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Building Brands that Work Better
The Table Stakes
I’m a battle-tested executive with decades of experience across hundreds of companies, guiding organizations through critical challenges and transformative change. From crisis management to strategic turnarounds across every imaginable industry, I’ve honed a sharp ability to spot real strategic opportunities and cut through incremental noise. I don’t just shape strategy; I execute it with precision and impact.
I have an eye for what drives success, and an ear finely tuned to distinguish what matters. I can tell what will resonate and what will fall flat. Cutting through the fluff isn’t just a skill — it’s a survival instinct honed through years of real-world experience.
The Raise
My insights come from working across industries, sectors, cultures, and continents — 100+ countries, and companies, and counting. I’m a strategic thinker, pattern recognizer, and dot connector with an uncanny ability to spot what others miss.
My gut is strong, my insights razor-sharp, and my ability to see around corners unmatched. A voracious consumer of information and explorer by nature, I look far ahead and think sideways, taking nothing for granted while turning insights into pragmatic solutions that drive measurable impact.
A New Yorker at heart with a global mindset, I move swiftly from insight to action as an extension of your team. Resourcefulness is my superpower. Integrity is my credo. Strategic excellence is my game.
about
From Big Idea to Bottom Line
Brand strategy. Growth Planning. Operational excellence. Vendeloo helps organizations align vision with action to thrive through change.
I founded Vendeloo in 2001 to provide strategic counsel and hands-on execution to organizations navigating pivotal moments of growth, change, and repositioning — from innovative startups to global enterprises and mission-driven nonprofits. I’ve served as a trusted advisor to C-suite leaders, boards, and teams across industries — embedding deeply, thinking fast, and delivering outcomes that matter.
I bring senior-level attention to every engagement, delivering bespoke strategies that are cost-effective, results-driven, and tailored to each client’s needs. When additional resources are required, I scale seamlessly through a trusted network of strategic partners to fully support brand, operational, and growth objectives.
services
Brand Strategy & Differentiation – Reimagine or refine brand identities that resonate deeply, stand apart, and drive relevance in shifting markets.
Product & Service Positioning – Define and clarify offerings to ensure they are relevant, differentiated, and built to scale or sell.
Communications Strategy – Craft clear, consistent communications across internal and external channels, aligning voice, message, and goals — cutting through the noise to drive clarity and action.
Crisis Management & Communications – Deliver decisive counsel and strategies that protect reputations and maintain stakeholder trust during high-stakes moments.
Customer Experience & Engagement – Shape meaningful brand experiences that foster trust, retention, and emotional connection at every touchpoint.
Thought Leadership & Industry Influence – Position executives and organizations as trusted, distinctive voices in their fields through strategy, content, and visibility.
Strategic Planning & Execution – Define and drive high-impact strategies across communications, brand, business development, and organizational growth.
Executive Advisory & Fractional Leadership (CMO, COO) – Provide strategic guidance and embedded executive support (CMO, COO) to help organizations make high-stake decisions and operate at their best.
Organizational Transformation & Change – Lead companies through complex transitions without compromising culture, clarity, or performance.
Operational Excellence – Streamline workflows, optimize systems, and support teams in achieving efficiency, cost savings, and tangible results.
Financial Strategy & Fundraising – Help startups and nonprofits build sustainable growth through grant planning, capital raises, donor engagement, and revenue strategy.
Strategic Partnerships & Business Development – Identify and secure meaningful collaborations that drive revenue and create long-term value beyond the press release.
about me
wendy e. simmons
From a young age, I’ve been exploring the world and living a life of discovery and learning. My experience spans over a hundred companies and 100+ countries across every continent, giving me an unparalleled depth of insight that I can apply as a trusted advisor and strategist for C-suite teams and boards of directors across startups, growth-stage, and global enterprises.
At Gates School and Congregation Gates of Prayer, I embedded as a fractional executive, leading the comprehensive revitalization of a 175-year-old synagogue, preschool, and historic properties. I spearheaded a full-scale rebrand, modernized operational systems, transformed the preschool model, secured multimillion-dollar funding, and oversaw significant capital renovations.
As President and Chief Brand Officer of MOSCOT, I transformed a legacy optometry corner store into a globally recognized luxury brand and worldwide phenomenon, delivering multimillion-dollar revenue growth. I created a marketing and product development model that became an industry standard. I launched a branded MOSCOT product line that grew into several collections, expanded into 1,200+ locations worldwide, and gained a cult following among hundreds of celebrities and influencers. I also conceptualized, launched, and led a 501(c)(3) nonprofit — The MOSCOT Mobileyes Foundation Inc. — that provided underserved communities across NYC access to quality care and eyewear.
Early in my career, I worked in a Capitol Hill lobbying firm, wrote a Japanese Language book, and taught English and math to the smart kids at a private elementary school (an experience that, I swear, informed my management skills) before joining TSI Communications, a New York City-based marketing and PR firm. As the youngest senior account executive to rise to vice president and then senior vice president, I played a pivotal role in the firm’s growth, expanding the Sony account by over $3 million and building the agency’s B2B practice into $2 million operation within three years, helping position the firm – which grew to $10 million in revenue – as an industry leader.
That success fueled the launch of my own PR and marketing agency, Mindstorm Communications, which I grew into a $7 million firm with 65 professionals across offices in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., serving marquee clients like Sony, Reebok, and Cablevision. I later positioned Mindstorm for acquisition by Golin, an IPG company, and led the integration process.
I then founded Vendeloo Inc., a consultancy that has been pivotal in the launch and growth of more than a hundred clients across industries. From shaping brand identities and market positioning to leading high-stake crisis management and commercializing advanced technologies, my work has driven measurable growth, industry leadership, and sustained visibility for my clients.
Along the way, I also founded and built Belly, a Lower East Side Manhattan bar, into a highly successful business — growing it to profitability before positioning it for acquisition at an attractive multiple.
I’m an intellectually curious adventurer, and my travels have led to award-winning photography and writing. I’m the author of My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth, published by Simon & Schuster and Rosetta Books, with more than 25,000 copies sold to date. My photography has been the subject of solo and juried shows and publications worldwide.
I graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate from George Washington University with a B.A. in political science and a focus on Asian studies and Japanese. I studied abroad at Kansai Gaidai Daigaku University in Osaka, Japan, and Universidad de Salamanca in Spain. While my Japanese is rusty, my Spanish is functional — and my Pig Latin remains top-notch.
clients
A few of the clients I’ve had the privilege of working with:
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