Marketing Leader Driving Growth Through Storytelling & Strategy
I’m a marketing strategist and brand storyteller with a love for building campaigns that are equal parts creative and effective. Over the past 8+ years, I’ve led product launches, shaped strategy, crafted high-performing content, and helped brands find clearer, stronger ways to connect with their audiences.
Whether it’s translating technical products into compelling messaging, optimizing campaigns through data insights, or aligning cross-functional teams around a shared vision, I enjoy bringing structure and storytelling together to create meaningful growth.
When I’m offline, I’m probably traveling, hiking, petting a dog, or watching Top Chef.
Rejected novelist since 2017.
Strengths
Brand & Growth Strategy
I build marketing strategies that connect business goals with measurable growth. From product launches and go-to-market planning to audience positioning and campaign optimization, I thrive at identifying opportunities, aligning cross-functional teams, and creating clear paths forward. My approach combines market insight, creative thinking, and execution-focused leadership to drive meaningful business results.
Content & Messaging
Words matter — especially when you’re trying to make technical, crowded, or overly complicated things feel approachable. I’ve written everything from product launch campaigns and emails to landing pages and long-form storytelling pieces, always with the goal of making people stop scrolling, pay attention, and actually understand the value behind a brand.
Creative Direction
I love the process of taking an idea from “rough concept” to something polished, cohesive, and memorable. Sometimes that looks like campaign development, sometimes it’s visual direction, and sometimes it’s finding the one headline that suddenly makes everything click. The best creative work should feel intentional, not just aesthetically good.
Insights & Optimization
I focus on translating performance data into strategic advantage. By analyzing metrics, engagement trends, campaign outcomes, and customer behavior, I identify not just what is happening, but why it’s happening. I treat data as a decision-making framework—using it to refine strategy, uncover growth opportunities, and continuously improve marketing effectiveness over time.
Portfolio
Web & Digital Experience
Coming Soon
Outcomes & Impact
PreatLoc™ Product Launch
Coming Soon
Tall Ship ELISSA Audio Tour
Coming Soon
References & Testimonials
Steve Clareen,
Vice President,
Young Innovations
What stood out about Rachael wasn't just that she delivered — it was how she delivered. Operating in a lean environment with constrained resources, she found ways to stretch budgets without compromising outcomes, consistently coming in on time and under budget while maintaining the quality of work you'd expect from a team twice her size.
What makes Rachael exceptional is her learning agility. She picks up new markets, new stakeholders, and new product categories quickly — and she doesn't wait to be told what to do with that knowledge. She's a self-starter who moves from insight to action with a bias toward momentum. Strategically, she asks the right questions before building the plan, and she balances creative ambition with the operational rigor to actually execute it.
For any organization looking to scale a brand or break into a new market with limited resources and high expectations, Rachael is exactly the type of talent that makes it happen. I recommend her without reservation.
Alisa Santiesteban,
Director of Marketing,
Can Do MS
“I rarely come across magnetic storytellers who stand out like Rachael. I had the pleasure of working with Rachael for three years at Can Do Multiple Sclerosis. She elevated social engagement, cultivated relationships and brought their stories to life, and directed development activities that increased individual giving by over 100%. She owns the ability to communicate with clarity and emotion and brings with her a compelling mix of creative and analytical skills. She is a remarkable observer, her marketing intuition is dialed, and her attention to detail (and grammar!) is stellar. When she takes a campaign from idea to reality, she will own that project fully and deliver excellence every time. Most importantly, she's a valuable colleague and a truly great person.”
John Polikandriotis,
CEO,
Vail-Summit Orthopedics
"Rachael and I first began working together over 2 years ago, and she continues to grow in responsibility. I interacted frequently with her and can attest to her commitment to achieving goals, team work ethic, and organizational skills while also being approachable. It is a genuine pleasure for me to recommend Rachael Protas. I am very grateful for her contributions to our organization and very confident that she has the drive, passion, and skills to add immense value wherever she works."
Megan Buhler,
VP of Operations,
Vail-Summit Orthopedics
"Rachael is an asset to any team! I have had the pleasure of working with her for the past two years and was continually impressed with her ability to manage multiple projects, external partnerships and quick deadlines with ease. She has a magnetic personality and is a joy to work with even in stressful times. She always has a smile on her face and some quick wit and humor to go with it! I hope to work with her again in the future, but in the meantime I would highly recommend her for any creative marketing position."
Kent Ebersole,
Strategic Brand Specialist,
Can Do MS
"Rachael and I worked together on SKI for MS, and she was pure joy to work along-side. Smart, witty, and a wonderful communicator, but what really makes her great is her ability to simply "get it" and take quick and appropriate action."
Tyra Rudrud,
Client,
Engel & Völkers
"Rachael was an amazing asset to my team at Engel & Völkers. She was bright, knowledgeable, and committed to excellence. Freelancing with Rachael as my Marketing Manager meant that assets were always delivered on time, on budget, aligned with corporate brand standards. She was my "go-to" person when I need marketing advice or a 2nd opinion. It has been nothing but a pleasure getting to work with her and know her."