Gretchen Kraemer, MBA
Austin
Summary
Product-oriented strategy and commercial leader with 10+ years of experience developing and scaling customer-centered solutions across regulated environments, startups, and technology-enabled businesses. Proven ability to translate customer insights and market dynamics into go-to-market strategies and scalable offerings that drive adoption, engagement, and revenue growth. Experienced in partnering cross-functionally to align product, customer, and commercial priorities and deliver measurable business outcomes. MBA with a strong foundation in data-driven decision-making and performance optimization.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Independent Business & Product Strategy Consultant
Self-employeed
Austin, TX
2023 - Current
- Design and launch 5–8+ service-based and digital product offerings, aligning customer needs with market positioning, pricing strategy, and long-term scalability
- Define customer segmentation, ideal customer profiles (ICP), and value propositions, strengthening product-market fit across multiple industries
- Conduct market research and competitive analysis to refine messaging, identify growth opportunities, and inform product and commercial strategy
- Translate customer feedback and engagement data into actionable product insights, influencing offering design, feature prioritization, and user experience improvements
- Build and implement CRM systems and customer lifecycle workflows, improving lead tracking, conversion, and retention by approximately 20–30%
- Develop performance dashboards and KPI frameworks to track conversion, engagement, and retention metrics, enabling data-driven decision-making
- Partner with founders to transform ad hoc services into structured, repeatable, and scalable productized models, improving operational efficiency and consistency
- Collaborate cross-functionally with technical teams, designers, and stakeholders to align product development with customer needs and business objectives
Project Manager – Strategic Programs (Product + Performance Focus)
Defense Acquisition University | U.S. Department of Defense, MPF Federal, LLC
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Directed large-scale education “product ecosystem” serving 35,000+ users across 160+ programs.
- Led cross-functional teams to align offerings with user needs and organizational priorities.
- Developed and tracked KPIs to measure product performance, engagement, and effectiveness.
- Improved reporting systems, enabling real-time performance visibility for leadership.
- Delivered strategic initiatives ahead of schedule across a highly regulated environment.
- Led cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects within established triple constraints.
- Developed and implemented project management processes to enhance operational efficiency.
- Facilitated stakeholder meetings to gather requirements and ensure alignment on project objectives.
Project Manager – Global Training & Product Experience
VIPKid
01.2017 - 01.2021
- Managed global education platform initiatives supporting thousands of users across international markets.
- Designed and scaled learning product experiences across a distributed user base.
- Led 3,000+ training sessions, improving engagement and product adoption.
- Used customer feedback and data insights to improve retention and reduce drop-off.
- Increased program satisfaction scores by ~20%.
- Reduced user abandonment by ~40–50% over 3 years.
- Partnered cross-functionally to align product experience with business goals.
- Managed project timelines, ensuring alignment with company objectives and stakeholder expectations.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to streamline communication and enhance collaboration across projects.
- Mentored junior project managers, fostering professional growth and enhancing team capabilities.
- Led process improvement initiatives that enhanced operational efficiency and reduced project delivery times.
- Collaborated closely with senior management to align project objectives with strategic company initiatives, ensuring that efforts contributed to overall business growth.
Strategic Operations Lead
Rock of Ages Foundation
Austin, TX
01.2014 - 01.2017
- Developed outreach and engagement strategies, increasing donor participation by ~10–15% over 3 years.
- Implemented operational improvements that enhanced program delivery and coordination.
- Streamlined daily operations by coordinating team schedules and resource allocation.
- Implemented process improvements to enhance workflow efficiency and reduce operational delays.
- Evaluated vendor performance and negotiated contracts to optimize cost-effectiveness of supplies and services.
- Assisted in the development of long-term strategic plans, aligning operational goals with overarching company objectives.
- Managed a $150K marketing budget supporting purchasing, sales, marketing and customer account operations efficiently.
Logistics Specialist
United States Army & National Guard
- Led operational planning and execution in complex, high-stakes environments
- Awarded the Army Achievement Medal for leadership and performance
- Coordinated logistics operations to ensure timely delivery of supplies and equipment.
- Managed inventory control using automated tracking systems to enhance accuracy.
- Assisted in planning transportation routes for efficient movement of personnel and materials.
- Tracked supply, equipment and product inventory quantities to maintain necessary levels.
- Coordinated incoming and outgoing shipments to maintain schedules.
- Managed inventory levels for optimal cost savings and minimal stockouts.
- Oversaw every phase of supply chain, from purchase order to delivery to invoicing, targeting 100% end-user satisfaction.
- Handled high-volume paperwork and collaborated with administrators to resolve invoicing and shipping problems.
Education
MBA - Information Technology
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science - Communications
Austin Peay State University
Skills
- Product Strategy & Lifecycle Management
- Customer Insights & Market Analysis
- Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy
- Cross-Functional Leadership (UX, Engineering, Content)
- Commercial Performance & Adoption Metrics
- KPI Development & Data Analytics
- Government & Regulated Environments
- Stakeholder & Executive Alignment
- CRM Systems
- LMS Platforms
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Data Reporting & Dashboard Reporting
- Workflow & Automation Tools
Timeline
Project Manager – Strategic Programs (Product + Performance Focus)
Defense Acquisition University | U.S. Department of Defense, MPF Federal, LLC
01.2022 - 01.2023
Project Manager – Global Training & Product Experience
VIPKid
01.2017 - 01.2021
Strategic Operations Lead
Rock of Ages Foundation
01.2014 - 01.2017
Bachelor of Science - Communications
Austin Peay State University
Independent Business & Product Strategy Consultant
Self-employeed
2023 - Current
Logistics Specialist
United States Army & National Guard
MBA - Information Technology
Western Governors University
Awards
Army Achievement Medal
Army Service Ribbon