Strategic Director

KYLE GOULDEN

Brand & Creative  ·  AI Transformation  ·  Operations

Netflix
Samsung
Mastercard Foundation
Accenture
Discovery
McKinsey
FNB
Afropunk
Ogilvy
Network BBDO
NYDA
Visi Magazine
Publicis
African Leadership Group
Netflix
Samsung
Mastercard Foundation
Accenture
Discovery
McKinsey
FNB
Afropunk
Ogilvy
Network BBDO
NYDA
Visi Magazine
Publicis
African Leadership Group

About

There are new horizons being made every day. Pathways into the unknown. We need visionary thinking with a human touch to spark meaningful change.

Leader with a record of bold results

For over two decades, I've been turning ambitious ideas into reality — from shaping award-winning campaigns to scaling startups into globally recognized brands. My career is built on curiosity, experimentation, and the ability to navigate across industries and mediums to create work that stands out and delivers measurable impact.

Creativity, Strategy, Technology, Humanity

I combine strategic thinking, technological foresight, and creative instinct to achieve transformative outcomes. I've led high-performing global teams, coached leaders and organizations, built thriving employer brands, and pioneered AI-driven creative workflows.

Guided by curiosity and purpose

Personally, I'm a lifelong learner, storyteller, and explorer. Using creativity as a driver of change. I'm driven by work that matters, seeking opportunities where creativity has the power to make a tangible difference.

Key Achievements

51x

Brand Growth

Drove ALX brand growth by 51x over 3 years; 75 campaigns; 8.9 million content views.

95%

Team NPS

Achieved 95% Team NPS and 92% Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT).

67K

Users Launched

Launched ALX Ventures MVP to 67,000 users alongside The FutureList, ALI, and The ROOM Fellowship.

41+

Coaching Clients

One-on-one coaching across career transitions, neurodiversity, and wholistic life services.

50%

Application Increase

Led Employer Brand evolution using HCD and UX methodologies, resulting in a 50% increase in job applications.

12

Global Marketing Hubs

Established 12 localized marketing hubs and a global center of brand excellence.

Portfolio & Case Studies

A selection of strategic and creative work showcasing brand development, digital transformation, and transformational impact.

Experience

2024 – Today

Independent logo
Independent

Strategic advisory across brand, transformation & operations

Strategic Director: Brand, Transformation & Operations

  • Consulted for a diverse global portfolio across tech, education, non-profit, and agency sectors. Delivered high-impact results for blue-chip clients (Samsung, Netflix, McKinsey) and spearheaded transformation for NPO, NGO, and Impact organisations including IDEO, ELRU, Appleseed, and Umuzi.
  • Designed and executed comprehensive Go-To-Market strategies for Impact brands. Transformed complex social missions into resonant market presences, achieving 1-3 month brand launches with a 1,200% increase in brand awareness for key non-profit partners.
  • Architected foundational operational layers to scale social impact. Empowered startups and NGOs to launch new products and identities, driving a 3x increase in asset creation and a 50% increase in ROI through systemic enablement and operational documentation.
  • Modernised organisational divisions through full-scale AI integration. Deployed Gen-AI workflows and LLM implementations (Relevance.ai, Perplexity, LM Studio) that realised a 35% increase in time saved, allowing impact teams to focus on high-value mission work.
  • Optimised CRM ecosystems and no-code automation for donor and community growth. Engineered streamlined workflows (Zapier, Make, n8n) and managed complex growth funnels (Salesforce, HubSpot, Monday.com) to turn manual processes into streamlined automations.
  • Built departments and mission-driven organisations from the ground up. Defined organisational structures and internal cultures to enhance CX and EX, directly increasing staff retention and internal CSAT scores within the non-profit sector.
  • Implemented rigorous project management and execution engines. Established operational systems to ensure stability in high-complexity environments, managing over 70 individual and large-scale teams across diverse impact projects.
  • Directed web infrastructure and digital ecosystems for global NGOs. Oversaw the development and optimisation of platforms (Webflow, Squarespace, Elementor) and analytics frameworks (Hotjar) to ensure high-performance digital presence for impact-focused initiatives.

