Sarah Cargill, Management Consultant in Portland, OR, United States
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Sarah Cargill

Management Consulting Expert

Portland, OR, United States

Toptal member since July 15, 2024

Expertise
Business Plan WritingPitch Deck ConsultingBusiness Development
Bio

A management consultant trusted by retail, consumer, and technology leaders to create go-to-market solutions, Sarah held leadership roles at global brands (Slalom, Nike, and Confluent), consulted with industry giants (Columbia Sportswear, AT&T, and Charles Schwab), and built strategic alliances (AWS, Microsoft, and Google). Sarah is experienced in strategy, operations, experience, design, brand, communications, organization, capability, program, change, culture, learning, sales, and marketing.

Career Highlights

Managing Director
Statement Co.
Director
Slalom

Case Studies

Expertise

  • AI Consulting
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Business & Digital Transformation
  • Change Management
  • Cross-functional Team Leadership
  • Executive Communication
  • Go-to-market (GTM) Strategies
  • Storytelling

Work Experience

Managing Director

2024 - PRESENT
Statement Co.
  • Led an independent consultancy in transforming and growing businesses through strategy, operations, brand, communications, change management, and storytelling.
  • Orchestrated an executive workshop to define an artificial intelligence (AI) vision, program charter, use case, and solutions for an identity management company to better support customers with speed, accuracy, and efficiency.
  • Spearheaded a tiered partner program and story to facilitate large-scale partnership conversations to expand consumer, member, and employee access to sustainable, wild-caught seafood and, in turn, grow the direct-to-consumer (DTC) business.
  • Designed a business development partnership story for a pitch deck and trifold mailer to facilitate executive conversations and grow a new client relationship.
  • Facilitated a workshop to co-create a target audience persona, brand statement, story, and aesthetic for a financial coaching executive to enable clarity and confidence in growing a multi-million dollar business.
  • Designed a digital transformation strategy for a beauty brand undergoing a major shift from 10+ years in brick-and-mortar to leading with digital, selling some of the biggest brands in clean beauty.
Focus areas: Strategy, Branding, Communications Management, Change Management, Digital Branding, Consumer Branding, Internal Communications, Marketing Communications (MarCom), Leadership, Team Leadership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Program Management, Operations, Operations Management, Management Consulting, Value Proposition, Change Leadership, Best Practices, Reporting, User Adoption, Coaching, Executive Coaching, CX Strategy, User Personas, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Market Research, Competition Research, Benchmarking, GAP Analysis, Structure & Organizational Design, Organizational Design, Internal Communications, Consulting, AI Adoption, AI Consulting, AI Automation, Storytelling, Creative Strategy, Design, AI Design, Storytelling, Sales Enablement, Gemini, Apple Keynote, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Customer Experience (CX) Design, Team Building, Capability Build-out, Agile, Vision Development, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Roadmaps, Workshops, Job Descriptions, Process Design, Product Management, Interviewing, Impact Assessment, Enterprise Change Management (ECM), Social Media, Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Innovation, Investor Presentations, Visual Storytelling, Advisory, Trusted Advisor, Product Planning, Digital Product Design, Project Management, Product Strategy, Market Research & Analysis, Market Opportunity Analysis, Brand Positioning, Sales, Enterprise Sales, Service Design, Stakeholder Management, Presentations, Pitch Presentations, Client Presentations, Presentation Design, Workshop Facilitation, Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Google Docs, Business Writing, Finance, Retail Strategy, Retail Technology, Design Thinking, Gmail, Google Slides, Google Sheets, Canva, Value Stream Mapping, Training & Training Content Development, Training Content, Microsoft 365, Employee Experience, Business & Digital Transformation, Executive Communication, Digital Transformation, Digital Transformation Program Management, Business Coaching, Leadership Coaching, Team Coaching, Executive Presentations, Pitch Decks, Sales Pitches, Pitch Preparation, Pitch Deck Design, Pitch Deck Consultant, B2B Sales, Consulting, Culture, Corporate Culture, Culture Development, Culture Management, Soft Skills Coaching, Interviews, In-depth Interviews, Stakeholder Interviews

