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Work Background
Isles MediaFractional CMO | Marketing Coach
Jul. 2024Montgomery County, Maryland, United StatesYour story deserves to be heard—and I can help you tell it. As a StoryBrand Marketing Coach, I’m trained and equipped to help businesses clarify their messaging, build reputable brands, and position themselves as industry leaders. Let's focus on simplifying your complex ideas into clear, engaging narratives that resonate with your audiences and drive results. Here’s how I can help you transform your brand: Brand Messaging: Communicate with clarity and confidence.
High-Quality Media: Tell your story through engaging multimedia content.
Website Wireframes: Design intuitive, user-friendly websites that convert visitors into customers.
Marketing Systems: Implement strategies tailored to your goals for increased visibility, engagement, or revenue growth. Whether you're looking to drive demand and/or boost your bottom line, I’m here to help you craft a message and marketing strategy that works. Let’s work together to make your brand unforgettable.
Isles MediaLinkedIn Coach
Jan. 2024Montgomery County, Maryland, United StatesDon't let your LinkedIn Profile hold you back from success. Purchase my Done-For-You LinkedIn Optimization service and get a fully customized LinkedIn profile refresh, designed to boost your positioning as an industry expert and help you land your next job offer, promotion or customer. Let's transform your LinkedIn into a powerful tool for growth. Learn more: stephenahart.com/linkedin-as-a-service
SANS InstituteDirector of Content Marketing
Jan. 2022 - Jan. 2025United StatesCreating content is easy. Creating content that drives results? That’s a whole different story. As the Director of Content Marketing at SANS, I’ve had the privilege of leading our shift to a modern, centralized marketing model—and the results speak for themselves. When I stepped into the role of Director of Content Marketing in January 2022, I was tasked with spearheading a transformative shift at SANS—a move toward a modernized and centralized marketing model. It was a challenge I eagerly embraced. In my time leading this effort, I’ve built and nurtured a dynamic team: 3 direct reports, 10 freelancers, and 2 global agencies—a blend of marketers, copywriters, and video editors. Together, we’ve handled an incredible volume of inbound content requests from over 75 marketers spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. The complexity of coordinating across so many stakeholders has been immense, but the results speak volumes. One of our proudest achievements was the launch of "Wait Just an Infosec" (WJAI), a rich media series that included live streams, podcasts, and videos. This initiative wasn’t just a win—it was transformative. Within just eight months, WJAI delivered over 3 million organic search impressions and 250,000 views, driving SANS to the top of SEO rankings for critical terms like “infosec training,” which leaped from position 35 to 9. Beyond the numbers, I’ve also taken the lead on establishing guidelines and playbooks that streamline our production processes, ensuring consistency in the quality and alignment of everything we create. From video guidelines to editorial standards, these frameworks have become the bedrock of our operations. Innovation has been central to my leadership. When I introduced Generative AI tools like ChatGPT Enterprise to our department, it wasn’t just an experiment—it was a game-changer.
LinkedInCreator Accelerator Program
Jan. 2022 - Mar. 2022Turning ideas into impact, one conversation at a time. I was honored to be selected for the inaugural class of LinkedIn’s Creator Accelerator Program, a competitive 10-week incubator-style initiative designed to empower creators to build impactful communities and spark meaningful conversations. As one of 100 U.S.-based creators chosen, I received coaching from LinkedIn’s team, access to an incredible creator network, and a $15,000 grant to accelerate my efforts. Through this program, I refined best practices for creating engaging content, fostering dialogue, and growing communities on the LinkedIn platform. The experience was transformative—not just for my growth as a creator, but for the connections and conversations it inspired within my audience. For me, it’s all about using creativity to connect, inspire, and build something bigger than ourselves.
SANS InstituteDirector of Media
Aug. 2021 - Mar. 2022Maryland, United StatesWhat does it take to revolutionize a company’s media strategy? Let me show you. As Director of Media at SANS Institute, I was tasked with steering the organization’s journey into rich media content—a challenge I embraced with a practitioner-first mindset and a vision to elevate thought leadership and audience engagement. One of the cornerstone initiatives during my tenure was producing and expanding the SANS Blueprint podcast. By amplifying the visibility of our host—a SANS author and cyber defense expert—we transformed the podcast into a powerful tool for thought leadership and brand credibility. The results spoke volumes: downloads grew at an astounding 3-year CAGR of 86.7%, from 36k in 2020 to over 151k in 2022. Even more impactful, this momentum drove course revenue growth by 122% over two years, cementing Blueprint as a critical asset in our strategy. Recognizing the post-COVID-19 fatigue around traditional webinars, I introduced a live stream strategy that redefined real-time engagement for SANS. With buy-in from senior leadership and alignment across teams, we launched a new content channel leveraging live video broadcasts on SANS’ social media platforms. Over 200 live streams later, we had created an avenue for SMEs to connect directly with our community, driving awareness, demand, and measurable engagement for both instructors and course offerings. Beyond the numbers, media-focused content became a catalyst for growth across our portfolio. I helped drive six courses into SANS’ top 14 growth courses. In every project, my mission was clear: leverage the power of media to not just inform, but to inspire, connect, and drive tangible business results. And the journey? It’s far from over.
