Kathryn Welles.

Founder & Strategic Advisor

Brand, Content & Community Strategy

Cultural Partnerships & Programming

I help brands, publishers, cultural institutions and philanthropic organizations express what makes them distinctive, reach the right people and build relationships that last.

Through Kathryn Welles LLC, I work across brand strategy, communications, content, community, partnerships and programming, creating thoughtful ways for people to connect with an organization and participate in its world.

Portrait of Kathryn Welles against a plain warm ivory backdrop, wearing a pale blue tweed jacket
Who I Can Help
  • Consumer & Lifestyle Brands
  • Publishers
  • Cultural Institutions
  • Philanthropic Organizations
01 — About

About Me

I bring together ideas, stories and people to help organizations express what makes them distinctive and build lasting relationships.

I’m Kathryn Nixon Welles, Founder & Strategic Advisor at Kathryn Welles LLC.

My work spans brand strategy, communications, content and editorial strategy, community development, cultural partnerships and programming. I work with brands and organizations across sectors, drawing on experience in luxury, arts and culture, philanthropy and mission-driven work.

My background is in English literature, with focuses as well on psychology and sociology, and stories remain central to how I understand the world. I’m interested in what people make, what they care about and how an idea travels from one person or discipline to another.

Curiosity and close attention to language shape my approach to strategy. I look for overlooked stories, unexpected connections between disciplines and the people who can help bring an idea to life. I care equally about the larger direction and the choices that give it substance: the language, the collaborators, the quality of the content and the experience of those participating.

02 — Selected work

RedBoxMe, in collaboration with Cartier

An invitation-only platform bringing thinkers, artists, scientists and entrepreneurs into conversation through content, community and live programming.

Selected project

Bringing ideas, culture and people together

RedBoxMe was developed in collaboration with Cartier as a space for ideas, discovery and meaningful dialogue.

My work brought together brand narrative, editorial direction, content, community curation and live programming. I helped shape how the platform communicated, who participated and what members experienced, including weekly live conversations with thinkers and leaders across disciplines.

The project reflects how I work: connecting strategic thinking with the words, people and experiences that give it substance.

Guests in conversation at an intimate salon-style gathering, with artwork on the walls behind them
BrandNarrative & expression
ContentEditorial direction & development
CommunityCuration & member experience
ProgrammingLive conversations & gatherings

Scope of work

  • Brand narrative
  • Messaging & editorial voice
  • Content strategy
  • Content development
  • Community curation
  • Member experience
  • Live programming
  • Guest & speaker curation
RedBoxMe live session graphic, 'Own Your Greatness: Overcome Imposter Syndrome,' featuring Dr Lisa Orbé-Austin and Cyrille Vigneron
From the RedBoxMe live programme — “Own Your Greatness: Overcome Imposter Syndrome,” with Dr Lisa Orbé-Austin and Cyrille Vigneron.
03 — Services

What I Offer

I work across brand strategy, communications, content, community, partnerships and programming. Each engagement is shaped around your goals, your audience and the work you want to bring into the world.

i.

Brand Narrative & Expression

I help brands and organizations express their identity, values and point of view through language and storytelling that connect with the people they want to reach.

This can include core messaging, founder narratives, website copy and the story behind a new initiative or chapter. Each piece should reflect the character of the organization, communicate its value and give people a compelling reason to engage.

ii.

Communications, Content & Editorial Strategy

I develop the ideas, themes and editorial direction that give an organization a recognizable voice. My work can span articles, newsletters, interviews, thought leadership, social content and broader editorial platforms.

I consider what you have to say, who needs to hear it and how each piece contributes to a larger conversation across digital channels, print and in-person experiences.

iii.

Community & Client Engagement

I help organizations build connections around shared interests, values and experiences. That might mean developing a member community, strengthening client relationships, creating a more considered welcome or designing programming that brings people back.

I pay attention to the details that make participation feel worthwhile: the invitation, the conversation, the introductions and what happens afterward.

iv.

Cultural & Philanthropic Partnerships

I identify connections between organizations and the artists, authors, thinkers, institutions and causes that can expand their world.

From developing the initial concept to shaping the story and experience around it, I help partnerships become something people can encounter and participate in: a conversation, an editorial series, a gathering or an ongoing shared initiative.

v.

Programming & Experiences

I develop salons, conversations, interviews and curated gatherings that give people an opportunity to think, discover and connect.

My work can include the concept, themes, speakers, collaborators, guest curation, invitations and supporting content. Each choice helps create an experience that feels considered and gives the conversation somewhere to go.

04 — Approach

How I Work

I work directly with founders, leaders and teams, either on a defined project or as an ongoing strategic partner.

Visitors standing before large framed paintings in a museum gallery

First Listen & Understand

I begin by learning about your organization, your audience and what you want to achieve. We discuss the work already underway, the relationships you want to strengthen and the opportunities you want to explore.

Then Shape the Plan

I connect those priorities with a practical plan for communications, content, partnerships, community or programming, bringing strategic judgment and editorial care to the choices ahead.

Finally Bring It to Life

I help develop the language, content, collaborations and experiences that move the work forward, with attention to how people encounter and participate in your world.

What I Care About

I believe organizations earn a place in people's lives through what they contribute: knowledge, beauty, enjoyment, opportunity, understanding or a sense of belonging.

That belief shapes my work. I value thoughtful language, intellectual curiosity, generous introductions and experiences that respect people's time and attention.

I want the work I help create to have substance. Something worth reading. Someone worth meeting. A conversation that stays with you. A reason to return.

05 — Working together

Working Together

I work with founders, leaders and teams through focused projects, ongoing advisory relationships and periods of closer collaboration. The right arrangement depends on your priorities, your team and the scope of the work.

Best for — Ongoing strategic support

A continuing partnership offering strategic counsel, editorial direction and a considered outside perspective on communications, content, community and partnerships. We work together on priorities and opportunities as they develop.

Best for — A defined initiative or deliverable

A focused engagement around a specific piece of work, such as a brand narrative, editorial platform, partnership concept, community initiative or programme of events. We agree the scope, priorities and deliverables at the outset.

Best for — Additional strategic and creative capacity

Working alongside your team for an agreed period, contributing strategic direction, editorial development and coordination across a particular initiative or programme of work.

Let's Start a Conversation

If you're shaping a new chapter, sharing your story or looking for more thoughtful ways to connect with people, I'd love to hear what you're working on.

Get in touch
Kathryn Welles Founder & Strategic Advisor Chicago, Illinois kathryn@kathrynwelles.com