Krystina Russell

Connecting Strategy, Creative, and Operations to Deliver Brand Impact

Program management leader turning brand strategy into scalable communications, high-impact storytelling, and fostering operational excellence.

Open to Director, Senior Director and VP roles in Brand Management, Communications, Marketing Operations, and Project Management.

Remote or Chicago, IL

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Director-level program manager with 15+ years of experience delivering integrated campaigns, championing operational excellence, and enterprise storytelling for global brands.

I operate at the intersection of brand marketing, operations, and portfolio management.

My career began as a agency producer at Edelman, where I developed deep fluency in storytelling execution. I later scaled into integrated portfolio leadership at Blast Radius (WPP) and Weber Shandwick, managing multi-million-dollar programs, events and cross-disciplinary teams building my operations toolkit.

Today, I focus on building systems — not just campaigns — that enable organizations to scale marketing impact with governance, clarity, and operational rigor.

Over 15 Years of Experience
Communications & Marketing
Content, Event, & Brand Experiences

Kohler - Senior Manager

Enterprise brand & creative operations leader who’s mission is to bridge the gap between strategy, creative production, and brand marketing.

Content & Editorial Operations
Brand & Integrated Project Management
Corporate Communications
Enterprise Portfolio Management

The Highlights

Built first Content Operations COE for Kohler
Standardized asset production, audit & distribution
Launched enterprise brand standards website
Executed Corporate Reputation marketing campaigns
Chief of staff for VP of Corporate Communications & Chief Brand Officer

The Results

Produced 1,000+ brand storytelling assets
Managed editorial newsroom for 50+ cross-functional stakeholders
Launched brand council to support GTM campaign reviews

The Work

Kohler Brand Standards
150th Anniversary Be Bold Book
WasteLAB Vox Sink Campaign Launch
New Mission Video - link coming

Where Bold Strategy Meets Cinematic Storytelling

MS, Integrated Marketing Communications

Northwestern University (2020)
McKinsey & Company Black Leadership Academy

Connected Leader Academy Management Accelerator (2025)
Business Resource Group & Global Inclusion Advocate

Edelman - Blast Radius - Weber Shanwick

Video Production
Integrated Project Management
Experiential Events
Creative Studio Operations
Business Affairs

The Highlights

Executed digital, experiential, influencer, and social campaigns for a diverse CPG client portfolio
Built post-production workflows and resource scheduling systems for 30+ in-house studio
Produced award winning video and experiences for super bowl earned media campaigns

The Results

Project Management lead for annual revenue portfolio of $20M+
Managed $10M+ video production budgets
Barilla content series garnered 24M Views & 393M Impression
Gold Effie Award form Ben’s Original rebrand (commerce & shopper)

The Work

Kohler Brand Standards

The Challenge
Strengthen engagement for 30K+ global associates while ensuring brand consistency, awareness of enterprise strategy goals and governance brand expression for a 150-year-old legacy brand.

My Role
Project management lead, creative strategy, and asset curator for website development.

Project Approach

Led cross-functional collaboration between brand marketing, corporate communications, and creative teams
Responsible for vendor evaluation, vetting, and selection process for website development partner
Supported creative team in website content development, asset audit and curation for page layouts for full website
Established governance framework for brand usage, voice, visuals expression and content reviews for storytelling

The Impact

Developed and launched centralized Brand Standards website in under 6 months including platform integration with Kohler IT.
Completed site training for executive leadership, 500+ marketing and communications creators globally.
Unified brand expression across internal and external touchpoints and strengthened our employer brand value proposition and associate engagement.
Enabled scalable brand governance council to supporting marketing global communications initiatives
View The Site

Case Studies

Content & Branding

Black Girls Golf Executive Retreat

The Challenge
Kohler hosted and sponsored the Black Girls Golf Executive Retreat for two consecutive years. Following the success of the inaugural event, which brought together members for educational programming, networking with golf professionals, and rounds at Whistling Straits Golf Course, our team was tasked with elevating the experience for an even more impactful second year focused on empowerment, connection, and community.

