As owner and CEO of Root + River, a brand strategy team, Emily uses her talents to help leaders uncover the foundations of their brand: message, audience, differentiators, and overall brand strategy. Working with national and international clients, Emily loves to challenge dogmatic thinking, translate emotion to words and encourage leaders to go inward.

A former journalist and publisher, she is the co-author of the book, Rooting Up: Essays on Modern Branding, the author of the newsletter Thought Cookie and the author of over 100 LinkedIn articles on brand, marketing, leadership, and communication. A popular keynote speaker and presenter, she has been featured on dozens of podcasts including Coaching for
Leaders, On Brand, Creative Warrior, Ponderings from the Perch, Reclaiming Ourselves, and more.

Emily holds a master’s degree in nonfiction writing from Arizona State University, (go Devils!). She has a background in human behavioral research and neurological studies and uses her intuitive wisdom and sketch art in her speaking and facilitating. Most importantly, she’s the mom of two daughters (and a 130-pound Great Pyrenees named Archie) and partner to her husband of over 20 years.

Cat gets it. Just intuitively, without flowery explanation. She is genuine grace and snappy generosity. She’s calm, cool water. She sees you, and then she sees through you.

But do not misconstrue.

She is mostly fire. Sparking, burning and building up a smokestack in her passion.

Her gifts are abundant: insight, intuition, attention to detail, keeper of space, unrelenting supporter, rigorous organizer, fanner of flames – all manifested in her role as our Chief of Staff. She protects us from us, making sure our time is spent living, breathing and being what we are best at – helping brands become. The space she creates allows us to perform in ways that are not possible on our own. She keeps us from becoming the log instead of the fire. And our clients, team members and random strangers all benefit from the peace she brings.

Her talents are varied: award-winning educator, community advocate, creative alchemist, fierce friend, fantastic parent, dog whisperer, to name just a polka-dot few.

Most of all: She believes people who are giving to others need someone to give to them. And we are oh, so, very grateful for this belief of hers.

And here are her cappers: she can hang with the roughest and tumblest crew in the world, she once lived out in the woods and she bakes the best Black Russian bundt cake ever mouthwateringly tasted. And in a Best Laugh in the World contest, she would win hands-down.