CV/Resume

 

Experience

Independent Consultant
Nicky Kruse Creative
Nov 2020 - Present

I partner with agencies and founders to build and evolve distinctive brands across the hospitality, wellness, and lifestyle industries. I lead projects from insight to execution—crafting strategies, campaigns, and visuals that connect and convert. Selected work includes:

Bay Pizza Lab
Led the end-to-end development of Bay Pizza Lab’s brand—strategy, identity, packaging, and digital—and currently lead all marketing efforts, driving growth through partnerships, content, paid campaigns, and brand activations.

K-FORMA
As an ongoing strategic marketing partner, I help develop and execute brand, digital, and campaign strategies to grow K-FORMA into a bold, multi-channel fitness brand.

Willow Surf
Led brand strategy and creative direction to position Willow Surf as a women-first surf brand. Directed the visual identity development, designed cohesive digital and print assets, and supported product strategy and design.

Senior Marketing Strategist
Fucking Great Marketing
Apr 2021 - Mar 2025

FGM is a full-service digital marketing agency that drives brand growth through innovative, data-driven strategies. Clients spanned the beauty, cosmetics, and tech industries.

  • Developed and managed high-performing paid campaigns across Meta, Google, and LinkedIn—driving lead generation and sales growth

  • Designed and executed targeted email marketing strategies, including automated nurture sequences, to increase customer engagement and conversion

  • Created and executed content strategies across web, social, and email—ensuring narrative consistency, audience relevance, and strategic alignment across all channels

  • Managed a small team and key client relationships, ensuring clear communication and alignment between marketing strategy and business goals

Senior Strategist
The Culinary Edge
Feb 2016 - Nov 2019

The Culinary Edge is the USA’s leading food & beverage innovation consultancy, combining culinary excellence with human-centered design to shape the future of how we eat and drink. Clients ranged from multi-national restaurant groups to entrepreneurial food startups.

  • Led the development and presentation of strategic solutions—from brand positioning to product and menu innovation—to help clients differentiate in the market and achieve key business goals

  • Conducted market research, competitive audits, and trend analysis to uncover insights and inform strategic recommendations

  • Defined the creative vision for menus, food products, and innovation pipelines, aligning culinary concepts with broader brand strategy

  • Guided visual, marketing, and experience strategy to ensure cohesive storytelling across key customer touchpoints

 

Education

Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design
Entrepreneur Education
2022-2023

Diploma in Graphic Design
Entrepreneur Education
2021-2022

B.S. Business, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
University of San Francisco
2012-2016

 

Skills

Brand Strategy

Marketing Strategy

Positioning & Competitive Audit

Consumer Insights & Trend Analysis

Branding & Visual Identity

Graphic Design

Campaign Development

Copywriting & Messaging

Content Strategy

Paid Media Advertising

Email Marketing

Client Management

Presentation & Workshop Facilitation

 

Software

Adobe Suite: Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop

Ads: Meta, TikTok, Google, LinkedIn

Web: Shopify, Squarespace

Email: Klaviyo, Mailchimp

Canva

Hubspot