My Role
Program management lead, event production, creative strategy, and programming. I served as the central point of contact for Black Girls Golf organization, sponsors, and event production teams.

Key responsibilities included:

Leading development of all creative and branded event assets
Designing the programming framework, speaker coordination and attendee experience
Managing client communication and stakeholder alignment
Overseeing production of event materials, video, photo and all digital storytelling content
Ensuring cohesive brand expression for Kohler across the retreat experience

Project Approach

We designed the retreat experience for participants to connect through both shared experiences and meaningful dialogue about leadership, career growth, and representation
Delivered curated beginner and advanced golf experiences for 100+ participants, including instructional clinics, executive panel discussions with PGA professionals, networking events, sponsor activations, and wellness experiences at Kohler Waters Spa

The Impact

The event created a powerful space for 100+ women of color to connect, learn, and support one another within a historically exclusive industry for two consecutive years.
The programming balanced professional growth, social connection, and experiential learning to create a retreat that was both inspiring and practical.
Community Building: Creating an environment where women could build authentic relationships, and grow their professional networks.
Empowerment: Providing educational sessions, panel discussions, and fireside conversations focused on career development, self-care, and representation for black women in golf.
Skill Building: Integrating hands-on golf clinics and course experiences to support participants at varying levels of familiarity with the game.

Events & Partnerships

Be Bold Book

The Challenge
To commemorate Kohler’s 150th anniversary, our CEO requested a limited-edition coffee table book celebrating the innovators, creators, and visionaries who have shaped the company’s legacy.

My Role
Editorial content director, visual asset curator, and project management lead. I managed the relationship with the design studio and collaborated with our key internal stakeholders. I was also the main point of contact for the Kohler family for content reviews and approvals.

Key responsibilities included:

Leading collaboration between Kohler’s corporate communications team and the external design agency for content production
Guiding the editorial strategy, storytelling direction, and layout for the book
Collaborating with legal and brand marketing to secure high-profile talent to participate in interviews
Partnering with the Kohler archives team to curate historical imagery, content, and artifacts
Overseeing narrative development and creative production across 100+ pages
Managing stakeholder alignment across brand marketing, communications, and creative leadership including the Kohler family
Ensuring the final print production reflected Kohler’s brand standards and heritage

Project Approach

Over the course of nine months the team completed 30+ interviews with creators and drafted first person narratives for each. We also researched 10+ influential members of the Kohler family along with former associates to draft posthumous narratives
Throughout this process the editorial team captured firsthand philosophies, personal anecdotes, stories, and the moments that defined each creator’s career and partnership with the Kohler brand
After content was approved, we produced thoughtfully designed image spreads for each creator blending storytelling with design and culminating in a lasting visual tribute to Kohler’s legacy of creativity and innovation
Featured contributors included renowned creators such as:
- Daniel Arsham – Contemporary Artist
- Donald Driver – Former NFL athlete & Entrepreneur
- Ann Sacks – Design visionary
- Jonathan Adler – Designer & Author
- Shea McGee – Co-founder & CEO of Studio McGee
- Tom Colicchio - Chef
- Douglas Friedman – Acclaimed Photographer
- Justina Blakeney – Designer & Artist
- Jim Nantz – Sports commentator
- Dr. Samuel Ross MBE – Designer

The Impact

Delivered a 135-page editorial publication featuring over 40 first-person creator narratives, a visual timeline highlighting company milestones staring in 1873, and over 20 heritage image spreads celebrating the creators, associates and leaders who shaped Kohler’s 150-year legacy.
Elevated Kohler’s anniversary milestone through premium storytelling, introducing the untold stories of bold creators from Kohler’s past, present, and future.
The finished book became a signature brand artifact used for executive leadership engagements, internal culture building, and stakeholder storytelling. The book was valued at over $200 and distributed at VIP events, to customers, associates, and partners.
The project resulted in a collectible publication that serves as a lasting brand artifact celebrating 150 years of innovation while reinforcing Kohler’s commitment to creativity, highlighting the company’s rich history, and evolution of our brand identity as design-driven company.