Overview
Stephen leads the brand strategy function at Sustena, identifying the key insights that shape a company’s brand foundation. Having grown from a curious intern to a senior leader, Stephen is responsible for managing, teaching, and driving innovation in Sustena’s customer research process. He is also a writer with a talent for cutting through the clutter to hone in on a brand’s most differentiated attributes. Â
Experience
Stephen has over a decade of experience in brand strategy, leading brand research, repositioning, and messaging efforts for large technology and business services brands, as well as PE-backed mid-market leaders in finance, software, consulting, and the non-profit arena. Stephen is an expert in Sustena’s strategic branding and research process and serves as a teacher and guide to new strategists. Stephen’s skills also extend into writing and strategic communications, helping companies find the right path and voice to stand apart in their market.
Stephen was the lead strategist for rebranding a childcare technology platform that was then acquired for $1.75 billion in 2024. Stephen also led the repositioning of a fintech market leader in the digital lending transformation space, which was acquired for €231 million in 2020. 
Outside of the office
When Stephen steps away from his desk, you might find him spending time with his wife Chantee and their son Nathaniel, enjoying an old video game, or sitting down to run a game of Dungeons & Dragons with friends and family. Â
Education and service
Stephen received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a double major in History and Arabic Language. He was also the first UNC undergraduate to receive the Center for Arabic Study Abroad grant to take graduate-level courses at the American University in Cairo. Â
