Agency Partner, Strategy

Ashley Costello

What I do at Virtual:
Today, I co-create with clients to plan and execute strategic initiatives, optimize board alignment, and enhance organizational structures to propel their organizations forward. My focus is on fostering innovation, prioritizing customer-centricity, and implementing effective problem-solving strategies to exceed customer expectations and achieve business objectives.


Years of experience:
17 years in strategy, sales enablement and commercial marketing


Past employment:

  • Philips Healthcare
  • Stackpole & Partners
  • Tufts Health Plan
  • OneSource (acquired by Dun & Bradstreet)

Education:
Bryant University – Communications and Marketing and MITdesignX – Certificate in Designing High Impact Solutions


Favorite client story:
When working with a client on a rebrand, we worked together on an out-of-the box integrated campaign launch that cut through the noise on a limited budget. It’s not every day that you get to convince a farmer to cut their corn field in the shape of a giant new logo as a teaser for a brand relaunch and later used as a corn maze for a community event. It was a wonderful experience seeing this customer create awareness, engage in their community and drive membership in a highly saturated commodity category. This smaller player in the market made quite the impact against the bigger brands in the market.


Hidden talent:
80’s dance moves


What I do for fun:
Spend time outdoors with my husband and daughters (Emilia & Madelyn), yoga, snowboarding, hiking, biking and cooking


I can’t live without:
My morning walks


Important life lesson:
‘a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step’ Don’t be afraid to take that first step whatever that might look like.


Key to success:

Build deep empathy with people you’re designing for


Favorite Movie, Book, Food, Music:

  • Movie: Rudy
  • Book: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
  • Food: Oysters – I keep a document that rates every kind that I’ve tried
  • Band: The Band – Going to the midnight ramble at Levon Helm’s barn in Woodstock, New York was one of my favorite music experiences.
  • Song: Signed, sealed, delivered – Stevie Wonder