Maria Ross

As a brand strategist, I ferret out the features that make your organization completely irresistible…and then translate those qualities into compelling brand stories, positioning strategies & messaging - all rooted in empathy - so you can: STAND OUT ATTRACT THE RIGHT CUSTOMERS ACCELERATE SALES AND IMPACT As a keynote/workshop and TEDx speaker, I inspire audiences to stand out, share their story, overcome adversity - and strengthen empathy as a competitive advantage. My LinkedIn course: Leading with Empathy: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/leading-with-empathy Storytelling is an art...and a science. From dominating the kindergarten classroom to delighting theatre patrons to creating brand strategies, I’ve been motivating audiences from the moment I could walk. And talk. And write. Prior to Red Slice, I crafted brand and marketing strategies for Silicon Valley start-ups, global software firms, entertainment powerhouses and consumer businesses — including Business Objects (now SAP), Discovery Networks and Monster.com — and created change management strategies for Fortune 1000 clients at Accenture. I work across industries, with a speciality in tech. Clients include LogicGate, Alteryx, ContentSquare, Dropbox, Expanse, GSK, Wedgewood Pharmacy. Non-profits include The Coaching Fellowship and Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery. Brand amplification is my vocation of choice, but I’m also a speaker, author and actress. My recent book, The Empathy Edge, is about how leaders, teams, and brands can harness the value of compassion as an engine for success. Named a top inspirational business book by The CEO Magazine, as well as a Top 11 book that is redefining leadership by Forbes. My book Branding Basics for Small Business has been called "a roadmap leading small businesses in the right direction."​ And my memoir, Rebooting My Brain, tells the story of my miraculous brain aneurysm recovery — with tongue-in-cheek humor & levity (yes, really). Media appearances include: MSNBC, ABC News, NPR, Forbes.com, and Entrepreneur Magazine. I've written about business + lifestyle for notable outlets, including Entrepreneur.com, MarketingProfs, and Huffington Post. My talks have delighted crowds at TEDx, The 3% Conference, BlogHer, The New York Times Small Business Summit, Chamber of Commerce, Women in Consulting, NAWBO, SBA and more. Among my philanthropic efforts, I’m a brain injury survivor, awareness advocate and advisory board member at The Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery & support various child welfare, medical aid and animal rescue groups.