Amber Anderson

About Amber Anderson

I want to touch future generations—improving people\'s lives along the way so that my son and everyone who follows will find the world in a better place. With over 20 years leading strategy, product, and operational teams, I focus on solutions supporting people throughout life\'s journey—from childhood to later years.As the founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Tote + Pears, I\'ve built a studio that\'s positively impacted over 100 million people, helping clients connect with audiences who need them most.My career began in ed-tech, bringing online learning into the mainstream. At Apollo Group, I led a 300-person team, extending educational opportunities to over 1 million students across the U.S, U.K, Brazil, and Chile. At Education 2020 (now Imagine Learning), I set the operational framework for the K–12 product line, enabling growth from to 15 million students in schools.For over a decade, I\'ve studied how factors like gender, race, and life stage shape our worldviews and others\' perceptions of us, designing products and campaigns to meet diverse needs. The premature birth of my son brought this research full circle, offering a new perspective on work, life, and identity, and strengthening my commitment to supporting women and families.At Tote + Pears, I’ve built a network of professionals who work on initiatives supporting causes we care about. Drawing from personal experiences and professional expertise, we help organizations engage meaningfully with their audiences. I\'ve guided a diverse range of clients—from small companies like Storyworth to global brands like TED and American Express.During the Great Resignation and COVID-19 pandemic, I advised tech companies like Shipt and Globant as they scaled, and worked with established brands like Foot Locker to develop strategies to attract, retain, and empower talent in rapidly changing environments. I\'ve also collaborated with nonprofits like Girls in Tech, Women Who Code, Women in Product, and Black Women Talk Tech, supporting over 1 million women entering tech careers by diversifying the workforce and fostering inclusive cultures.My insights have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Forbes, and Inc. I host The Tote + Pears Podcast, where I bring together industry leaders and experts for candid conversations about work, life, and the experiences that shape us. My column,\"The Marketing Mix by Amber Anderson,\" on the American Express Business Trends and Insights Blog is among the site\'s most popular.Learn more or join me on the journey at toteandpears.com.

Experience

1. Founder Chief Strategy Officer

   Tote Pears

   Jan 2012 — Present · Atlanta, GA, US

   Tote + Pears is a think-and-do studio focused on people and the shifts that shape their lives. We study how policy, culture and tech influence the way people live and work. Then we work with partners to turn those insights into opportunities that make life better for all of us.

Education

• Arizona State University

  Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc), Pre-Law Studies

  2001 — 2004

• Western International University

  Master, Business Administration