At heart, I'm a storyteller.

I believe in the transformative power of storytelling to inspire audiences, foster empathy and influence public policy.

Whether I'm taking a brand in a new direction, crafting the messaging for a new product line, or convincing a CFO to invest in a new initiative, a compelling story drives success. I’ve shared my stories on The Moth stage, on Capital Hill, and in publications including ,The New York Times, CNN, Refinery29, and The Washington Post.

The shortest stories

 
 

The shortest stories are names and the most powerful names evoke an emotional reaction or complete clarity in just a couple of words. Working for Martha Stewart in the early aughts, I oversaw the development of her paint line for Kmart.Our copywriter, Kelly, was a friend and she set out a large piece of paper covering the copy department’s table covered on color swatches. Whenever someone came by her desk, she invited them to pause for a moment and name a color. I don’t recall if any of the names I wrote became paint colors, but I do know that one of my proudest moments was when Gael Towey and Martha Stewart were presented with names for the “Bed in a Bag” program at Kmart and the name I came up with, The Complete Bed, was the winner. Sheets, shams, comforter, bedskirt—all in one bag. The Complete Bed tells you that story and elevates the concept of an all-in-one to a cohesive design moment.

Later, I oversaw the development and marketing for Food Network’s candle program. We developed a line based on Food Network recipes including one for homemade pancakes. Waking up to the smell of pancakes is something I remember from my childhood. Sundays, the day my father was home with us, he would often pull out the cast iron grill and we would start our morning filling our bellies with pancakes drowned in Aunt Jemima syrup. They weren’t just pancakes, they were Sunday Morning Pancakes. The name stuck. Not just because it meant something to me, because it resonated universally to that day of the week where everything hits pause for long enough for the kitchen to be filled with the aroma of pancakes bubbling on the griddle.

six-word stories

 
 

For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

Legend claims Ernest Hemingway penned this line, winning a bet that he could craft a complete story in just six words. While the tale's authenticity is debated, it perfectly illustrates the power of concise storytelling.

My six-word memoir is:

Optimist tackles glass half-empty. Again.

What’s yours?

Substack newsletter

My free weekly newsletter explores the topics of grief, healing and motherhood through the lens of finding new ways to experience the familiar and reasons to marvel at the world around you.

Sign up on Substack here.

 
Contact