Lars Kongshem

Lars Kongshem

Director, Online Marketing & Customer Experience at Symantec

San Francisco Bay Area

Current
  • Director, Online Marketing & Customer Experience at Symantec
Past
  • Sr. Manager, Online Editorial Strategy at Symantec
  • Manager of Online Editorial Strategy at Symantec
  • Freelance Writer & Editor at Kongshem.com (Sole Proprietorship)
  • Senior Editor at Scholastic
  • Director of Content at Simplexis
  • Technology Editor & Online Manager at National School Boards Association
  • Editorial Assistant at ASCD
Education
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
  • American University
  • United World College of the Atlantic
Connections
298 connections
Industry
Online Media
Websites

Lars Kongshem’s Summary

Internet and media professional with more than 15 years of experience in online business strategies, web content development, and online & print publishing. Solution-driven innovator with strong skills in strategic planning, operations management, and relationship building. Award-winning journalist and editor with deep domain expertise in technology issues.

• Led the website content integration strategy for Symantec's $10.25 billion acquisition of Veritas Software, one of the largest software company mergers in history.
• Hired, managed, and led the web content & production team for three successful Symantec.com website redesign and launch projects (Enterprise, SMB, and Business) over a period of two years.
• Developed and executed the editorial strategy for the launch of a successful national technology magazine at Scholastic Inc.

Lars Kongshem’s Specialties:

Web strategy, online marketing, customer experience, content strategy, online publishing, user experience, B2B, product marketing, web development, project management, magazine publishing, editing, writing.


Lars Kongshem’s Experience

  • Director, Online Marketing & Customer Experience

    Symantec

    (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; SYMC; Computer Software industry)

    December 2007Present (10 months)

    • Define and drive the online strategy for the Business customer segment of the world’s fourth largest software company.
    • Lead a team of 13 web marketing professionals with responsibility for 3,000+ web pages that generate 11 million page views per month.
    • Develop, articulate, and execute plans to enhance the online experience for Business customers.
    • Drive M&A web integration planning and execution.

  • Sr. Manager, Online Editorial Strategy

    Symantec

    (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; SYMC; Computer Software industry)

    May 2007December 2007 (8 months)

    • Drove the website content strategy and execution for Symantec's redesigned Business website.
    • Built an eight-person online content team that achieved a nine-fold improvement in execution speed on web content maintenance requests.
    • Led the global online editorial strategy for the redesign of symantec.com.

  • Manager of Online Editorial Strategy

    Symantec

    (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; SYMC; Computer Software industry)

    January 2004May 2007 (3 years 5 months)

    • Led the website content integration strategy for Symantec's $10.25 billion acquisition of Veritas Software, one of the largest software company mergers in history.
    • Hired, managed, and led the web content & production team for the launch and ongoing maintenance of Symantec's redesigned Enterprise and SMB marketing websites.
    • Created and maintained the online editorial calendar and developed online editorial themes aligned with business and marketing objectives.
    • Developed a consistent editorial voice for the site and ensured the effective delivery of content and messaging online.
    • Guided content localization strategy to ensure effective global processes.

  • Freelance Writer & Editor

    Kongshem.com (Sole Proprietorship)

    (Sole Proprietorship; Myself Only; Writing and Editing industry)

    February 2001January 2004 (3 years)

    • Wrote magazine feature articles and columns on technology and education topics for Ziff Davis, CDW-G, the National School Boards Association, and other national publishers.
    • Authored press releases, case studies, and market research for leading technology vendors in the education market -- including Palm, Chancery Software, and Plato Learning.
    • Provided strategic consulting services to education technology vendors and publications.

  • Senior Editor

    Scholastic

    (Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; SCHL; Publishing industry)

    June 2001September 2003 (2 years 4 months)

    • Developed and executed the editorial strategy for the launch of Scholastic Administr@tor magazine.
    • Shaped the magazine's editorial direction during its initial 18 months of publication, and laid a successful foundation for its transition from a quarterly to a bimonthly publication schedule.
    • Built a network of writers; assigned and edited articles.
    • Wrote cover stories, feature articles, and departments.
    • Served as the public face of the magazine at industry conferences and events.

  • Director of Content

    Simplexis

    (Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Internet industry)

    April 2000January 2001 (10 months)

    • Managed daily operations and content updates for the company's corporate website.
    • Developed content strategy for school procurement web portal.
    • Created content alliances and partnerships with leading news publishers.
    • Wrote and edited marketing copy and web application user-interface content.
    • Collaborated with web developers for a redesign of the corporate website.

  • Technology Editor & Online Manager

    National School Boards Association

    (Non-Profit; 51-200 employees; Publishing industry)

    February 1991April 2000 (9 years 3 months)

    • Wrote award-winning cover stories and feature articles for NSBA's magazines – Electronic School and American School Board Journal.
    • Spearheaded the magazines' editorial coverage of technology in education.
    • Pioneered and led online publishing initiatives for NSBA magazines, including the launch of a companion website for Electronic School magazine in 1995.
    • Developed, produced, and edited the magazine websites.
    • Led the magazine websites to numerous online awards and distinctions from organizations such as Encyclopedia Britannica and The Wall Street Journal.

  • Editorial Assistant

    ASCD

    (Non-Profit; 51-200 employees; Publishing industry)

    November 1989February 1991 (1 year 4 months)

    • Wrote and edited magazine articles for Educational Leadership, ASCD’s membership magazine.
    • Edited and proofread ASCD books and professional journals.


Lars Kongshem’s Education

  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

    Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Communication Studies, 19851989

  • American University

    Audio Technology 19841985

  • United World College of the Atlantic

    International Baccalaureate, 19821984


Additional Information

Lars Kongshem’s Websites:

Lars Kongshem’s Honors:

• Symantec Spotlight Award, 2007.
• Symantec A++ Award, 2007.
• Symantec A++ Award, 2004.
• Society of National Association Publications Excel Bronze Award, 1998.
• Society of National Association Publications Excel Silver Award, 1997.
• Society of National Association Publications Excel Bronze Award, 1996.
• Society of National Association Publications Excel Gold Award, 1995.


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