Shane Adams - Strategy & Story
Stories worth telling.
Strategies worth pursuing.
Good marketing starts with a clear strategy and a compelling story. Getting there shouldn't be more complicated than it needs to be.
I help organizations find their focus, tell better stories, and make smarter marketing decisions. With more than 25 years of experience across some of the world's most recognized brands, higher education, nonprofits, and agencies, I bring senior-level perspective without unnecessary complexity.
Let's talk about what you're working on →
The right marketing.
Not all the marketing.
More isn't always better.
More campaigns. More channels. More content. More meetings about all those things.
Sometimes the smartest marketing decision is figuring out what not to do.
I work with organizations that need experienced thinking, a fresh perspective, or a little help connecting the dots. Whether you're building a brand, navigating change, or trying to figure out what comes next, we'll start with the problem you're actually trying to solve.
Then we'll build a strategy that makes sense for your organization, your audience, and your resources.
No unnecessary complexity. No one-size-fits-all playbooks. Just thoughtful work that moves things forward.
What I Do
Strategy
Know where you're going.
Strong marketing starts with knowing what matters. I help organizations identify opportunities, clarify their positioning, understand their audiences, and develop practical plans for growth.
Brand strategy, marketing planning, go-to-market strategy, audience development, and strategic assessments.
Story
Give people a reason to care.
Every organization has a story. The challenge is finding the one that matters to the people you're trying to reach.
I help organizations discover what makes them different and translate that into clear, compelling communications.
Brand messaging, storytelling, content strategy, executive communications, and campaign development.
Leadership
Turn good thinking into meaningful progress.
Sometimes you don't need another agency. You need someone who's been there before.
I provide experienced marketing leadership, strategic guidance, and hands-on partnership to help teams navigate challenges, make decisions, and move important work forward.
Fractional marketing leadership, executive advisory, team development, and strategic project leadership.
A Little About Me
I've spent more than 25 years working in marketing, which means I've seen a lot of good ideas, a few spectacularly bad ones, and more PowerPoint presentations than any reasonable person should endure.
My career has taken me through brands like AMC Theatres and Chipotle, higher education leadership at Graceland University, nonprofit marketing, and agency strategy.
Along the way, I've led teams, developed brands, built marketing programs, navigated organizational change, and learned that the best solutions usually start with better questions.
I'm a strategist by profession and a writer by nature. I believe good marketing should be thoughtful, grounded in what makes people tick, and built around stories worth telling.
I also believe there's no reason we can't enjoy the work along the way.
Let's Make Something Meaningful.
You don't need to have all the answers before we talk. In fact, figuring out the right questions is often where the most valuable work begins.
Whether you're facing a specific marketing challenge, exploring a new opportunity, or simply looking for an experienced perspective, I'd love to hear what you're working on.