We assemble a flexible team that meets your specific needs
Sara Gaviser Leslie
Principal and Founder
I work with hyper-growth startups and established companies that struggle to explain and present their business clearly and succinctly, both internally and externally. I love wading through data to create compelling stories that drive action or change behavior. I began my career as an investment analyst and was a case writer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
I specialize in brand positioning and messaging and have worked for B2B tech or tech-enabled companies (Zoom, LinkedIn, Welltok, Inspirato, Ladder, Jive, Clari, Rev, Latitude), social impact organizations (Oxfam, Environmental Defense Fund, Elevate Health. Aspen Institute), and venture firms (Sequoia Capital, KPCB). I work directly with clients and in partnership with agencies (Duarte Design, Emotive Brand, Noise13) and also have deep experience crafting fundraising pitches and large-scale presentations.
I have an M.B.A from Columbia Business School and a B.A. from Wellesley College. I’m a Minnesota transplant now living in Menlo Park, CA with my husband and three boys. And, no, I don’t miss the snow.
Sara has also contributed to the following books:
Miriam Stone
Strategy Partner
I'm a brand strategist with 10+ years of experience in brand strategy, messaging, and naming. I'm particularly passionate about launching and growing brands that effect social change. My client roster includes global brands (Okta, Facebook, JD Power), growth-stage disruptors (Planet, Babylist, Grand Rounds), and public sector orgs (Spare the Air, SF Public Utilities Commission, La Cocina). I also serve as the Strategy Director for Noise 13, an SF-based branding agency.
Previously, I was a Senior Consultant at Interbrand and VP of Business Development at VisionSpring, as well as a Co-Founder of Swing Left, a national political movement.
I'm the mother of two strong-willed girls, a published poet and memoirist, and an aspiring novelist. When I'm not in front of my computer, I'm hiking, reading novels about the interior lives of women, or dancing in the streets with SambaFunk. I have an MBA in marketing from UCLA Anderson and a BA in anthropology and creative writing from Columbia University.
