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SHARP STRATEGIES.
WE ARE A GROUP OF THINKERS, PLANNERS, DESIGNERS, AND MAKERS. UNITED BY THE POWER OF EXPLORATION, INTERROGATION, COLLABORATION, AND INSPIRATION TO ARRIVE AT THE INSIGHTS, STRATEGIES, AND ACTIONS REQUIRED TO ALLOW COMPANIES AND BRANDS TO BECOME THEIR BEST SELVES. FROM OUR EXPERIENCE, THERE’S NOT ENOUGH DATA-DRIVEN CLARITY AND CRAFT WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING WINNING STRATEGIES AND EXECUTIONAL ACTION PLANS. WE BELIEVE THE BEST STRATEGIES PROVIDE THE MOST INSPIRING AND EFFECTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTION. WE TURN STRATEGIES INTO TIGHT EXECUTIONAL ACTION PLANS, OR “PLAYBOOKS” IN WHICH ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND INTENDED IMPACT ARE CLEARLY SPELLED OUT TO INSPIRE, INFORM, AND DIRECT. THESE PLAYBOOKS AND DIGITALLY READY FILES CAN BE EXECUTED WITH PLAYBOOK PARTNER TEAMS — SPANNING MARKETING PROGRAMS, WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT, CONTENT INITIATIVES, ETC. — OR BROUGHT IN-HOUSE FOR CLIENTS TO USE INTERNALLY FOR MAXIMUM VALUE AND EFFICIENCY. WE WORK ON PROJECTS AND OFFER RETAINED SERVICES, TYPICALLY WE DO A COMBO OF BOTH WHERE WE HELP TO EXECUTE SOME OF THE PLAYS WE’VE DESIGNED TOGETHER.
CLIENTS
We’ve Worked With
BEAUTY BIO
DSTLD
GILDED HORN
HAUS LABS
INTEND HEALTH
NEW RELIC
PLANT APOTHECARY
OUAI
SHANI DARDEN
SPINNAKER SUPPORT
STATESIDE
YOUNG LIVING
CLIENTS
We’ve Worked With
BEAUTY BIO
DSTLD
GILDED HORN
HAUS LABS
NEW RELIC
INTEND HEALTH
OUAI
PLANT APOTHECARY
SHANI DARDEN
SPINNAKER SUPPORT
STATESIDE
YOUNG LIVING
CAPABILITIES
Research & Insights
Everything starts with data and insights. Whether we do the research, or extract the insights from existing information, our focus is on helping teams collect what is required to arrive at sharp, actionable strategies.
Playbooks
Mapping out who needs to be involved where and when for strategy to be turned into game ready action plans. This comes after the workshop, and is arrived at through working with delivery teams in mapping actions to key strategic priorities. Groups then reconvene in follow-up studio sessions to tune and integrate playbooks prior to action.
Brand Identity & Design
Once we craft your brand narrative and foundational playbook we often work with clients on translating this into a new or refreshed visual and verbal identity that can be applied across all touchpoints — website, case studies, presentation templates, physical spaces, thought leadership, content and more. We can take care of the execution for you or brief internal teams and/or outside executional partners to bring your brand into alignment.
Brand Platforms & Creative Development
We work with world-class creatives to bring brands to life with campaign concepts that can be translated across all channels. We also have experienced production partners that can handle bringing these concepts to reality.
Storytelling & Pitches
We are experienced in the art & science of winning. We can help you win a new piece of business, your next round of funding, sell internal teams on a new initiative, or anything that requires persuasive storytelling. We ground your story strategically and creatively bring it to life in a way where the only answer is “yes.”
Product Development
Playbook Studio is built on a proven model for unlocking the best ideas and then locking down a tight narrative and strategies for action. Just like we’ve productized our approach and offerings, we can do the same for you and your organization.
CAPABILITIES
Research & Insights
Everything starts with data and insights. Whether we do the research, or extract the insights from existing information, our focus is on helping teams collect what is required to arrive at sharp, actionable strategies.
Playbooks
Mapping out who needs to be involved where and when for strategy to be turned into game ready action plans. This comes after the workshop, and is arrived at through working with delivery teams in mapping actions to key strategic priorities. Groups then reconvene in follow-up studio sessions to tune and integrate playbooks prior to action.
Brand Identity & Design
Once we craft your brand narrative and foundational playbook we often work with clients on translating this into a new or refreshed visual and verbal identity that can be applied across all touchpoints — website, case studies, presentation templates, physical spaces, thought leadership, content and more. We can take care of the execution for you or brief internal teams and/or outside executional partners to bring your brand into alignment.
Brand Platforms & Creative Development
We work with world-class creatives to bring brands to life with campaign concepts that can be translated across all channels. We also have experienced production partners that can handle bringing these concepts to reality.
Storytelling & Pitches
We are experienced in the art & science of winning. We can help you win a new piece of business, your next round of funding, sell internal teams on a new initiative, or anything that requires persuasive storytelling. We ground your story strategically and creatively bring it to life in a way where the only answer is “yes.”
Product Development
Playbook Studio is built on a proven model for unlocking the best ideas and then locking down a tight narrative and strategies for action. Just like we’ve productized our approach and offerings, we can do the same for you and your organization.
