Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
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Mary Lynn Strom

Chapel Hill,NC

Summary

Content Strategist with Brand and Editorial Experience

Creative and strategic marketing professional with a proven ability to conceptualize and execute integrated campaigns across email, social media, Google Ads, and ABM platforms. Experienced in researching, developing, and packaging compelling editorial and marketing thought-leadership content—including magazines, newspapers, websites, podcasts, white papers, articles, videos, webinars, and live events—to align with organizational marketing and editorial goals. Excellent manager and director who can lead and grow teams through coaching and training. Experience ranges from giant media conglomerates to rapidly growing SaaS startups and launching new products from scratch to growing established ones.

Overview

32
32
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Director, Content Strategy

Exactera
01.2021 - 11.2025

Pitched, conceptualized, and created distinct weekly email campaigns to target five unique audiences.

Increased AI search visibility by 90%.

Created content for every stage of the funnel, and increased inbound leads by 70% year over year.

Managed a third-party PR firm, pitched articles that ran in Bloomberg, Reuters, and Forbes, among other high-profile industry publications, to expand our industry expertise, and increase brand awareness.

Created ABM ads and Google ad campaigns, strategizing messaging to align with the company's current brand and initiatives.

Managed a team of eight employees (content producers and audio team) to generate thought leadership on special areas of international tax.
• Write, conceptualize, and edit content about transfer pricing, R&D tax credits, and the income tax provision for a variety of platforms: website, webinars, podcasts, and videos. • Ghostwrite articles about international tax for outside publications, including Bloomberg Tax, Treasury & Risk, and Tax Notes, among others, for company economists and the CEO. • Interview and hire content producers, writers, audio specialists, marketing assistants, and digital marketing strategists.

Executive Producer

CrossBorder Solutions (now Exactera)
01.2019 - 01.2021

Researched and wrote about global transfer pricing (international tax)
• Developed and launched company transfer pricing podcasts: The Fiona Show and The Fiona Show: Hot Off the Press
• Wrote and planned presentations for economists’ conferences and roundtables
• Found and recruited prestigious guests for podcast interviews, including members of the OECD; corporate in-house transfer pricing professionals; authors; and tax attorneys
• Created responses for the company’s A.I. personality, Fiona, which runs over the Amazon Alexa platform
• Drafted blog for company website introducing podcast
• Attended client summits to oversee podcast production and entertain clients
• Hosted company educational transfer pricing webinars

Freelance Writer

Self-employeed
01.2011 - 01.2018

Wrote and edited company website for SEO performance
• Managed Google Adwords accounts
• Wrote and edited for various local publications including The Journal News, and Westchester Magazine.
• Developed, edited, and managed Health Matters, a custom magazine published by White Plains Hospital’s corporate communications department to rebrand hospital’s position in the community
• Conceptualized stories
• Interviewed people of interest from the community for various articles
• Scouted houses for stories on home and design
• Interviewed doctors and other medical professionals about common health issues
• Proofread and signed off on all pages
• Authored stories on important lifestyle topics including health and fitness, interior design, food, beauty, and more

Features Editor

The Journal News
01.2008 - 01.2011
  • Led editorial team in developing engaging content strategies for digital platforms.
  • Oversaw production schedules and ensured timely delivery of features.
  • Collaborated with writers to refine articles, enhancing clarity and impact.
  • Implemented data-driven insights to improve reader engagement and retention.

Earlier Career Highlights

Various Media Companies
06.1993 - 01.2008

Earlier career included serving as Magazine Editor in Chief, The Journal News; Senior Editor, Travel Holiday Magazine; Editor, Boating Magazine; and various freelance writing and editing roles.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - English

Siena College
Loudonville, NY

Skills

  • Content strategy
  • Audience targeting
  • SEO optimization
  • Email marketing
  • Editing, writing
  • Project management/organization
  • Storytelling
  • Team management
  • Podcasts
  • Content creation for events, thought leadership, marketing videos and campaigns, email campaigns, press releases, ghost writing for experts, editorial packaging, and PR initiatives

Accomplishments

  • Increased inbound leads year over year by 70% (25% less budget)
  • Increased AI search visibility by 90%
  • Conceptualized and launched four local magazines from scratch
  • Built editorial and content teams from the ground-up
  • Created and launched four weekly tax podcasts, recruiting world-renowned global experts to participate in discussions.
  • Created and launched lifestyle podcast, Genius Beats Fear.
  • Responsible for the entire digital marketing & content strategy, including expertly written white papers, articles, and podcasts
  • Named a 2007 Rising Star “40 Under 40” by Westchester Business Council
  • Collaborated with professional services team in the development of Tax Thursday weekly webinar series, which increased marketing qualified leads.
  • Managed teams of 10-15 staff members at various times.
  • To resolve issues of churn and poor reputation, worked with marketing VP and outside agencies to re-brand the company with new look, feel, and messaged commitment to clients.

Timeline

Senior Director, Content Strategy

Exactera
01.2021 - 11.2025

Executive Producer

CrossBorder Solutions (now Exactera)
01.2019 - 01.2021

Freelance Writer

Self-employeed
01.2011 - 01.2018

Features Editor

The Journal News
01.2008 - 01.2011

Earlier Career Highlights

Various Media Companies
06.1993 - 01.2008

Bachelor of Arts - English

Siena College