Stephen Strong

About Stephen Strong

Stephen brews his own beer and grows his own hops. Sometimes he shares.He remembers when GIFs started animating, when AOL\'s browser wouldn\'t read, when Netscape updates were an event, and waiting 15 minutes to download a Quicktime video about an exploding whale. He officially held the title Webmaster when it wasn\'t embarrassing.He started coding websites by hand in 1995 and survived the first Dotcom rise and crash (although his marchFIRST stock did not). He spent 8 years at FCB, building a world-class interactive organization for Chicago’s largest advertising agency. Then jumped client-side at Alberto Culver and Unilever, developing integrated marketing programs for leading beauty CPG brands. He then tried Start Up Land and Agency Land again. Ended up back in Marketing Land helping your home paint projects be less painful. He now leads digital consumer products at one of the greatest healthcare institutions on Earth.He has 30 years of global marketing and digital experience explaining that VR is the new QR; that expecting \"word of mouth\" is the same as hoping something \"goes viral\"; and that brand-distributed consumer advocacy is a real thing. But at least those exploding whale videos download a hell of a lot faster now.

Experience

1. Director, Digital Consumer Products

   Northwestern Medicine

   Mar 2024 — Present · US

   Northwestern Medicine is a nationally-recognized Academic healthcare system, consistently ranked #1 in Illinois and top 10 nationally by US News World Report. It is one of Illinois\' largest healthcare institutions with over 300 locations, 13 hospitals and employees. Lead digital strategies and execution for patient experiences across NM websites, mobile apps and applications servicing 1.2 million patients annually. User Experience discipline to supports patient, clinical and employee digital initiatives-Create digital strategies and roadmaps that lead organizations into new offerings and services. Accountable for both strategic decisions and their execution -Simplify “the digital story” for executive leadership to establish support and confidence-Build high-performing teams providing foundations for digital products and platforms, delivering at higher velocities over time-Distribute skillsets, process and capabilities to other areas of the organization, providing fast-paced digital change

Education

• Warwick University, England

  Study Abroad, English, Marketing

  1990 — 1991

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  BA, English, Advertising minor

  1988 — 1992

Skills

• Endorsements
• Wit
• Digging
• Flash Websites
• Classic Rock
• Smelting
• Growing Hops
• Brewing Beer
• Dial-Up Networking
• Ignoring Endorsements
• Cramps Lyrics
• Chewing Gum
• Gif Animator
• Asphalt Shingles
• Brewing
• Craft Beer
• Pole Dancing
• Waterproofing
• Laughter Yoga
• Toileting
• Cd-Rom
• Gif89a
• Rolling
• Parking Lots
• Dark Comedy
• Ipa