Sara Otepka

• General partner leading operations for a start-up studio and venture fund to build companies that help people lead happier, healthier, and more productive lives.
• Created and launched studio lab ideation, prototype, build, and GTM processes.

• Built and expanded one Core Power Yoga studio into the third largest national yoga studio operator with 35 studios.
• Served as investor/advisor from 2008 to 2020 and as CEO of the franchisee holding from 2020 to 2022. Led a 1,400-person team through Covid closures and re-openings and a complete transition to franchisor.
• Exited with a private equity sell and franchisor acquisition in 2023.

• General partner leading operations for a growth fund to build and operate health, wellness, and lifestyle offerings, with a focus on scaling local services. $150M under management; invested in and operating franchisees for 6 portfolio companies.
• Created and ran the Accelerated Services team to scale local market expertise into both corporate owned and franchise site growth by investing in our people, processes, and a centralizing operating platform leveraged across Level 5 portfolio companies.
• Served as Operating Partner in CEO, CMO and COO roles to build capabilities as both franchisor and franchisee.

• Acquired majority interest in a local business and built a franchise platform to scale from 3 corporate-owned sites to 150 franchisees sold.
• Served as CMO to build franchisor brand, creative assets and guidelines, and franchisee marketing playbook and support functions.

Head of Prime Now's Partner Business (Marketing and Product), 2015-2018.

• Built and led a team of product managers to invent and innovate mobile shopping features and ultra-fast delivery services on behalf of our partner sellers.
• Built and led a team of marketers to open and grow our partners' stores and businesses on the Amazon Prime Now platform.

Head of Programs and Analytics for Amazon Diversity, 2014-2015.

• Partnered with Amazon business units to strategize, prioritize, and implement DEI initiatives.

Head of Product, Amazon Mobile Shopping App, 2013-2014.

• Managed team of product managers across three locales to design, develop, and release mobile shopping application features.
• Invented and drove requirements for how Amazon customers shop on mobile devices.
• Responsible for building and deploying mobile shopping features and processes into each Amazon line of business.

Head of Go-to-Market (GTM), Echo and Alexa, 2012-2013.

• Created and implemented go-to-market strategy for Amazon's newest digital product, including positioning, pricing, cross-channel marketing, PR, customer service operations, beta rollout plan, and financial and unit sales forecast.
• Led the first launch plan for the Echo device and Alexa services, defining the way Amazon communicated who Alexa is and how she improves the lives of our customers.

European General Manager, Kindle Devices and Accessories Go-To-Market (GTM), Luxembourg 2010-2012

• Built and managed team of 20+ people to introduce Kindle devices and accessories in Amazon’s European marketplaces (six devices in UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy).
• Created go-to-market strategy for each device and marketplace launch, including positioning, pricing, cross-channel marketing, PR, supply and ship plan, and customer service operations.
• Responsible for financial and unit sales goals, design and messaging, and every European Kindle marketing campaign, including email, social media, associate sales, SEM, and SEO.
• Set up best practice and process in Europe: led 'invent and simplify' initiatives for automating translations, website analytics, launch processes, and tools implementation.
• Pioneered a new translation process to create and manage the Kindle brand in Europe. Ensured consistent and compelling messaging in six languages across hardware, software, packaging, website, and retail campaigns, email, social media, PR, and print, OOH, and TV ads.
• P&L ownership of the European Kindle accessories business. Drove team of in-stock, product, marketing, and vendor managers to negotiate deals with vendors, bring new accessories products to market, drive demand, and reduce supply chain complexity and costs.
• Drove European accessories demand planning, forecast, and in-stock team and process. Created inventory model and build plan: Europe's first real-time tracking of supply and demand variables to ensure optimal inventory levels.

Kindle Product Management, Marketing, GTM, and Customer Service, 2006-2010.

• Lead first Kindle e-ink device, content store, and tablet product launches.
• Managed all merchandising and marketing planning and implementation on Amazon.com.
• Created and managed analytics and reporting, and led weekly business reviews.
• Created Kindle customer service operations, policies, and customer-facing messaging.
• Pioneered Kindle's first automated email campaign and managed email marketing.
• Promoted to Head of Accessories Category: launched Kindle Accessories platform and built selection across manufacturers, vendors, and merchant partners. Managed buying team to meet aggressive in-stock, revenue, and margin goals. Managed editorial team to merchandise via website and email campaigns.
• Won Kaizen Door Desk, awarded for innovations in Kindle customer service.

Retail Product Manager, 2005-2006.

• Doubled Automotive Merchant business and launched Business Merchant platform: Recommended and implemented a process for lead generation and merchant onboarding to negotiate/integrate categories' largest and most strategic merchant.
• Won Amazon Services Star Partner, awarded by Sales team to the most supportive Product Manager.ger.