Kirsten Nelson

Current

Director, Web Content at Business Marketing Association of Northern California
Corporate Storyteller; Managing Consultant at Clear Ink

Past

Marketing Manager at Vyatta
Web Editorial Manager at Interwoven
Group Marcom Manager at Adobe Systems, Inc

Marketing Communications Manager at V A Linux (now VA Software)
Marketing/Product Marketing Manager at Apple Computer, Inc

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2 more...

Education

San Jose State University
University of California, Berkeley
University College Dublin

University of Michigan

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1 more...

Recommended

4 people have recommended Kirsten

Connections

295 connections

Industry

Computer Software

Websites

My Company

Kirsten Nelson’s Summary

More than 15 years experience in global technology marketing with Fortune 500 companies and start-ups, for products including Macintosh computers, Windows and Linux applications, and operating systems.

Expert in transforming general product messages into clear, compelling, solutions to real-world customer problems, developing specifications and creative briefs, delivering thought leadership, sales tools, product collateral, events, customer reference case studies, PR/AR, speeches and presentations.

Managed teams of marketing managers at Adobe to create enterprise voice and collateral; managed $4M annual marketing budget for VA Linux for PR/AR, events, demand generation, product launches, and branding; managed customer and developer participation in Apple PR activities.

Kirsten Nelson’s Specialties:

Marketing problem-solver, skilled people/budget/project manager, full range of marketing communications disciplines, web marketing, email marketing, event, PR, newsletters, exceptional developmental editor, experience in Open Source software and hardware, network storage, services marketing, vendor management, planning, Macintosh, Windows, Linux, Unix

Kirsten Nelson’s Experience

Director, Web Content

Business Marketing Association of Northern California

(Non-Profit; Marketing and Advertising industry)

July 2007 — Present (1 year 4 months)

Review all new web content, design content specifications, serve on board of directors
Corporate Storyteller; Managing Consultant

Clear Ink

(Marketing and Advertising industry)

December 1993 — Present (14 years 11 months)

Through my consulting firm, Clear Ink and as an employee at companies including Adobe and Apple, I bring more than fifteen years experience with all aspects of technology marketing communications.

From product ideas, corporate pitches, and business speak, I create clear, compelling marketing tools. I find the spark that makes people's eyes light up, figure out exactly who cares about a product--and why. Then, I translate from technical and business into simple, direct language that makes customers and prospects respond. By identifying each audience you need to talk to, and speaking their language, I help you break through the clutter and get better results from your marketing budget.

Clients include: IBM, Apple, Oracle, Sybase, Borland, Inprise, Silicon Valley Bank, and many start-ups.

Projects cover the full range of marketing communications deliverables in collateral and programs.
Marketing Manager

Vyatta

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Computer Networking industry)

May 2007 — October 2007 (6 months)

Created corporate & product messaging for open-source, Linux-based networking alternative to Cisco products
Managed partner portal and communications
Rolled out low-cost, highly effective national program of vertical trade shows & high-touch customer events
Wrote Award-winning customer case study
Recruited and managed customer references for sales, PR, and product input
Created sales tools for networking products including router, firewall, VPN
Produced elling guide for telecommunications market--WISP, ISP, colos, service providers
Web Editorial Manager

Interwoven

(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; IWOV; Computer Software industry)

2006 — April 2007 (1 year)

As consultant, managed complete content revision of corporate web site: products, solutions, company info; managed copy, hired writers, developed technical specifications, templates; evaluated design and recommended changes/new structures; facilitated metadata-driven design; collaborated and contributed to branding, messaging, positioning for products, business solutions and key vertical markets
Group Marcom Manager

Adobe Systems, Inc

(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; ADBE; Computer Software industry)

April 2004 — February 2006 (1 year 11 months)

Managed group of 3 permanent, plus additional contract marketing managers in enterprise organization that targeted vertical markets: financial services, life sciences/health care, government, architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing.
Marketing Communications Manager

V A Linux (now VA Software)

(Public Company; 201-500 employees; LNUX; Computer Software industry)

2000 — 2001 (1 year)

Senior marketing communications role. Managed $4M annual marketing budget
Delivered marketing communications for hardware, software, and professional services
Managed custom research on compute clusters and network attached storage
Marketing/Product Marketing Manager

Apple Computer, Inc

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; AAPL; Computer Hardware industry)

1987 — 1993 (6 years)

Saved $150,000 and improved impact as manager of MacWorld tradeshow
Co-managed extensive customer beta program
Met/exceeded quota each month as account executive
Wrote white paper on memory allocation
Positioned developer tools and UNIX product for education customers

Kirsten Nelson’s Education

San Jose State University

MBA, Executive, 1999 — 2001
University of California, Berkeley

M. A., English

Activities and Societies:

Graduate Instructor
University College Dublin

M. A., Anglo-Irish Literature and Drama
University of Michigan

B. A., cum laude, English