SANS InstituteExecutive Producer
Jun. 2020 - Dec. 2024Content is everywhere. Making it resonate? That’s the real challenge. At SANS Institute, I’ve transformed how we connect with our global audience by creating branded media that engages, informs, and inspires. From podcasts to live shows, here’s how we’re reshaping conversations around cybersecurity and cloud security: SANS Blueprint Podcast: As SANS’ first branded cyber defense podcast, I partnered with Senior Instructor John Hubbard to launch this interview-style series. From day one, Blueprint gained traction, debuting as a top 15 tech podcast on Apple Podcasts. It continues to deliver actionable insights for cybersecurity professionals worldwide. SANS Cloud Ace Podcast: Identifying the demand for expert-driven cloud security content, I developed and co-produce Cloud Ace, an interview-style podcast tackling critical challenges in cloud environments. It launched as a top 12-ranked Apple Podcast in the Technology category, becoming a trusted resource for industry leaders. Wait Just an Infosec (WJAI): Pushing boundaries, I launched WJAI, SANS’ first live-stream show and podcast. Featuring world-renowned infosec experts, this weekly series delivers timely discussions on the cybersecurity topics that matter most, creating a platform for real-time engagement and thought leadership. Through these initiatives, I’ve combined technical storytelling with audience-first strategies, turning niche topics into accessible, high-impact content. My goal? To connect expertise with the audiences who need it most—and create media that informs, engages, and drives action.
SANS InstituteProduct Marketing Manager
May. 2019 - Sep. 2021Bethesda, MarylandDriving growth, innovation, and impact in cybersecurity education. As Product Marketing Manager for SANS Institute’s Cyber Defense curriculum, I had the privilege of blending strategic marketing with a passion for creating meaningful experiences. The results speak for themselves: - Accelerated Revenue Growth: Delivered a 15% year-over-year revenue increase across 13 courses and six GIAC certifications by crafting and executing a new marketing strategy tailored to learner needs. - Successful Course Launches: Spearheaded the go-to-market strategy for four new courses, expanding SANS’ reach and impact within the cybersecurity community. - Summit Success: Elevated attendance and attendee satisfaction for flagship events like the Blue Team Summit and OSINT Summit, turning them into can’t-miss experiences for professionals. - YouTube Channel Growth: Transformed the SANS Cyber Defense YouTube channel, scaling subscribers from 130 to over 7,900 in just two years—a 3,850% increase—by curating engaging, relevant content. - One of the most rewarding initiatives was the OSINT Search Party CTF, a first-of-its-kind social impact program launched at CDI 2019. This innovative event brought together 100 student hackers to assist law enforcement, uncovering 1,382 pieces of actionable intelligence on 11 real missing persons cases. It was a moment that showcased the power of cybersecurity to make a real-world difference. Ultimately, my mission was clear: to grow programs, foster community, and create impactful experiences that empower the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
I Am Black Success™Founder | Podcast Host
Feb. 2016Clarksburg, MarylandExtraordinary stories, actionable strategies, and a mission to inspire. I Am Black Success (formerly Trailblazers.FM) is more than a podcast—it’s a platform celebrating bold, brilliant Black voices. Through powerful, interview-style conversations, we shine a spotlight on legendary creators, best-selling authors, innovative entrepreneurs, and transformative leaders who share extraordinary stories and actionable insights to fuel your journey toward success. With 200+ episodes heard in 141 countries, our impact reaches far and wide. Past guests include trailblazers like John Rogers Jr., Dr. Dennis Kimbro, Minda Harts, Eric Thomas, Shawn Dove, Chris Hogan, Nicole Walters, and Janice Bryant Howroyd. Each episode is designed to teach strategies, tactics, and tools that you can apply immediately to elevate your personal and professional growth. Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and at iamblacksuccess.com, I Am Black Success continues to amplify the voices of those making history while empowering others to follow in their footsteps. Join us in celebrating Black excellence—and learn how you, too, can become a transformative trailblazer.
Media Cybernetics, Inc.Marketing and Communications Manager
Jan. 2014 - May. 2019Rockville, MarylandTransforming brands, driving leads, and building connections. As Marketing and Communications Manager at Media Cybernetics, I spearheaded initiatives that redefined our brand presence, enhanced engagement, and delivered measurable results on a global scale. 7x Lead Generation Increase: By elevating our trade show strategy, I transformed our booth into an experience. From reimagining branding and booth design to training staff and integrating live demos, hands-on activities, and giveaways, these efforts multiplied lead generation by seven. Email Marketing Innovation: I introduced and implemented Act-On, an email marketing automation tool that revolutionized our campaigns. With lead scoring, segmentation, workflow mapping, and personalized communications, we streamlined customer engagement and nurtured relationships effectively. Corporate Rebrand Leadership: I directed a comprehensive corporate rebrand, updating our mission, vision, and unique selling propositions (USPs), along with refreshing the brand’s logo, visual identity, and guidelines. This included overseeing the transformation of our 7,000-page website to align with the new brand identity. My goal was simple: to create meaningful connections through impactful branding, innovative marketing, and experiences that truly resonate.
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