Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing in my life has been a smooth road starting with the day I was born! I was born in Latvia, formerly part of the Soviet Union and moved to the United States in 1980, during the cold war era. My father worked very hard to provide for our family, not taking a day off of work his first five years in the USA.
Because of my father, I have developed a solid work ethic and learned to overcome adversity like losing out on having a mother in my early childhood and taking preventative steps to ward off cancer.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the #goatmatters story. Tell us more about the business.
A brand is so much more than the logo. Consumers today view a brand as one holistic experience created by the behaviors and values delivered by employees at all levels and across all touch points. A customer’s initial interaction with a brand can begin anywhere at any time at their discretion through a multitude of touch points which include online, in person, through a phone call or authorized partnerships.
To form a connection with your community, you must be intentional on how you show up in the marketplace as consumers want to see and hear an authentic voice online and through real-life interactions.
And that’s where #goatmatters comes into play. I bring a brand to life through engaging content including executive communications, blogs, newsletters, copywriting, ultra-modern pitch decks, graphic design, website design, and event planning.
What sets me apart are my diverse life experiences that are uniquely mine.
Professionally, I am a dedicated and purpose-driven Strategic Business Partner with experience supporting C-suite leaders of both private and publicly traded companies. As an Executive Assistant, I have been given a unique bird’s eye view of the inner workings of a company, trained to focus on what matters most to the business.
I also know how to leverage my knowledge of communications and the employee mindset to proactively drive communications to support culture and other major enterprise programs that crossed business units and functions to deliver business results.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In terms of marketing, with social media today, we are all in marketing. Each and every one of us serves as a brand ambassador of both ourself(s) and our employer(s).
A bottom-up approach to communications will be the new norm to drive meaningful employee engagement in the marketplace. And it is no longer internal or external communications, it is integrated communications.
(Quality) Content is king. Storytelling will be more important than ever. There will be a shift back to quality content and creativity as opposed to an automated approach to marketing.
Thanks to tools like Adobe, Canva, Google Slides, and Haiku, graphic design is now as easy as a touch of a button. A traditional presentation now takes a fraction of the time to create thanks to these in the cloud tools!
The traditional approach of job searching is already undergoing a change. LinkedIn has the opportunity to become a true strategic partner to HR departments. The return of a personal website is also more important than ever to demonstrate one’s skillset(s).
Social Impact programs are finally receiving the recognition they deserve and companies that champion this mindset will win in today’s marketplace.
Pricing:
- Presentations start at $295
- Communications start at $70/hour
- Website Design starts at $488
- Graphic Design starts at $70/hour
Contact Info:
- Address: 312 Birch Laurel Woodstock, GA 30188
- Website: https://goatmatters.com/
- Phone: (470) 717 – 7229
- Email: ilana.kearns@goatmatters.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ikearns2019/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/KearnsIlana
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanakearns/
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
