Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Timeline
Generic

Irene Hargan

Lincoln,NE

Summary

Excelling at data-mining for human understanding and business growth. Former lecturer at Northwestern University turned global strategist & client director (Corporate & ad agency side) with 15+ years of experience in marketing, trends & innovation and brand management in time of radical change. Looking to help organizations to stay relevant by anticipating people’s needs.

Overview

27
27
years of professional experience

Work History

Manager of Trends and Insights

Swanson Russell
11.2020 - 03.2024
  • Was responsible for establishing an entirely new practice for the agency
  • Active participant in training programs for the creative department and the creator of new client-facing workshops that resulted in additional revenue streams
  • Worked on strategy development, rebranding, brand refresh, new brand/product campaign launch at the intersection of trends research, business data, customer segmentation and social media across all of the departments for a wide variety of nationally acclaimed clients, as well as big local players in the following fields: healthcare, biotech, agriculture, transportation, equipment manufacturers, airport authority, tourism, outdoor rec
  • A few client brands of note here: Memorial Care, Children’s Nebraska, LI-COR, Textron (E-Z-GO, Ransomes), JLG & Oshkosh, Omaha Airport Authority, Visit Omaha, Minn Kota, Irish Setter, etc.

Director of Client Services, Brand Strategist

GW Associates Ltd.
11.2014 - 09.2020
  • Oversaw the creation & ran the operations of a steering committee made up of ‘smart grid' (energy) emerging technologies startups & policy-makers
  • Conducted stakeholders interviews, shaped research & developed communication strategy
  • Boosted the program enrollment to 45,000 households – 38% growth in just under 4 months - resulting in 20% decrease on their electricity bill.

Senior Strategic Planning Manager

BFG Communications
05.2013 - 09.2014
  • Worked on new business pitches resulting in big wins for the agency (Campari Group, Delta, Whirlpool)
  • Conducted primary & secondary research that culminated in identifying a unique business opportunity & new creative territories for one of the Coca-Cola's brands
  • Advised Cape Cod chips on their innovation pipeline & possible brand extensions; envisioned future consumer engagement initiatives & more impactful in store presence
  • Provided insights, delivered integrated communications strategies & creative solutions for Natural American Spirit (tobacco)
  • Worked on experiential marketing calendar (SXSW, trade shows, customer representatives' training, etc.), media plans, social engagement activities.

Trend Analyst

Kraft Foods/Mondelez
03.2010 - 01.2013
  • Was responsible for developing a global trends framework for the organization & involved in future-casting/scenario-planning workshops for Kraft GTC (Global Technology Council) around affordable snacks, confectionary, sustainability & proactive health
  • Conceptualized & brought to life Packaging & Design Innovation Global Showcase
  • Keeping consumer trends & insights at the core, executed NPD and pipeline development work for Cadbury, Oscar Mayer, Mio, Belvita, Philadelphia Cooking Crème & other Business Units
  • Drove the new global Halls & Trident positioning by developing new methodology utilized for testing these products' appeal among Millennials.

Interactive Strategist

Y&R Sao Paulo
09.2008 - 02.2010
  • In a digital-first country, developed and implemented a series of BTL, interactive advertising and promotional campaigns for food clients, technology (Philips) & beauty (O Boticario).

Account Planner/Strategist

JWT
05.2007 - 11.2007
  • Worked on new client pitches, competitive reviews & media plans for technology clients.

Brand Planner/Consultant

Zeus Jones
06.2007 - 09.2007
  • Advised on naming opportunities, attributes, brand territory and brand strategy for a new client's product launch (organic beauty line) via competitive landscape mapping & semiotics analysis.

Lecturer in Italian Studies

Northwestern University
09.2004 - 06.2007
  • Working closely with Medill School of Journalism, developed and taught classes on contemporary Italian language and culture, with a particular focus on consumer culture and mass-media
  • Was a go-to person for information about study abroad programs and helped boost enrollment for the Italian programs (Padua and Bologna) via a variety of outreach efforts, including a wide range of extracurricular activities.

Consultant

The World Bank Group
05.2005 - 10.2005
  • Advisor for Russia and Eastern Europe cultural development programs.

Public Relations Manager, Interpreter/translator

Embassy Of Italy/Italian Cultural Institute
01.2001 - 08.2004
  • Planned and implemented a year-round calendar of cultural events for the Italian Embassy Office of Cultural Affairs
  • Coordinated a wide range of promotional events for the “Bellissima Campania” project, a program of the Embassy of Italy, the Smithsonian Institution and the region of Campania.

Manager, International Content Acquisition

Urals State University Publishing House
10.1997 - 06.2000
  • Negotiated contracts with international publishers
  • Developed marketing strategies.

Project Manager

Department Of International Relations
09.1997 - 09.1998
  • Coordinated Tempus-Tacis EU economic development program for Russia
  • Managed logistics: scheduled meetings, conferences & workshops for the EU experts.

Education

Account Planning/strategy -

Miami Ad School
Minneapolis, MN
09.2007

Master of Arts: Italian Literature -

The Catholic University of America
Washington, DC
05.2003

Bachelor of Arts: History -

Urals State University
Yekaterinburg, Russia
06.2000

Skills

  • Branding
  • Trend analysis
  • Competitive benchmarking
  • Social media listening
  • Front-end innovation
  • Public speaking
  • Coaching
  • Workshop creation and facilitation
  • Behavioral science

Languages

Fluent in Italian, French, Russian, Portuguese. Advanced knowledge of Spanish.

Timeline

Manager of Trends and Insights

Swanson Russell
11.2020 - 03.2024

Director of Client Services, Brand Strategist

GW Associates Ltd.
11.2014 - 09.2020

Senior Strategic Planning Manager

BFG Communications
05.2013 - 09.2014

Trend Analyst

Kraft Foods/Mondelez
03.2010 - 01.2013

Interactive Strategist

Y&R Sao Paulo
09.2008 - 02.2010

Brand Planner/Consultant

Zeus Jones
06.2007 - 09.2007

Account Planner/Strategist

JWT
05.2007 - 11.2007

Consultant

The World Bank Group
05.2005 - 10.2005

Lecturer in Italian Studies

Northwestern University
09.2004 - 06.2007

Public Relations Manager, Interpreter/translator

Embassy Of Italy/Italian Cultural Institute
01.2001 - 08.2004

Manager, International Content Acquisition

Urals State University Publishing House
10.1997 - 06.2000

Project Manager

Department Of International Relations
09.1997 - 09.1998

Account Planning/strategy -

Miami Ad School

Master of Arts: Italian Literature -

The Catholic University of America

Bachelor of Arts: History -

Urals State University
Irene Hargan