Strategic Messaging & Brand Consultant

Marni Burns

I help companies turn complex data into clear stories that drive product decisions and business investment. 17+ years translating customer insights, market research, and cross-functional data into strategic narratives that align teams and move decisions forward.

Data Storytelling & Insight Synthesis

From noise to narrative

I synthesize multi-source data — CSAT scores, customer feedback, market research, journey maps — into strategic narratives that connect customer insight to business priorities. My work enables leadership teams to make confident product investment and go-to-market decisions backed by clear, evidence-based storylines.

Strategic Positioning & Brand Strategy

Differentiation that drives decisions

I define how companies stand apart in crowded markets through research-backed frameworks, competitive analysis, and customer insight. From repositioning established brands to launching new market narratives, I build the strategic foundation that product, marketing, and leadership teams can execute against.

Mixed-Use Development Company

Research-driven brand strategy for large-scale urban development

Led comprehensive qualitative and quantitative customer and competitor research to establish brand strategy and positioning framework for a large-scale mixed-use development combining residential and retail components. Synthesized customer interviews, market surveys, and competitive landscape analysis into strategic positioning recommendations that addressed the unique challenges of creating a cohesive brand for a property functioning as a self-contained urban environment. Developed messaging architecture that aligned internal stakeholders around clear market differentiation.

Hercules Campus

Research-driven positioning strategy

Led comprehensive stakeholder research, competitive analysis, and qualitative analysis to develop a positioning strategy for a historic adaptive-reuse campus. Synthesized architectural, cultural, and market data into a strategic narrative that attracted Google as anchor tenant, drove 85% pre-leasing before groundbreaking, and informed capital partner investment decisions.

Kaiser Permanente

Strategy-to-creative translation

Partnered with strategic teams to translate market perception data and emerging wellness narratives into compelling creative concepts. Developed award-winning campaign execution that connected preventative care insights to consumer needs, driving improved enrollment and brand trust.

Let's work together.

I partner with leadership teams at technology, real estate, healthcare, and manufacturing companies — from Fortune 500 to high-growth private firms. If you need someone to make sense of your data and turn it into a story your teams can act on, let's talk.