The STAND Story
Find out who you are and go be that. Every day.
STAND was born out of the belief that powerful brands are made when you get very honest about what you stand for and where you stand. It becomes all too easy for brands to fall into the trap of trying to be something different/more than they are because that’s what they think they’re supposed to do and be, or because it’s what everyone else is doing. But we’re told when we’re young to be ourselves and people will love us for exactly that, so the same goes for the brands we grow up to build - figure out who you are and go be that. Every single day.
You can’t be everything to everyone, but you can be something really meaningful to someone. So once you get clear on who you are in this world, you’ll find that you are exactly what someone needs, wants, and loves when you show up fully honestly. At STAND, that isn’t just a powerful position to take, it’s a way of building a brand that benefits everything and everyone it touches - your people, your audience, and the spaces you were perfectly designed to fill. So let’s work together to find where you stand.
What I stand for
Authenticity
Making meaningful moves
Actually living it vs. giving lip service
Brands made to stand for something
What I can’t stand
Going through the motions
Postured purpose
”Fake it ‘til you make it” mentality
Profits over people
Vanessa Louis-Woolley | Owner + Strategist
I am an infinitely curious strategist and relentlessly creative problem solver with seventeen years of experience in brand and creative strategy. I pride myself in being a collaborative communicator skilled at connecting people, products, and places to build brands that truly inspire (and drive revenue because let’s be honest, that’s important, too). I love helping brands not only find their “Why” but tell their stories in a way that highlights their unique authenticity while also helping people see them in a new light.
My career began on the agency side, working in some of Denver’s most notable agencies (Karsh Hagan, Cactus) before switching gears and moving into a formal insights and strategy role at J.D. Power and Associates. From there I made the jump to brand side, running the digital strategy for various programming at STARZ Entertainment, then transitioned to a software development startup where I managed the marketing for both in-house product and external clients. Eventually, I made my way to Denver International Airport where I led the marketing strategy for their air service development and parking operations before going back agency side (Xuma Communications, Burns Marketing, Fact & Fiction) to lead strategic brand initiatives for B2B and B2C clients.
The approach I take with my work is to forge friendly relationships built on trust and honesty so there is comfort in exploring uncharted waters. I find that the good stuff rarely lives on the surface, so we have to dig deep together to get to the core of the brand - the birthplace of the insights, ideas, and intricacies that make your story uniquely yours. It is here that you truly uncover what you stand for, where you stand in the hearts and minds of your customers, and how you stand out against the competition, so you can stand strong in who you are and how you choose to show up in the world.