Business Plan Consultant

2026 - 2026
LG NOVA - New Ventures
  • Architected a comprehensive 77-page business plan and foundational roadmap that detailed the go-to-market (GTM) strategy, AI-driven product features, and resourcing requirements to secure executive buy-in.
  • Contributed to a multi-year framework for an AI-first startup within a global Fortune 500 electronics firm, successfully bridging the gap between startup innovation and corporate financial expectations.
  • Partnered with the CEO to refine a structured pitch narrative and high-fidelity visual deck, resulting in a successful "green light" for next-stage funding from internal investment committees.
Focus areas: Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Storytelling, Sales Enablement, Gemini, Apple Keynote, Figma, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Management Consulting, Innovation, Investor Presentations, Visual Storytelling, Advisory, Trusted Advisor, Product Planning, Digital Product Design, Project Management, Product Strategy, Market Opportunity Analysis, Market Research & Analysis, Brand Positioning, Sales, Enterprise Sales, Service Design, Stakeholder Management, Presentations, Pitch Presentations, Client Presentations, Presentation Design, Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Google Docs, Business Writing, Finance, Design Thinking, Gmail, Google Slides, Google Sheets, Canva, Value Proposition, Microsoft 365, Business & Digital Transformation, Executive Communication, Digital Transformation, Digital Transformation Program Management, Business Coaching, Leadership Coaching, Executive Presentations, Pitch Decks, Sales Pitches, Pitch Preparation, Pitch Deck Design, Pitch Deck Consultant, B2B Sales, Consulting

Senior Practice Leader

2023 - 2024
Confluent
  • Led professional services for the West regions across retail, technology, healthcare, telecommunications, and financial services industries, led business development, oversaw project delivery, and managed a consultant team.
  • Sold and oversaw a team delivering a POC for a new cloud-based data streaming solution, gathering requirements, defining migration needs, and demonstrating the value of the technology to achieve business goals in network solutions.
  • Sold and oversaw a team delivering future-state architecture design, migration strategy, and plans to move to a fully managed cloud streaming solution with disaster recovery to create a reliable, cost-effective solution for multi-level marketing.
  • Oversaw a team delivering a current state assessment of environments, remediation recommendations, performance optimization, and a future-state data-in-motion strategy in investment management.
  • Coordinated a team delivering custom connectors, performance optimization of environments, a POC for a fully managed cloud streaming solution, and DR recommendations to create a reliable and scalable trading solution.
Focus areas: Retail Management, Finance, Healthcare IT, Business Development, New Business Development, Client Services, IT Services, Program Management, Operations, Operations Management, Change Management, Change Leadership, Best Practices, Reporting, User Adoption, Coaching, Executive Coaching, Manufacturing, CX Strategy, User Personas, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Market Research, Competition Research, Benchmarking, GAP Analysis, Structure & Organizational Design, Organizational Design, Internal Communications, Consulting, AI Adoption, AI Consulting, Agile, Storytelling, Design, AI Design, COE, Storytelling, Sales Enablement, Apple Keynote, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Data, Team Building, Vision Development, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Roadmaps, Workshops, Job Descriptions, Process Design, Product Management, Interviewing, Impact Assessment, Management Consulting, Enterprise Change Management (ECM), Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Innovation, Investor Presentations, Visual Storytelling, Advisory, Trusted Advisor, Product Planning, Digital Product Design, Project Management, Product Strategy, Market Opportunity Analysis, Market Research & Analysis, Brand Positioning, Sales, Enterprise Sales, Stakeholder Management, Presentations, Pitch Presentations, Client Presentations, Presentation Design, Workshop Facilitation, Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Google Docs, Business Writing, Retail Strategy, Retail Technology, Design Thinking, Gmail, Google Slides, Google Sheets, IT Program Management, Value Proposition, Training, Training & Training Content Development, Training Content, Microsoft 365, Customer Experience, Business & Digital Transformation, Executive Communication, Digital Transformation, Digital Transformation Program Management, Business Coaching, Leadership Coaching, Team Coaching, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Analytics, Executive Presentations, Pitch Decks, Sales Pitches, Pitch Preparation, Pitch Deck Design, Pitch Deck Consultant, B2B Sales, Consulting, Corporate Culture, Culture Development, Culture Management, Soft Skills Coaching