Impact

1200%

Brand Awareness

35%

Time Saved via AI

70+

Teams Managed

2020 – Today

Wholistic Creative logo
Wholistic Creative

Coaching practice for leaders, creatives & career transitioners

Wholistic & Creative Leadership Coach

  • Provided one-on-one coaching to 41+ clients focusing on career transitions, personal transformation, creative pursuits, neurodiversity, and holistic life services.
  • Facilitated individual access to innate wisdom and potential, leveraging strengths-based focus, neuroscience, and mindfulness-based approaches.
  • Assisted creatives in rediscovering inherent inspiration while fostering curiosity, playfulness, and creativity.

Impact

41+

Clients

96%

CSAT

78%

Promoted

2024

Sand Technologies logo
Sand Technologies

AI-powered enterprise solutions for digital transformation across Africa

Head of Agency Division

  • Launched and led the agency division as a global creative engine. Optimised client service delivery and recruited elite international talent to provide bespoke creative services, overseeing studio operations, resource planning, and strategic department scaling.
  • Spearheaded the comprehensive brand development of Sand Technologies. Translated the CEO's initial vision into a market-ready MVP, directing every touchpoint from strategy and positioning to content creation, web infrastructure, and global event presence.
  • Directed B2B sales enablement and marketing infrastructure. Developed high-impact operational tools and assets that empowered the sales team to secure and scale enterprise-grade partnerships.
  • Realised a 50% increase in online job applications. Led the evolution of the Employer Brand through human-centred design and UX methodologies, while steering change management and high-performance team building initiatives.
  • Orchestrated stakeholder and board-level strategy sessions. Facilitated 15 intensive client workshops to define customer journeys and launch new brands, covering IP development, audience messaging, and creative asset delivery.
  • Served as a global brand ambassador and keynote speaker. Delivered the branding keynote at Comic Con Africa 2024 and represented the organisation at international summits across the UK, US, and pan-African markets.
  • Empowered 40+ individuals through transformational coaching. Provided career progression support and leadership peer coaching, fostering a culture of professional growth and psychological safety.

Impact

50%

More Applicants

15

Workshops

40+

Coached

Promoted to

2023 – 2024

ALX Africa logo
ALX Africa

Pan-African tech education platform scaling the next generation of leaders

Global Director of Brand Experience

  • Strategically expanded the global brand ecosystem through high-impact MVP launches. Orchestrated the end-to-end development of ALX Ventures—a pan-African incubator and venture engine for tech startups—engaging 67,000+ participants by unifying content production and automation frameworks.
  • Led the brand identity and global launch of The ROOM. Built this exclusive talent network for elite tech professionals from the ground up, ensuring resonant positioning and community-driven design to connect top talent with transformative opportunities.
  • Architected and launched The FutureList as a premier startup-investor ecosystem. Rebranded and scaled this curated platform to showcase over 4,000 African tech startups to global venture capital, bridging the 'visibility gap' between founders and international markets.
  • Directed the brand strategy for Sand Technologies. Delivered the positioning and digital infrastructure for this global AI and technology consulting firm, providing the strategic foundation required to serve a blue-chip B2B audience.
  • Directed global brand storytelling and high-fidelity content production. Led the creative direction for founder narratives, impact-led testimonials, and product demonstrations across the portfolio, ensuring a cohesive and human-centric brand voice for diverse audiences.
  • Steered cross-functional growth strategies and acquisition integration. Led brand alignment for three major acquisitions (Holberton, Explore AI, and Synaflux), ensuring seamless transition and contribution to organisational growth through strategic GTM and CRO funnels.
  • Architected a global 'Centre of Brand Excellence' and 12 localised marketing hubs. Coordinated six cross-functional teams to scale marketing efforts across digital, event, and sales channels, utilising agile project management and brand governance tools.
  • Pioneered AI-creative workflow strategies to accelerate output. Integrated a generative AI stack with design systems to modernise creative operations and enhance team efficiency across the entire global portfolio.

