The Playbook: Marketing, Branding, & Strategic Collaboration

The most overlooked growth lever for early-stage entrepreneurs isn’t product quality. It’s strategic visibility. Research from HubSpot’s 2023 State of Marketing report found that businesses with documented marketing strategies are 313% more likely to achieve their goals. Most small business owners spend time creating content and almost no time distributing it. This session flips that equation.

What you will learn:
● Brand postitioning: what makes you the obvious choice
● Content vs. distribution, and why most businesses get this backwards
● Strategic partnerships as a distribution channel
● Outreach frameworks that generate warm leads
● A 30-day visibility sprint: simple, measurable, repeatable

Emotional Intelligence Focus:

●  Fear of visibility: the psychology behind staying small
● Perfectionism as a procrastination strategy
● Comparison culture and its effect on execution
● Building a value-first identity as a business owner

About the Facilitator:
Kurt Faustin
Founder & CEO, The Dropout · Certified Brain-Based Coach · Speaker & Success Strategist
Kurt Faustin has spent over a decade at the intersection of emotional intelligence, performance coaching, and community development. As founder of The Dropout, a Boston-based nonprofit recognized by both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Boston, Kurt has reached more than 50,000 individuals through keynotes, workshops, and programs designed to bridge the gap between mental health and high performance.

Kurt is a certified Brain-Based Coach and has been appointed to a City of Boston commission. His work spans schools, universities, nonprofits, and corporate partners, all united by one core belief: that execution is an emotional capacity problem before it is a strategy problem. He brings the same framework that has helped youth, educators, and executives to this series, adapted specifically for the pressures and emotional terrain of early-stage entrepreneurship.

Speakers:

Cuban Link
Jamira Haines is an entrepreneur, brand builder, and founder of CubanFit, a women’s fitness and lifestyle brand rooted in confidence, discipline, and community. With a digital audience of over 1.8 million, Jamira has transformed her influence into entrepreneurship, using authentic storytelling and strategic marketing to build brands, cultivate community, and inspire women to bet on themselves.

NOVA
Nova is a Boston-based entrepreneur and brand builder with over 13 years of experience across beauty, fashion, fitness, and digital media. She is a women’s strength trainer and the founder of Nuvoa, a lifestyle brand where gym gear meets street fashion. Nova has built multiple brands, including the successful YouTube platform she co-created for her eight-year-old daughter, Avon, which has grown to more than 1.5 million subscribers.

Daron English
Daron “D4” English, Visual Brand Strategist and Founder of AVARIA Studios, has empowered over 100+businesses to innovate and strengthen their brands, enhance digital presence, and effectively connect with their customers through media and brand strategy. With nearly a decade of experience, D4 specializes in creating compelling visual narratives that resonate deeply, driving engagement and growth for a diverse client base. His work spans a variety of sectors including hospitality, real estate, and non-profit organizations. D4’s commitment to creative excellence not only enhances brand visibility but ensures that each client's unique message resonates deeply with their audience

Del Ro
Del Ro is an entrepreneur, event producer, and Founder of Double A Management, an event management and talent booking company he launched while in college. His work spans live events, brand activations, entertainment, and community-building, collaborating with major brands, artists, and organizations across the country.

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Advance registration is preferred for all Ed Portal programs and events. Walk-in attendees may not be admitted.

Parking is limited around the Ed Portal so we recommend taking public transportation.

Public transportation options:

We are about a 15-20 minute walk from the Red Line Harvard Square station or Green Line -B Harvard Avenue station.

Several MBTA buses also stop near the intersection of North Harvard Street and Western Avenue: #66, #86, #70.

Parking information:

If you choose to drive to the Ed Portal please be prepared to utilize the two-hour on-street parking surrounding the Ed Portal or to park at Artesani Park and walk 10-12 minutes along Western Avenue to arrive at the Ed Portal. A limited number of parking spaces are available in the rear of the Ed Portal building on a first come, first serve basis. You may only use parking spaces in the rear of the Ed Portal building outlined in orange paint.

To help protect visitors and staff, members of the public are asked to stay home if they are unwell or have experienced signs of illness* in the past 24-hours.

If you require an accommodation for a disability, please call the Ed Portal ahead of time at 617-496-5022 or e-mail us at edportal@harvard.edu, and we will do our best to assist you.

* Signs of illness include: fever, chills or feeling feverish; a new cough (not related to chronic condition); new fatigue; muscle or body aches; sore throat; new nasal congestion or new runny nose (not related to seasonal allergies); nausea or vomiting; diarrhea.