Director

2019 - 2023
Slalom
  • Led management consulting services for large-scale retail accounts, leading business development, selling management consulting services, overseeing project delivery, and leading teams of account managers and consultants.
  • Spearheaded a team in setting up an innovation lab in a technology organization to test new technologies and digital product offerings in partnership with AWS and Salesforce.
  • Directed a human-centered design research program to determine ways to optimize frontline store associates, promoting the store loyalty program.
  • Managed a team in developing a story around the marketing organization's organizational development strategy and plan to deliver multiple work streams, including engagement events, mentorship programs, and people metrics.
Focus areas: Retail Strategy, Retail Management, Retail Technology, Change Management, Communications Management, Business Development, Client Services, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Branding, Digital Branding, Consumer Branding, Internal Communications, Design Thinking, Strategy, Program Management, IT Program Management, Operations, Operations Management, Change Leadership, Instructional Design, Training, Training & Training Content Development, Training Content, Business Strategy, Best Practices, Reporting, User Adoption, Coaching, Executive Coaching, Manufacturing, CX Strategy, User Personas, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Market Research, Competition Research, Benchmarking, GAP Analysis, Structure & Organizational Design, Organizational Design, Internal Communications, Consulting, AI Adoption, Agile, Storytelling, Creative Strategy, Design, AI Design, COE, Storytelling, Sales Enablement, Apple Keynote, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Customer Experience (CX) Design, Data, Team Building, Value Stream Mapping, Capability Build-out, Vision Development, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Roadmaps, Workshops, Job Descriptions, Process Design, Product Management, Interviewing, Impact Assessment, Management Consulting, Enterprise Change Management (ECM), Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Innovation, Investor Presentations, Visual Storytelling, Advisory, Trusted Advisor, Product Planning, Digital Product Design, Project Management, Product Strategy, Market Research & Analysis, Market Opportunity Analysis, Brand Positioning, Sales, Enterprise Sales, Service Design, Stakeholder Management, Presentations, Pitch Presentations, Client Presentations, Presentation Design, Workshop Facilitation, Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Google Docs, Business Writing, Finance, IT Services, Gmail, Google Slides, Google Sheets, Value Proposition, Microsoft 365, Customer Experience, Employee Experience, Business & Digital Transformation, Executive Communication, Digital Transformation, Digital Transformation Program Management, Business Coaching, Leadership Coaching, Team Coaching, Analytics, Executive Presentations, Pitch Decks, Sales Pitches, Pitch Preparation, Pitch Deck Design, Pitch Deck Consultant, B2B Sales, Consulting, Culture, Corporate Culture, Culture Development, Culture Management, Soft Skills Coaching, Interviews, In-depth Interviews, Stakeholder Interviews

Manager

2013 - 2019
Nike
  • Led strategies, quarterly business reviews, budget forecasts, marketing analytics trainings, and authoring and localization spend as chief of staff to the Vice President of Brand Marketing and the Planning and Performance Senior Director.
  • Led change management and communications strategies and tactics to boost engagement and adoption of Nike BIKETOWN, new campus buildings, and new ways of working across 15,000+ employees.
  • Led a change management, communications, and creative team to deliver strategies and tactics to boost adoption of large-scale technology programs, processes, tools, and roles across 2,000+ employees.
Focus areas: Internal Communications, Communications Management, Operations, Change Management, Marketing, Enterprise Change Management (ECM), Agile, Storytelling, Creative Strategy, Design, COE, Storytelling, Apple Keynote, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Customer Experience (CX) Design, Team Building, Vision Development, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Roadmaps, Workshops, Process Design, Interviewing, Impact Assessment, Management Consulting, Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Innovation, Visual Storytelling, Trusted Advisor, Project Management, Market Research & Analysis, Market Opportunity Analysis, Brand Positioning, Stakeholder Management, Presentations, Client Presentations, Presentation Design, Workshop Facilitation, Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Google Docs, Business Writing, Finance, Retail Strategy, Retail Technology, IT Services, Design Thinking, Gmail, Google Slides, Google Sheets, IT Program Management, Value Stream Mapping, Value Proposition, Instructional Design, Training, Training & Training Content Development, Training Content, Microsoft 365, Customer Experience, Employee Experience, Business & Digital Transformation, Executive Communication, Digital Transformation, Digital Transformation Program Management, Business Coaching, Leadership Coaching, Team Coaching, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Analytics, Executive Presentations, Pitch Decks, Consulting, Culture, Corporate Culture, Culture Development, Culture Management, Interviews, In-depth Interviews, Stakeholder Interviews

Principal

2013 - 2015
Cargill Communications
  • Managed an end-to-end consulting business serving 20+ accounts with digital strategies, branding, website builds, communications, social media content creation, and photography.
  • Led creative direction for a comprehensive brand strategy and storytelling, including brand colors, key messages, photography, and website build for an online furniture store, a physician's office, a cycling studio, and a content marketing agency.
  • Led social media marketing management, including campaign planning, content creation, and design for an education and training business, a cycling studio, and a women's business network.
Focus areas: Marketing Communications (MarCom), Communications Management, Branding, Social Media, Storytelling, Creative Strategy, Design, Storytelling, Apple Keynote, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Interviewing, Management Consulting, Visual Storytelling, Brand Positioning, Stakeholder Management, Presentations, Client Presentations, Presentation Design, Workshop Facilitation, Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Google Docs, Business Writing, Gmail, Google Slides, Google Sheets, Journalism, Microsoft 365, Executive Communication, Business Coaching, Leadership Coaching, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Executive Presentations, Consulting, In-depth Interviews

