Allyson Schultz

I'm a marketer, a connector and an outdoorswoman who is passionate about creating experiences that bring people and brands together.   

My childhood was spent exploring the woods and beaches of coastal Massachusetts. Perfect days included leading missions to build tree forts, cut new paths through the dense brush behind the house or construct "boats" out of beach styrofoam and cross the harbor. These times were formative, as I'm still happiest exploring and problem-solving with others.   

Seeking adventure, at twenty-two I moved to France, working first as an English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) assistant teacher in the city of Angoulême, and then in Bordeaux and Biarritz as an associate for digital PR firm v-Fluence, where I managed the online reputation of global pharmaceutical clients. During those four years abroad, I built a strong professional foundation in brand-building and brand management, developed an adeptness for change management and influencing others and became fluent in French.

Upon return to the States, I spent 8 years in NYC, leading brand marketing, social media and creative services at EmblemHealth, New York’s largest regional not-for-profit health insurer. A passionate and resourceful leader, I developed a reputation there for my ability to build, organize and motivate teams to accomplish a lot with a little—and quickly. I pushed a traditional organization to modernize by initiating company-wide digital and cultural transformation, each time expanding my area of responsibility.  Specifically, I established a cross-departmental grassroots marketing program that drove double-digit increases in YoY membership, built an industry-leading social media presence and team from the ground up and created a nimble in-house creative agency.  These efforts drove brand market momentum while supporting the health and well-being of our community.

A strong proponent of the importance of business purpose and how individuals, groups and companies do what they do, I next spent a year building international, mission-driven startups focused on sustainability; from an outdoor film festival to a sustainable shopping app to a blockchain research organization called TQ Tezos.

In December 2018, I joined leading online pet retailer, Chewy to build the brand marketing discipline from the ground up and am currently leading brand marketing communications for the rapidly growing organization. I’ve also joined TEDxCambridge as Marketing Director and am leading an all-volunteer Marketing team to help transform the TEDxCambridge business model, build a new brand identity and launch an extended reality LED viewing experience for a global community.