Michelle Soltesz
Richmond,VA
Summary
Hard working executive with extensive expertise in the Telecommunications, Media & Entertainment industry, and trusted ally to clients, partners, and internal stakeholders. Expert knowledge in translating business objectives into strategies that tap into the power of marketing automation, campaign optimization, and data analytics to drive buyer journey progression while accelerating business growth, facilitating customer engagement, and driving mission awareness for highly matrixed, global tech companies. Decisive leadership style and strategic approach consistently deliver successful outcomes. Savvy relationship-builder and strong cross-functional collaborator comfortable in highly matrixed, global environments.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Director | Industry Marketing Lead
ACCENTURE
10.2019 - 12.2023
- Responsible for driving the Communications & Media industry-specific marketing strategy in alignment with business growth goals, corporate brand expectations, and vision and mission positioning.
- Managed cross-functional teams for multiple large-scale projects, successfully completing each on time and within budget constraints.
- Served as program strategy lead for company's $2.7M investment in world's largest connectivity ecosystem event, MWC Barcelona, involving close collaboration with cross-functional team of marketing, business, and sales leaders and external entities.
- Strategic approach and program elements combined resulted in exceeding targets by more than 30%.
- Secured $1.5B in tagged opportunities.
- Facilitated 910 client meetings and demos.
- Achieved 1,394 unique client touch points / 22% C-level.
- Conducted 25 content sessions across 8 keynote stages with 33 clients and partners.
- Attained $400M in net new deals.
- Developed team RACIs (“Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed”) and assessed internal candidates' readiness for next level of visibility as well as program participation.
- Skilled team advocate comfortable providing actionable feedback and shared best practices.
- Established strong relationships with key industry partners including AWS, Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce, creating mutually beneficial opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Senior Manager, Field Marketing
JUNIPER NETWORKS
10.2014 - 01.2019
- Established strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, ensuring long-term partnerships and repeat business.
- Marketing relationship owner with NASCAR league team, Joe Gibbs Racing responsible for sponsorship contract activation including hosting clients, creation of branded assets for marketing & PR purposes and management of employee attendance in conjunction with race dates.
- Achieved $7.8 million in deal support, post-race closed-won and post-race new pipeline combined and achieved preferred vendor status with Philadelphia-based Communication Service Provider (CSP) Comcast.
- Directed domestic and international cable technology boards with event KPIs that consistently included scores of 5 our of 5 for overall effectiveness and strong c-level relationships.
- Marketing lead for sponsorship of US Paralympic Ski Team and athlete Stephen Lawler.
Director of Marketing
OCTOSHAPE LTD (Acquired by Akamai Technologies)
10.2013 - 09.2014
- Defined / delivered market shaping, demand, and sales enablement strategies for OTT / Broadband TV start-up resulting in increased sales and market share.
- In-depth understanding of video transmission technologies including fiber, satellite, CDN and OTT.
- Boosted brand awareness by implementing targeted marketing campaigns and strategic partnerships. Key client wins campaigns included International Paralympic Committee's related to streaming Sochi 2014 Paralympic winter games, and European Broadcasting Union.
Marketing and Business Development Director, Global Media Events
LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS (Acquired by Century Link then renamed Lumen)
01.2005 - 01.2013
- Drove revenue growth through effective business development initiatives and partnership building.
- Developed funnel for video contribution, broadcast, and distribution services targeting broadcasters, sports leagues, agencies, and federations.
- Created account strategy that included in-depth analysis of customer's TV / internet rights-holding assets.
- Attained $1,095,780.00 in pipeline development in conjunction with launch of Global Media Events campaign.
- Negotiated high-value contracts with vendors and partners, securing favorable terms for company's long-term success.
- Generated $30k in revenue associated with services-in-kind tech partnership with International Triathlon Union (ITU).
- Led marketing campaign designed to welcome broadcast network clients, including ABC, CBS, NBC, and ESPN, to their new service provide
- Tactics included executive level communications and networking events.
