Michele Don Durbin

About Michele Don Durbin

I help brands find their voice — and teams find their groove. With years of experience leading through complexity, I specialize in product marketing and go-to-market strategy that creates clarity and fuels growth. As comfortable shaping vision in the boardroom as I am honing messaging in a sprint review, I stay close to the customer, the data, and the craft.I’ve revitalized mature products, aligned pricing with real customer value, and guided companies as they expanded into new markets or prepared for acquisition. While I’ve worked across both consumer and B2B, my sweet spot is partnering with earlier-stage companies that have found product-market fit and are ready to take on new scale—expanding services, creating new categories & finding new markets, and reaching nuanced customer segments—with fresh momentum, clear focus, and creative energy.I lead with curiosity, emotional intelligence, and a strong sense of accountability, balancing big-picture strategy with a readiness to roll up my sleeves when needed. I build high-performing, inclusive teams that people want to be part of and that consistently deliver meaningful business results.

Experience

1. Board Member

   Kirby School

   Jun 2025 — Present · Santa Cruz, CA, US

   Kirby School, an independent co-educational day school, serves students in grades 6 through 12 in Santa Cruz. We start from a foundation of mutual respect and allow students to have a defining voice in their educational experience.

Education

• American University

  BA cum laude, International Relations, Economics

• Kannai Japanese Language Program, Yokohama, Japan

  Foreign study program, Japanese Language and Literature

• Alma College

  Study abroad program, Kassel, Germany, German Language and Literature

• The American University of Paris

  Study abroad program, Paris, France, Economics

Skills

• Brand Management
• Marketing Strategy
• Social Media
• Marketing
• Online Advertising
• Digital Strategy
• Management
• Direct Marketing
• Product Marketing
• Social Media Marketing
• Leadership
• Crm
• Company Branding
• Competitive Analysis
• Start-Ups
• Creative Direction
• Forecasting
• Demand Generation
• Customer Engagement
• Product Management
• Channel Partners
• Performance Measurement
• Strategy
• E-Commerce
• Sem
• Event Planning
• Partner Marketing
• Product Development
• Strategic Partnerships
• Program Management
• Go-to-Market Strategy
• Mobile Marketing
• Corporate Branding
• Brand Development
• Advertising
• Web Analytics
• Channel Management
• Integrated Marketing
• Mobile Devices
• Event Marketing