FOUNDER
Graceann’s career has placed her on the forefront of brand building, product development and organizational transformation. She brings a strong track record of partnering with CEOs and CMOs to drive significant increases in shareholder value for numerous Fortune 500 companies as well as helping younger brands and startups crystalize their brand positioning to accelerate growth.
Graceann Bennett was most recently the Chief Solutions Officer for Dow Jones. There she was responsible for harnessing the influence, intelligence and perspective from across the company to solve problems in innovative ways and unlock new value for clients. Before Dow Jones, she was a founder of Omnicom Group’s We Are Unlimited, the first of its kind, collaborative agency model that has inspired an industry-wide shift in agency structuring. In that role, she pioneered a new approach to brand strategy based on real-time, data-driven insights shaped by experts across digital, social, retail, and human behavior.
Dedication to her craft as well as the culture, talent and diversity of her teams is core to Graceann’s success. With decades of experience she has remained relevant and tapped into trends and is well connected to a vibrant network of the best resources needed for businesses to succeed today.
Graceann is a revered speaker and thought leader who has presented her work at SXSW, Sustainable Brands, NYU Stern School of Business, Cannes Advertising Festival, GreenBiz Forum, TEDxHarvard and the United Nations Foundation for Social Change. Her thought leadership studies span many subjects, from “Is Technology a Force For Good or Evil” to “How to Mainstream Sustainable Behaviors.” She has been a featured expert for media outlets including Fortune, The New York Times, Ad Age, CNN and NPR. Graceann has also served on the advisory board of Attivio, a global business intelligence company and as Global Ambassador for The SmartWoman Project — a venture using mobile technology to empower women with education and social connectivity.
FOUNDER
Graceann’s career has placed her on the forefront of brand building, product development and organizational transformation. She brings a strong track record of partnering with CEOs and CMOs to drive significant increases in shareholder value for numerous Fortune 500 companies as well as helping younger brands and startups crystalize their brand positioning to accelerate growth.
Graceann Bennett was most recently the Chief Solutions Officer for Dow Jones. There she was responsible for harnessing the influence, intelligence and perspective from across the company to solve problems in innovative ways and unlock new value for clients. Before Dow Jones, she was a founder of Omnicom Group’s We Are Unlimited, the first of its kind, collaborative agency model that has inspired an industry-wide shift in agency structuring. In that role, she pioneered a new approach to brand strategy based on real-time, data-driven insights shaped by experts across digital, social, retail, and human behavior.
Dedication to her craft as well as the culture, talent and diversity of her teams is core to Graceann’s success. With decades of experience she has remained relevant and tapped into trends and is well connected to a vibrant network of the best resources needed for businesses to succeed today.
Graceann is a revered speaker and thought leader who has presented her work at SXSW, Sustainable Brands, NYU Stern School of Business, Cannes Advertising Festival, GreenBiz Forum, TEDxHarvard and the United Nations Foundation for Social Change. Her thought leadership studies span many subjects, from “Is Technology a Force For Good or Evil” to “How to Mainstream Sustainable Behaviors.” She has been a featured expert for media outlets including Fortune, The New York Times, Ad Age, CNN and NPR. Graceann has also served on the advisory board of Attivio, a global business intelligence company and as Global Ambassador for The SmartWoman Project — a venture using mobile technology to empower women with education and social connectivity.
PARTNER AGENCIES
Playbook Studio is designed to be efficient and flexible giving you high caliber brand strategy with the ability to execute with a range of experienced creative partners and individuals. This model is designed for maximum impact shaving time, money and bureaucracy out of the process.
COLLABORATORS
Bill Heater
Writing, Creative Direction
Caneel Eddy
Strategy & Content
Carolyn Rhee
Design & Art Direction
Freya Williams
Sustainability Strategy
James Waldron
Web Design
Jeffrey Williamson
Brand Identity
Kimberly Rose
Naming
Marc Klien
Art Direction
Meghan Tetwiler Winetroub
Strategy
Richard Hart
Brand Identity & Design
Sage Bennett
Photography & Film
Susan MacPhee
Web Design
Suzy Meriwether
Product Marketing & Go-To Market Strategy
Sydney Simone Forbes
PR & Marketing
PARTNER AGENCIES
Playbook Studio is designed to be efficient and flexible giving you high caliber brand strategy with the ability to execute with a range of experienced creative partners and individuals. This model is designed for maximum impact shaving time, money and bureaucracy out of the process.
COLLABORATORS
Bill Heater
Writing, Creative Direction
Caneel Eddy
Research & Strategy
Carolyn Rhee
Design
Devin Larsen
Strategy & Content
James Waldron
Web Design
Jeffrey Williamson
Brand Identity
Kimberly Rose
Naming
Marc Klien
Art Direction
Richard Hart
Brand Identity & Design
Sage Bennett
Photography & Film
Susan MacPhee
Web Design
Suzy Meriwether
Product Marketing & Go-To Market Strategy
Sydney Simone Forbes
Content & Marketing
PLAY BY PLAY
This is a behind-the-scenes play area for our ideas and case studies, so you can get to know us in a more casual way, kind of like a cocktail party conversation.