- Increased brand awareness by developing and executing strategic marketing plans.
- Enhanced customer engagement with targeted marketing campaigns and promotional events.
Marketing Director of Video Transmission Subsidiary, Genesis Solutions
LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS (Acquired by Century Link then renamed Lumen)
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Served as member of pre-acquisition and integration team of Genesis Networks by Global Crossing.
- Boosted brand awareness for global video contribution and distribution solutions by developing and implementing strategic marketing campaigns designed to transition one brand into another while maintaining high level of new employee engagement and support.
- Managed annual marketing budget, ensuring cost-effective allocation of resources for maximum impact.
- Achieved market penetration through planning and execution of demonstration events in Sao Paulo and Argentina, attended by 15 and 12 customers, respectively.
- Established partnerships with key industry influencers to amplify brand reach and credibility.
Broadcast Media Relations Manager
CA TECHNOLOGIES (Acquired by Broadcom, then HPE)
10.1996 - 01.2003
- Served as on-site guide and relationship manager for global broadcast media, during annual user forum and industry event for multi-billion-dollar tech company.
- Responsibilities included optimizing broadcast media's presence, engagement, and experience by providing talk-tracks and b-roll assets, cost savings through locally sourced production equipment and support, and access to relevant executives for interviews.
- 25,000 attendees including 5,000 journalists
- Broadcast Partner representation from CNN International, BBC (UK), ITV (UK), ORF (Austria), DR (Denmark), CANAL + (France), RAI (Italy), ZDF (Germany), TV2 (Spain), TV1 (Sweden), FTTV (UK), CCTV (China), NOS (Netherlands), SABC (South Africa), NPR (US), FOX (US).
- Corporate PR liaison and relationship point of contact for sport industry sponsorships with Formula One team West/McLaren/Mercedes (Ron Dennis), and America's Cup syndicate Stars & Stripes (Dennis Connor).
- Responsible for sponsorship contract activation including coordination of client events, maximizing use of F1 branded assets for marketing, PR, and sales enablement tools, and other VIP activity.
- Liaison between /Formula One Management group and TAG McLaren Marketing Services team, specific to securing media rights for sponsor TV interview with BSkyB and F1 driver during Monza test session.
- Compellingly distilled and demystified complex tech stories into pitches for broadcast media.
- Earned media placements across global broadcast media including PBS, CNN, BSKYB, and many others.
Education
Bachelor of Arts -
University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, UNC Hussman School of Journalism And Media
Chapel Hill, NCSkills
- Resources Allocation
- Process Improvement
- Key Relationship Management
- Program Development
- Expense Control
- Project Management
- Event Strategy and Execution
- Strategic Planning
- Campaign Planning
- Messaging / Positioning
- Sport Marketing / Sponsorship Contract Activation
- Relationship Building
- Team Collaboration and Leadership
- Media Relations
- Contract Management
- Budget Management
Websites
Additional Information
Varsity member of the UNC Women's Track & Field Team; soccer mom and ardent Lionel Messi fan
Timeline
Associate Director | Industry Marketing Lead
ACCENTURE
10.2019 - 12.2023
Senior Manager, Field Marketing
JUNIPER NETWORKS
10.2014 - 01.2019
Director of Marketing
OCTOSHAPE LTD (Acquired by Akamai Technologies)
10.2013 - 09.2014
Marketing Director of Video Transmission Subsidiary, Genesis Solutions
LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS (Acquired by Century Link then renamed Lumen)
01.2010 - 01.2011
Marketing and Business Development Director, Global Media Events
LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS (Acquired by Century Link then renamed Lumen)
01.2005 - 01.2013
Broadcast Media Relations Manager
CA TECHNOLOGIES (Acquired by Broadcom, then HPE)
10.1996 - 01.2003
Bachelor of Arts -
University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, UNC Hussman School of Journalism And Media