Impact

67K

Users at Launch

12

Market Hubs

3

Acquisitions

Promoted to

2022 – 2023

ALX Africa logo
ALX Africa

Pan-African tech education platform scaling the next generation of leaders

Creative & Brand Director

  • Drove brand development and exponential growth by 51× over three years. Activating over 75 campaigns that garnered 8.9 million views and scaled applications to 320,000 through data-driven content and social strategy.
  • Orchestrated high-fidelity content production and multi-channel brand identity. Directed photo, video, and motion workflows utilizing a modern tech stack (Descript, CapCut, Figma) to ship consistent assets across Print, OOH, and Social.
  • Architected scalable web infrastructure and design systems. Leveraged Webflow, Wordpress, and Relume to ensure a cohesive digital presence while maintaining creative direction over all global brand materials and physical space branding.
  • Enhanced cross-divisional operations through refined project management. Boosted efficiency across the organisation by establishing KPIs, conducting Agile sprints, and implementing AI-driven copy and design tools (Jasper, Copy.AI, Creatopy) to accelerate output.
  • Achieved a 95% internal team NPS and 92% CSAT. Led customer insights and UX research initiatives to capture the 'voice of the customer,' ensuring brand development was rooted in human-centred design and measurable data.

Impact

51x

Brand Growth

8.9M

Content Views

320K

Applications

2017 – 2019

Umuzi logo
Umuzi

Youth development non-profit training high-potential talent for the digital economy

Senior Product Owner & Creative Director

  • Directed the multimedia and design department to deliver high-impact learning experiences. Led multiple product teams in generating industry-relevant content, bridging the gap between creative discipline and professional execution.
  • Launched and scaled cross-functional creative departments. Architected a multimedia curriculum focused on experiential training, utilizing a digital ecosystem (Moodle, Discord, and Circle) to foster community and accelerate learning.
  • Spearheaded brand transformation and identity development. Produced a suite of collateral including impact-driven films, social assets, and internal culture content to strengthen organizational identity, managed through Sprout Social and Hootsuite.
  • Realised a 65% increase in job placement rates. Mentored and coached creatives through the intensive bootcamp process and post-graduation journey, providing strategic guidance to ensure successful career placements across diverse fields.
  • Engineered an online mental health and wellness archive to empower talent. Utilised human-centred design, rapid prototyping, and community facilitation to build a self-serve platform dedicated to long-term talent success.

Impact

65%

Placement Rate

3+

Teams Launched

95%

Career Readiness

Coaching

Transformational & Leadership Coach

COMENSA AccreditedAC Accredited

Specializing in leadership, impact, neurodiversity, systems-based coaching, and human-centered design. I actively leverage this practice to build psychological safety, increase team retention, and drive both individual and collective success.

6+

Years In Practice

41+

Clients Served

96%

CSAT

Visit my coaching website for more

Leadership

Coaching leaders at all levels to step into their authority with clarity, confidence, and strategic vision — using neuroscience and systems-based approaches.

Neurodiversity

Specializing in supporting neurodiverse individuals to understand how their minds work, leverage their unique strengths, and navigate environments built for different thinking styles.

Human-Centered Practice

Building psychological safety and increasing team retention through human-centered design. I actively leverage this practice to drive both individual and collective success.

Impact & Change Maker Support

Supporting founders, creatives, and change makers in clarifying their vision, sustaining momentum, and making meaningful impact without burning out.

Work Together

Let's build something worth remembering.

Whether you need a strategic partner, a creative director, or an executive coach — I work with organizations ready to move from ambition to impact.

