Ready
to get back
on offense?

I help growth-stage CMOs have fun building strong brands and driving results.

You know what it feels like to build something amazing.

But when you're scaling fast, that strategic thinking time gets swallowed by growth demands. And you are figuring it all out on your own.

Any of these sound familiar?

  • You care about winning hearts. But everyone around you only talks LTV.

  • Your brand has a mission that matters, but it's getting lost in the scramble to scale.

  • You're managing up, down, and sideways, but not actually leading forward.

  • You're always mentoring your team but neglecting your own growth.

  • You spend half your time defending the value of brand marketing to skeptics.

  • You keep second-guessing yourself because no one else in the boardroom sees what you see.

  • Your only creative outlet these days is approving A/B test assets.

  • You're successful on paper, but you've lost touch with the work that gives you joy.

  • You play offense again. No more second-guessing.

  • Your narrative wins hearts. And grows the business.

  • The board and your peers never question your vision.

  • You're driving a strategy that moves the business forward.

  • You have time to think. And create work that makes you proud.

  • Your team is inspired. And keeps growing every day.

  • Marketing is viewed as a revenue and energy driver, not a cost center.

  • You rediscover the joy of creativity that made you fall in love with marketing.

Say hello to your next chapter.

I have been there.

I have become a better marketer because great people surrounded me. Mentors. Peers. Bosses.

Truth is, the higher up you go, the smaller that circle becomes. 

Everyone is looking up to you, and suddenly, there’s nobody you can turn to. You start second-guessing yourself or worse, you stop having fun.

I spent 17 years at Nike building brands that people loved and that actually moved the business. I launched products, led digital transformation, and drove global go-to-market strategies.

But the most rewarding part of my career was never the award-winning campaigns.

It was the human connection: leading teams, problem-solving with peers, coaching younger team members, and proudly being my bosses’ trusted right hand.

I’ve been a storyteller, a devil’s advocate, and a sounding board to Nike’s Brand and Digital VPs. Now, I bring that same thought partnership to CMOs and Brand leaders who don’t have the same support team around them.

I have the experience, but I don't have all the answers.

You do.

Work is more fun and rewarding when you figure it out with someone who knows the right questions to ask.

Don’t try to do it all by yourself. We got this.

Trust your instincts.
Tap into your strengths.
Don’t compromise your values.

Lead like you

Reclaim your space

Create thinking time.
Innovate.
Have fun.

Drive impact

Inspire humans.
Grow the business.
Do work you're proud of.

How can we partner

You're a CMO or marketing leader with ambitious plans, lots of pressure to perform, and limited senior support around you. Whether you're planning your next product launch, preparing for a board presentation, or navigating marketplace challenges, we meet regularly so you can pressure-test ideas, explore new ones, problem-solve, and ultimately lead with confidence.

Between sessions, I'm available via text or call to provide a quick sounding board when you need one.

It's a confidential partnership to help you shine and have fun at the same time.

1:1 Executive Marketing Coaching

Need to solve a specific challenge fast?

Whether it's sharpening your brand narrative, developing a go-to-market strategy, or crafting your story to win over the board - I can switch jersey and jump in as a consultant. Fast, focused working sessions that cut through the noise and align on what matters.

I'll do the work, and get you game time ready.

Bespoke Strategy Sprints

You are a high-performing marketing leader. Maybe you are a bit of a perfectionist. More likely, you appreciate excellence.

You're facing a transition or a new challenge. A new boss. New responsibilities. Perhaps it’s about the promotion you got. The one you want. The one you just missed.

Or you simply want to keep growing without compromising who you are - whether in your current role or your next one.

Over three months, we'll meet weekly to help you lead like yourself - with the values and joy that have always made you great.

1:1 Leadership Coaching*

*limited to three spots per quarter

Working together is simple

1 - We start with a chat

Let's see if we're a good fit. We'll start with a free 30-minute conversation—no commitment, just a chance to connect and figure out if working together makes sense.

2 - We team up & do the work

We tackle what's blocking your progress. We create space for strategic thinking, problem-solving, and feeling the feelings, while building your confidence and driving results.

3 - You shine

You get results that move both hearts and business metrics while rediscovering why you love this work.

Ciao, I am Martina

I speak English with a not-so-thick Italian accent. I'm a proud Gen X, former semi-pro basketball player with a global mindset and go-getter heart.

I was a Brand and Digital marketing leader at Nike for 17 years.

I am now a Co-Active trained coach and a brand strategy consultant.

I believe we can have serious conversations without taking ourselves too seriously.

Kindness is underrated.

And asking for help is the ultimate power move.
(but it took me a while to learn it)

In no particular order, I love:
Telling stories.
Solving problems.
Golden Retrievers.

If this resonates with you, let's start with that conversation.

I'd love to hear your story. And help you craft your next chapter.

Martina Zavagno, founder - With An Athlete Mindset LLC