Sandy Grason Kwiat

Strategic Communications Specialist |
Author | Speaker | Coach | Trainer

Current Employment

Charter Communications, Watson University,
RS Technologies, Inc

Previous Employment

FG Press,
Unreasonable Group,
Mobile Imagination, Sandy Grason Unlimited

Education

University of Florida

Background Summary

Expert in critical business relationships, product/brand strategy & leading teams, I work in IT with a focus on Agile software development. Former CEO, Business Strategist, Consultant, Author & Entrepreneur.

With over a decade of entrepreneurial experience, I now use my superpowers to help Fortune 500 teams tap into the urgency and focus required to survive and thrive. I am a Strategic Communications Specialist with the ability to effectively enroll and motivate across all levels — from C-Suite to Scrum Teams.  I’m a trainer & coach, accomplished speaker & presenter, published author, passionate about technology, lover of chocolate, movies, skiing & shoes (not necessarily in that order).

My philosophy is:

Take your work seriously, but never yourself. Play 100% full out every day. Have FUN.

 

Detailed Experience

Chief of Staff, Video Software Development

Charter Communications |Time Warner Cable

April 2015 – Present (Denver, CO)

• Crisply communicate a strategy that is aligned with the organization’s purpose and long-range vision and lead day-to-day investments of time and resources by direct reports of the executive and managers at all levels of the organization.
• Build relationships with key business partners to ensure efficient execution across organizations (e.g. product, architecture, Net Ops, wireless, IT leadership, etc.).
• Lead projects deemed highly important to the video software development team and Charter leadership such as; financials, roadmap & resource planning, team strategy & implementation, analytics, executive decks, cross – organizational projects, operations & integration plans, employee engagement, workforce agility & lean planning, strategy execution.
• Provide analytical support to the video software development team to help identify and prioritize features via ROI and strategic analysis.
• Lead strategic projects through completion as new products, services, skills and capabilities are transferred into operations.
• Build the trust and confidence of the video software development & Charter leadership teams in order to execute on bold new strategies through intentional projects during turbulent times.
• Guide the video software development leadership to develop solutions that are practical & deliver results that are aligned with the team’s specific goals.
• Enable the vision, mission and values of the Charter leadership team.
• Keep a watchful eye on the moving parts and work to maintain the integrity of the strength and flexibility of the teams.
• Guide a culture of performance, engagement & accountability for scaling better & faster.
• Build and leverage extensive experience & network in favor of action steps once the team’s success strategy has been defined.
• Communicate development plans, milestones, and strategic decisions with other organizations within
  Charter.

Mentor

Watson University

July 2015 – Present (Greater Denver Area)
Watson is a new university model for student innovators, leaders and entrepreneurs aged 18-23 that includes short master courses from the world’s foremost leaders, entrepreneurs, and thinkers including a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people and more; intensive mentorship; and training in the entrepreneurial skills of empathy, creativity, resilience, grit, bootstrapping, team building and fundraising. Watson helps students develop and advance solutions to the toughest challenges facing the world.

VP, Principal Consultant

RS Technologies, Inc

April 2010 – Present (Greater Denver Area)
Technology, Media, Production & Creative consulting.
Project Manager, CSM, Executive Producer

CMO,  Product Planning and Development

FG Press

April 2014 – December 2014 (Boulder, CO)

Worked directly with CEO, responsible for corporate communications, project management, marketing, community & brand building for individual authors as well as FG Press. Acquired new authors and managed key relationships with authors and prospective marketing partners. Prepared sales & marketing reports for stakeholders and investors. Managed multiple teams throughout the entire creative & technical projects including book selection, editing, design, formatting and marketing processes.

• Led, coached, mentored and inspired the creative & technical teams and vendor partners
• Created & led team that implemented launch strategies & systems for each product, unique to each 
author project, yet structured to allow for maximum exposure and scalability
• Served as a dynamic evangelist for FG Press, speaking to audiences large & 
small, recruiting new talent, generally setting the world on fire about FG Press disrupting the publishing world
• Created & implemented processes to attract high profile authors and streamline work flow effectively.
• Led team that implemented agile/scrum methodologies, breaking out project tasks into a backlog complete with sprint planning, sprints, and retrospective ceremonies

Editor in Chief

Unreasonable Group

September 2013 – April 2014 (Boulder, Colorado)
Worked directly with CEO on execution of brand vision and voice of entire company, including but not limited to narrative, design, journalism, content curation and communications. In charge of most trusted and valued corporate relationships and strategic partners. Worked collaboratively and creatively with all mentors and investors (representing some of the top entrepreneurs, investors and thought leaders of our time). Supported design and implementation of website development. Led projects to completion through initiating, planning, scheduling, coordinating, and managing for launch. Implemented agile style Sprint Planning, Daily Standups, Releasing, and Retrospectives.