Get in TouchDownload Info SheetConnect on LinkedIn

Leadership Philosophy

Five core principles that guide how I lead, build, and create impact.

Vision-Led

I believe in painting a clear picture of where we're going and why it matters. A compelling vision creates alignment, inspires action, and transforms how teams move together toward shared goals.

People-Centered

Growth happens through people. I invest in developing talent, creating psychological safety, and fostering an environment where individuals can bring their whole selves to work and achieve their potential.

Results-Driven

Ambition paired with accountability. I set bold but achievable goals, measure progress rigorously, and iterate quickly. Every decision is connected to outcomes that matter.

Innovation-First

The future belongs to those who experiment boldly. I embrace calculated risks, learn from failures, and create space for creative breakthroughs that challenge the status quo.

Purpose-Driven

Work should matter. I'm drawn to initiatives that create meaningful impact—whether that's transforming organizations, developing emerging talent, or building brands that stand for something.

Skill Matrix

Creative + Brand Development

Creative DirectionBrand Identity, Development and StrategyDesign, Print, Motion Graphics, Editing, CompositingProduct + Brand PositioningGlobal / Ecosystem Brand Management

Strategic Marketing + Growth

Paid Campaign Strategy + CROContent Strategy + Social Media StrategyCommunity Development + EngagementGTM Strategy + MVP LaunchesB2B Marketing + Sales Enablement

Design Thinking + Innovation

Human-Centered Design (HCD)UX Research / Behavioral EconomicsCurriculum Development + Learning DesignOrganization Vision Development

Digital Transformation

AI Integration & WorkflowsDigital Infrastructure & SystemsChange Management & AdoptionDigital Capability BuildingTechnology Strategy & Planning

Leadership + Coaching

Cross Functional Team Management + WorkshopsYouth Development and MentorshipGlobal / Remote Team Leadership1:1 Leadership + Career CoachingTransformational Leadership

Operations + Resource Management

Studio Operations + OptimizationBudget + Resource AllocationAgile Project ManagementKPI Development + MonitoringBrand Integration + Localization

Tech Stack & Tools

Creative & Motion

Adobe Creative SuiteAffinity SuiteFigmaCanvaCreatopyAfter EffectsPremiere ProDaVinci ResolveCinema4DWave AI Video EditorCapcutDescript

Web & Hosting

WebflowSquarespaceWordPressElementorPixpaGoogle SitesHotJarRelume

Brand & Marketing

FrontifyAirBrandwatchG4AHubSpotSalesforceFolkCRMSprout SocialBufferHootsuite

Presentation & Comms

Pitch.comJasperCopyAIGammaPresentation.AITomeWritesonicWordtuneLeapAIBeautifulAINotebookLMElevenLabs

Automation & Ops

n8nZapierMakeOpenAI APIRize1PasswordLastPassDovetailDocusignTypeform

Project & Strategy

ClickUpMonday.comAsanaBasecampTrelloNotionMiroMuralAirtableMilanoteFigJamObsidian

Community & Education

MoodleThinkificKajabiRiseDiscordCircle.soTwitchOBS / StreamLabsFB LiveYT Live

Infrastructure

Google WorkspaceGoogle StorageOffice 365SlackMS TeamsZoomGoogle MeetLoomGrainFirefliesFathomColibri

AI & LLMs

ChatGPTClaudeGoogle GeminiMidjourneyRunwayMLKling.AIPerplexityLM StudioRelevance.AIComfyUI

Awards & Accreditations

Accreditations

COMENSA

2024

Coaches & Mentors of South Africa

Leadership for Creatives

2022

Domestika

Advanced Certificate in Coaching Practice (ACCP)

2020

Association of Coaching

Transformational Coach

2020

Mindful Talent

Storytelling for Impact

2020

IDEO U

Awards

Best On-Air Branding Design - Silver (Ident Cult)

Promax BDA SA • 2014

Best On-Air Branding Design - Gold (C&I Rebrand)

