hi there, LOVELY HUMAN 👋

I’m Annie, a curious soul and explorer on this wild journey of life — with a passion for people and consumer brands.

For two decades, I've had the privilege of leading in the marketing world — now collaborating with B2C brands in an advisory, consulting, and fractional CMO capacity as Co-Founder & Principal at Penknife Collective. My heart lies in supporting early-stage companies faced with the thrilling challenge of hyper-growth. I'm a partner to founders and executives, offering honest guidance and pragmatic creativity to address their marketing needs and organizational design. Like a mechanic, my sweet spot is diagnosing and fine-tuning businesses and organizations to flourish and thrive.

From humble beginnings to larger enterprises, I've gained invaluable experience building brands and guiding go-to-market teams across diverse disciplines such as product marketing, growth, brand, and content. You can learn more about my journey with multiple startups, Twitch, Amazon, Pinterest, and Microsoft, on my LinkedIn page.

Originally from the Big Island of Hawaii, I now split my time between Seattle and the Bay Area. My alma maters hold a special place in my heart, with a Master of Communication in Digital Media from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Seattle University. I’ve also had the honor of serving as an Adjunct Professor for Marketing Analytics at Seattle University.

Beyond my professional endeavors, I hold a deep passion for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, ardently championing the advancement of AAPI communities, women, and parents in the workplace. This cause is close to my heart as a 1.5 generation Korean American, daughter, wife, and mother. I understand the complexities of navigating the immigrant child experience, and I'm always striving to balance filial piety and personal aspirations — read more about my story and POV here.

If you'd like to collaborate on a project, please reach out via Penknife Collective. Need quick advice? Book an office hour via Intro.