• Coordinated and collaborated directly with the Founder/CEO of Unreasonable.
• Facilitated and communicated the vision, road map, and release plans across multiple teams.
• Established and gained consensus on project ground rules.
• Served as the main point of contact for all Unreasonable Scribes.
• Led team that brainstormed, planned, managed, edited and scheduled all projects for the online portal
• Led team to coordinate design and implementation of website developments and improvements

Director, Product Development

Mobile Imagination

October 2009 – August 2013 (Boulder, CO)
Consulting, Digital Web and Technology Media Company. Doddle, a portal for the Film/TV production company including an international resource directory, news/blogs, and cutting edge SAAS web and mobile tools for crew management. DoddlePRO’s crew management system has been featured in Forbes, Internationally recognized, and used in productions at NBC, ABC, CBS, Channel 5 (UK), Food Network, PBS, and many more.

CEO | Managing Director | Product Planning and Development | Coach

Sandy Grason Unlimited

January 2002 – April 2010 (8 years 4 months) Worldwide

Created an international platform involving, coaching, mentoring, writing, speaking, radio show (LA Talk Radio), and a Web and Digital Media Company. Designed, Project Managed, and led the implementation of an online portal that combined a robust blogging platform, calendar of events, private community dashboard and online store filled with digital & physical products. Managed multiple teams to implement design ideas into html/css/javascript, custom WordPress design on hosted servers that tied into a robust check-out and e-commerce system from a third party vendor (1shoppingcart).

• Managed multiple teams across broad technical, financial and business disciplines through the successful launch cycles of a flourishing online community as well as numerous digital & physical products.
• Focused teams on business objectives and tracked progress to ensure project milestones were completed on time, within or under budget and with the desired results.
• Effectively utilized traditional project management best practices including Scope, Cost, and Time Management Processes.
• Selected, hired, and managed team members, working to carefully plan our deliverables, creating a work breakdown structure and determining critical paths to effectively manage budget and scope to deliver a working platform on time.
• Mitigated risk factors through careful analysis of financial and statistical data. Anticipated and managed change effectively in rapidly evolving global business environments.

Executive Producer, Creative Director & Host

LA Talk Radio

December 2008 – March 2010 (Greater Los Angeles Area, Worldwide)
“The Road to Fabulous” was described as… “A Virtual Cocktail Party hosted by Sandy Grason that introduces you to the world’s most fabulous people, while giving you a roadmap to creating a fabulous life that feeds your soul. Mix fun & fascinating interviews with savvy & successful personalities then add a splash of practical tips that you can apply in your own life – today. Think “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous” meets “The Charlie Rose Show”. Join Sandy for a celebration of life, shoes, Hot Moguls, building an Empire and finding your Mojo.”

Author of “Journalution”

New World Library

beginning May 2005 (Worldwide)
Published in 2005 by New World Library, Journalution has been endorsed by Deepak Chopra, Louise Hay, John Gray and thousands of individuals whose lives have been transformed through Sandy’s workshops, books, interviews and live performances.

Featured in The Chicago Tribune, The Palm Beach Post, Body + Soul Magazine, Woman’s Day, Ocean Drive Magazine and many more.

 

Publications

Journalution

New World Library
May 10, 2005 – present

Journaling is one of the most powerful tools we have to transform our lives. Let Sandy Grason’s Journalution guide you in creating a joyful and abundant life. ~ Deepak Chopra

This is one of the most interesting books on personal development I’ve ever read. There are no rules or guidelines, just lots of helpful suggestions and encouragement. I look at journaling in a whole new light now. I’m so much more relaxed, free, and honest than I used to be. I’ve found that journaling from the heart to be such an enlightening experience.

I love the fact that Sandy Grason does not lay down “rules” about how to do things. Instead, she gives examples of what has worked for other people. You make all the decisions yourself so it is truly an empowering endeavor.

Projects

Everything but The Kitchen Sink: An Interview with Kimbal Musk

November 2012
Sandy Grason sits down with Kimbal Musk, entrepreneur extraordinaire, to discuss everything from space travel to real food.

CSM