Promax BDA SA • 2014

Channel Brand of the Year - Gold (C&I)

Promax BDA SA • 2014

Channel Brand of the Year – Gold (C&I Rebrand)

Promax Global • 2014

Screen Africa Best Movie Promo – Gold Muse

Promax Global • 2011

Best On-Air Branding Design – Gold (C&I Rebrand)

Promax Global • 2014

Featured In

Critical HitHouse & LeisureGarden & HomeBASAVISIBusiness LiveSandton MagazinePix Magazine

Exhibitions

  • The Catalyst – Youngbloods
  • The Catalyst – UJ Art Gallery
  • The Catalyst – Turbine Art Fair

Contact

Ready to explore what's possible?

Whether you need creative direction, operational clarity, or transformational coaching, let's start a conversation.

Book a Discovery Call

Services

Strategic, creative, and transformational work tailored to your organization's unique challenges and opportunities.

Strategic Consulting

Brand strategy, market positioning, and go-to-market planning for growth-stage companies.

Creative Direction

Innovative brand campaigns, digital transformation, and creative systems design.

Leadership Coaching

One-on-one and group coaching for leaders navigating career transitions and growth.

Transformation Programs

Organization-wide digital transformation, team development, and culture design.

Testimonials

“Beyond branding, he exhibits a unique drive for leading teams and individuals towards purpose beyond themselves.”

S.S.

4x Founder & Global Speaker | Entrepreneurship Educator | Brand/Marketing Leader

“His deep curiosity not only ensures that he uncovers the right questions to ask in every situation but also the best answers for those questions, all the while keeping him humble and eager to learn and do—all the most valuable qualities in a strategist, designer, and leader.”

J.S.

Service & Product Designer

“He leverages his professional coaching experience to support colleagues in their development and proactively leads initiatives to educate and immerse the organization in the world of creative work.”

A.S.

Head of GTM, US

“I consider working with him, an honour, and if you are presented with an opportunity to work with him, you bet he will change the way you see life and work.”

N.J.V.

Brand Strategist | Brand Manager | Operations | Art Director | Digital Marketing

“An expert on bringing people together, he builds thoughtful and empathic teams that solve problems holistically. He facilitates cross-team/department challenges with ease, reminding those around him of the unique value they each bring to the project. He is a multiplier.”

V.M.

Customer Acquisition Leader & Creative Strategist

“Each time I spoke to him I ended the call energized and ready to take over the world. He was able to take my crazy ideas and turn them into reality and dismantle all my worries about what a successful and valuable project is.”

L.K.

Product Owner & Digital Transformation Catalyst

“Beyond branding, he exhibits a unique drive for leading teams and individuals towards purpose beyond themselves.”

S.S.

4x Founder & Global Speaker | Entrepreneurship Educator | Brand/Marketing Leader

“His deep curiosity not only ensures that he uncovers the right questions to ask in every situation but also the best answers for those questions, all the while keeping him humble and eager to learn and do—all the most valuable qualities in a strategist, designer, and leader.”

J.S.

Service & Product Designer

“He leverages his professional coaching experience to support colleagues in their development and proactively leads initiatives to educate and immerse the organization in the world of creative work.”

A.S.

Head of GTM, US

“I consider working with him, an honour, and if you are presented with an opportunity to work with him, you bet he will change the way you see life and work.”

N.J.V.

Brand Strategist | Brand Manager | Operations | Art Director | Digital Marketing

“An expert on bringing people together, he builds thoughtful and empathic teams that solve problems holistically. He facilitates cross-team/department challenges with ease, reminding those around him of the unique value they each bring to the project. He is a multiplier.”

V.M.

Customer Acquisition Leader & Creative Strategist

“Each time I spoke to him I ended the call energized and ready to take over the world. He was able to take my crazy ideas and turn them into reality and dismantle all my worries about what a successful and valuable project is.”

L.K.

Product Owner & Digital Transformation Catalyst