From Pharma Advertising to Vision2Velocity: The Next Evolution in Scaling Startups
Over 25 years in pharma advertising, I’ve had the privilege of working across the full spectrum of agencies, from global holding companies to nimble independents and specialized boutiques. That diversity mattered. By moving between different kinds of organizations, I avoided the stagnancy that comes from staying in one place for an entire career. Each transition challenged me to learn something new, adapt to different ways of working, and expand my operational toolkit. Together, those experiences gave me a formula for growth: how to balance creativity with process, how to scale responsibly, and how to sustain momentum through constant change.
My career has always been about building: building teams, building processes, building companies that could grow and thrive. That journey has led me here, to the most exciting step yet. I’m proud to introduce Vision2Velocity, a consulting firm born from everything I’ve learned and built over the last two decades. Vision2Velocity is about channeling that hard-earned experience into helping the next generation of founders and small businesses create the operational clarity and scalable growth they need to thrive.
Lessons from 25 Years in Pharma Advertising
Working in one of the most complex and highly regulated industries taught me discipline, resilience, and the importance of structure. Whether I was leading teams inside billion-dollar holding companies or shaping strategy within agile boutique agencies, I saw the same truths emerge:
Creativity thrives within structure. Great ideas only become reality when supported by sound processes.
Metrics matter. Dashboards, KPIs, and accountability aren’t bureaucracy, they’re momentum.
Change is constant. From digital disruption to regulatory shifts, the organizations that survived were the ones that adapted.
Scaling demands new playbooks. What works for five people doesn’t work for fifty, and what works for fifty doesn’t work for five hundred.
Those lessons, paired with the variety of environments I experienced, became the foundation of the operational philosophy that Vision2Velocity is built on.
The Startup Mentality
Even in pharma, some of the most innovative teams I worked with succeeded because they operated like startups inside much larger organizations: lean, resourceful, and relentlessly focused on testing, learning, and adapting.
That startup mentality; clarity of vision, speed of execution, and lean decision-making; is at the heart of what I now call the Vision2Velocity Operational Formula for Growth.
It begins with Vision. Without clarity of purpose, even the most talented teams lose direction. Vision defines not just where you are going, but why the work matters in the first place.
Then comes Structure. Clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability aren’t about bureaucracy. They give people the confidence to move fast, knowing what’s expected and how decisions get made.
Process follows closely behind. Repeatable, efficient workflows allow teams to execute consistently without reinventing the wheel each time. Strong processes free up energy for innovation instead of draining it through chaos.
But none of this works without Leadership. Alignment and empowerment at every level ensure that people are moving together toward a common goal, not pulling in different directions.
Finally, there are Growth Metrics. Dashboards, KPIs, objectives, and key results transform ambition into measurable progress, creating feedback loops that tell you when to push harder, when to pivot, and when to celebrate wins.
This formula isn’t theory. It’s been tested across years of scaling agencies, launching products, and steering companies through periods of volatility
Why Now: The Resurgence of Startups
The timing for Vision2Velocity isn’t accidental. A new generation of workers is entering the market with a strong entrepreneurial mindset. They want to build, own, and grow businesses on their own terms, and the data shows a surge in startup activity:
U.S. startup funding in H1 2025 surged 75.6% year over year*
Global startup funding reached $91B in Q2 2025, up 11% year over year.†
32% of startups reaccelerated growth in 2024, with momentum continuing into 2025.‡
Between 2019–2023, startup creation increased in 47 states.§
The U.S. leads global startup output at 46.6% of share.¶
Yet up to 90% of startups fail, and only ~10% survive long-term.#
Beyond the numbers, I’ve seen another driving force behind this resurgence. Too many professionals spend their best energy making money for someone else; often without recognition or appreciation for the work they’ve done. That experience leaves people drained and searching for meaning. Starting their own company offers a different path; ownership, autonomy, and the chance to build something that reflects their values.
This is where Vision2Velocity comes in. We help companies transform that drive into sustainable, scalable businesses.
Introducing Vision2Velocity
Vision2Velocity’s mission is to help early-stage founders and small businesses build the operational backbone that accelerates vision into velocity.
We will do this by becoming the trusted operational partner for the next generation of entrepreneurs, empowering thousands of founders and small businesses to scale with clarity, confidence, and sustainable growth so they can become lasting engines of innovation in their industries.
To bring this vision to life, we equip founders with practical tools, tailored strategies, and hands-on operational support:
Design operational audits and custom playbooks tailored to each company’s needs
Scale processes across people, finance, technology, and marketing operations
Build KPI frameworks and dashboards that keep leaders accountable
Provide fractional COO support for founders who need hands-on operational expertise
Strengthen culture and leadership alignment so teams can grow with clarity and confidence
What makes Vision2Velocity different is simple: it’s not theory. It’s built on lived experience scaling companies in high-stakes environments, navigating volatility, and delivering results when it mattered most.
Looking Ahead
I believe we are entering a new era of entrepreneurship; one where small businesses and startups will be the true engines of innovation and growth. My goal with Vision2Velocity is to ensure these founders have the same operational clarity and tools that have been used to help larger organizations grow in some of the most challenging environments.
To my colleagues, mentors, and clients from the past 25 years: thank you for shaping my journey. To the next generation of founders and future CEOs: I’m here to help you turn vision into velocity.
*Reuters. (2025, July 15). U.S. AI startups see funding surge while more VC funds struggle to raise, data shows. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/us-ai-startups-see-funding-surge-while-more-vc-funds-struggle-raise-data-shows-2025-07-15/
†Crunchbase News. (2025). State of startups Q2 & H1 2025: AI, M&A, charts, data. Retrieved from https://news.crunchbase.com/venture/state-of-startups-q2-h1-2025-ai-ma-charts-data/
‡Scale Venture Partners. (2025). From survival to strength: Startups reaccelerate growth into 2025. Retrieved from https://www.scalevp.com/insights/from-survival-to-strength-startups-reaccelerate-growth-into-2025/
§American Progress. (2023). Entrepreneurship, startups, and business formation are booming across the U.S. Retrieved from https://www.americanprogress.org/article/entrepreneurship-startups-and-business-formation-are-booming-across-the-u-s/
¶StartupBlink. (2023). Top countries by total startup output. Retrieved from https://www.startupblink.com/blog/top-countries-by-total-startup-output/
#DemandSage. (2025). Startup statistics: The ultimate list of startup facts & trends. https://www.demandsage.com/startup-statistics/