Manager

2011 - 2013
Getting Smart
  • Led social media, digital, and public relations strategies and tactics for the education consulting firm and its clients, such as McGraw-Hill and MIND Research Institute.
  • Developed a network of 175+ writers, landing articles on Psychology Today and The Huffington Post.
  • Interviewed Bill Nye the Science Guy, Jeb Bush, and Sal Khan.
Focus areas: Public Relations (PR), Marketing, Communications Management, Social Media, Storytelling, Creative Strategy, Design, Storytelling, Apple Keynote, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Interviewing, Management Consulting, Visual Storytelling, Brand Positioning, Stakeholder Management, Presentations, Client Presentations, Presentation Design, Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Google Docs, Business Writing, Gmail, Google Slides, Google Sheets, Journalism, Microsoft 365, Executive Communication, Executive Presentations, Consulting, Interviews, In-depth Interviews

Specialist

2010 - 2011
Inspiration Software
  • Managed social media strategy and content creation for the corporate blog, social media channels, podcasts, webinars, and sweepstakes.
  • Ghost-wrote thought leadership articles for the president of the organization.
  • Designed and managed a top-tier customer relationship program.
Focus areas: Marketing, Social Media, Storytelling, Creative Strategy, Design, Storytelling, Apple Keynote, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Interviewing, Management Consulting, Visual Storytelling, Brand Positioning, Stakeholder Management, Presentations, Client Presentations, Presentation Design, Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Google Docs, Business Writing, Gmail, Google Slides, Google Sheets, Journalism, Microsoft 365, Executive Communication, Executive Presentations, Interviews, In-depth Interviews

Education

2017 - 2018

Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA)

Quantic School of Business & Technology - Washington, D.C., USA

2006 - 2010

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism, Public Relations, and Economics

University of Oregon - Eugene, OR, USA

Skills

Finance

Market Research, GAP Analysis, Market Opportunity Analysis

Output Software

Google Docs, Apple Keynote, Google Slides, Google Sheets, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word

Other

Strategy, Business Writing, Communications Management, Change Management, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Retail Strategy, Design Thinking, COE, Team Building, Organizational Design, Vision Development, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Workshops, Interviewing, Impact Assessment, Management Consulting, Value Proposition, Change Leadership, Instructional Design, Training, Training & Training Content Development, Training Content, Business Strategy, Best Practices, Coaching, Executive Coaching, User Personas, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Competition Research, Structure & Organizational Design, Internal Communications, Consulting, AI Adoption, Storytelling, Creative Strategy, Design, Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Go-to-market (GTM) Strategies, Innovation, Investor Presentations, Storytelling, Visual Storytelling, Advisory, Trusted Advisor, Brand Positioning, Sales, Sales Enablement, Stakeholder Management, Presentations, Pitch Presentations, Client Presentations, Presentation Design, Workshop Facilitation, Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Business & Digital Transformation, Executive Communication, Digital Transformation, Business Coaching, Leadership Coaching, Executive Presentations, Pitch Decks, Sales Pitches, Pitch Preparation, Pitch Deck Design, Pitch Deck Consultant, B2B Sales, Consulting, Culture, Corporate Culture, Culture Development, Interviews, Marketing, Retail Technology, IT Program Management, Value Stream Mapping, Capability Build-out, Agile, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Roadmaps, Job Descriptions, Product Management, Reporting, User Adoption, CX Strategy, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Benchmarking, Enterprise Change Management (ECM), AI Consulting, AI Design, Product Planning, Digital Product Design, Project Management, Product Strategy, Market Research & Analysis, Enterprise Sales, Service Design, Employee Experience, Customer Experience, Customer Experience (CX) Design, Gemini, Digital Transformation Program Management, Team Coaching, Culture Management, Soft Skills Coaching, Economics, Operations Management, Journalism, Public Relations (PR), Branding, Digital Branding, Consumer Branding, Internal Communications, Marketing Communications (MarCom), Leadership, Team Leadership, Retail Management, Finance, Healthcare IT, Business Development, New Business Development, Client Services, IT Services, Microsoft 365, Gmail, Canva, Program Management, Operations, Data, Process Design, Manufacturing, Social Media, AI Automation, Figma, Analytics, In-depth Interviews, Stakeholder Interviews

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