Build a Business Worthy of the Mission
Customized business strategy for founder-led organizations
Featured Client
Strengthening the Strategy Behind Empowered Educator’s Growth
Empowered Educator is a professional learning company helping schools and districts support educators in ways that strengthen staff culture and student outcomes. As COO, I connect the founder’s vision to the market-facing, operational, and revenue decisions required to build a company around that work.
My Approach
Refine
Reflect
Connect
Ways to Work Together
Ongoing Partners
Market Presence
Strategic Direction
Areas of Expertise
New Business
Are you an entrepreneur with great ideas but no roadmap to success? I can help you by creating a go-to-market strategy that will differentiate you from your competitors alongside the operational strategy you need to ensure execution.
Business Developement
Don’t plateau: plan and push forward! Congratulations! You’re not a start-up anymore. Let me help you identify new revenue streams, improve operational efficiency, build processes, and develop sustainable income streams.
Strategy
Fractional COO and High-Level Business Guidance. If you’re ready to scale but need a clear execution roadmap without investing in full-time leadership, I will unify marketing, sales, operations, and finance under your strategic vision. I will help you prioritize initiatives and stay focused with clear measureables and motivational support.
Marketing
Marketing & Positioning: Are you struggling to attract and retain customers but don’t have the bandwidth to hire a team? I can help you clarify what makes your business unique, develop targeted campaigns to attract high-value customers, develop an omnichannel marketing strategy, help you craft a compelling brand narrative, and build your customer loyalty.
AI and Optimization
Work smarter, not harder! Learn how you can maximize efficiency and leverage AI to stay ahead of your competition. I’ll help you identify and integrate AI tools for automation, content creation, and efficiency to ensure cost-effective strategies to help your business thrive.
Founder and Mindset Coaching
Founders often feel overwhelmed and suffer from imposter syndrome at some point on their journey to success. I can help you develop resilience, get out of the weeds, and own your vision so you can lead effectively.
Where Clarity Changes Outcomes
See Your Next Move More Clearly
It is easy to find one-size-fits-all plans. It is much harder to find high-value strategic insight that is personalized to your business, responsive to your context, and not trapped inside a preset model. Your MBA Friend brings that level of thinking to the business you are working to build.
About Kathleen
Kathleen Staten is a strategy and growth expert with 15+ years of experience in organizational strategy, market positioning, business development, and executive leadership. She specializes in helping startups, nonprofits, and mission-driven businesses refine their go-to-market strategies, scale operations, and drive measurable growth.
Kathleen holds an MBA in Strategy and Entrepreneurship from SMU and a Bachelor of Music from Indiana University.