Kristen Kirst
Kristen Kirst is a recognized marketing and communications professional and has served as a senior leader for more than twenty years to internationally renowned organizations in the corporate, international healthcare, higher education, and non-profit sector including the Clinton Foundation, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Texas Christian University, March of Dimes, Media Ventures Group, Medical Teams International, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the VFW, and Seattle University.
Kristen has a proven record of leadership and success in brand development, strategic marketing and communications, management and operations, campaign fundraising and corporate partner engagement. Kristen’s experience includes cause marketing campaigns and strategies, as well as securing and managing major corporate partnerships including COORS Brewing Company, Buffalo Wild Wings, Roadway International, Lionsgate Media and Clear Channel Communications. She has dedicated her career to building relationships, teams and initiatives that result in passion, growth, recognized visibility and community support for outstanding organizations and missions.
Prior to joining Ogilvy, she served as the Vice President for Marketing and Communication at Salem Academy and College and shortly before that interim role, Kristen served as the Director of Strategic Communication and Engagement for Seattle University focused on promoting and strengthening the university's brand and reputation. During her tenure at Seattle U, Kristen served as a senior team member leading marketing and communications for key initiatives notably including their historic $300 million comprehensive campaign. During her tenure, her team received multiple national awards for their marketing and communication work.
During her career, Kristen served as the Senior Vice-President for Media Ventures Group, a cause marketing agency in NYC, known for innovative marketing, entertainment and sports marketing, digital and social media, media partnerships, data optimization and mobile giving. She also served as Director of Development for Medical Teams International, an internationally recognized organization focused on disaster, conflict, and poverty. At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Kristen was responsible for developing and securing several key national visibility campaigns.
Kristen received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and her graduate degree from Texas Christian University.
She has served on several boards including the Alzheimer's Association, University of Arizona's Wildcats for Life and is a former Trustee of Seattle’s Fulcrum Foundation, where she founded AMICI, the organization’s Young Professional’s Group. She also served as a Trustee, and was later elected as the national President, for the Sigma Kappa Foundation, which has granted more than $15 million in Alzheimer’s disease research.