Throughout my career, I have been been interested in innovation, but not change for its own sake. Innovation to me is learning what needs to change in order to add value, whether that is an improved process, enhanced learning spaces, new products or services, or new ways to reach customers, and then innovating with a willingness to change as new information is acquired. I strive to delight with my endeavors. For a glimpse at my background, please see below. To learn more firsthand, please reach out to me, elisabeth at elisabethleonard.com.
- Freelancer, Marketing Solutions, July 2023 to present
- Transitioned from the United States to Portuguese residency, June 2021 to July 2023
- President, Library Solutions ·Jan 2006 – June 2021
Strategy, marketing, and market research consultant - Associate Director, Research and Development, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Feb 2017 – Jun 2021
Provided market research, business development, and marketing for the Association’s journal portfolio – including Science. While at AAAS, I created event marketing that increased our booth traffic, created marketing materials that increased lead generation, trained internal sales managers and external sales agents in order to increase their ability to identify business opportunities and to close deals, and served as global brand ambassador. - Executive Market Research Manager, Online Products Team, Sage Publications, Aug 2011 – Feb 2017
Reporting to the Executive Director of Product Innovation, I conducted competitive analysis, qualitative research (including focus groups, surveys, interviews, and observational studies), quantitative research (surveys, analysis of buying patterns), as well as host multiple advisory boards — all in order to better understand and meet the needs of our customers.
I worked closely with marketing, editorial, and sales to test new product concepts, product pricing, product pitches, value propositions. I provided information on the market for market size, industry trends and changes in information seeking behavior, including identification of market needs and present to our internal stakeholders on issues relevant to the market.
Externally, I shared knowledge gained through our research with our customers through white papers and conference presentations. - Associate Dean for Library Services, Western Carolina University, 2009 – Jul 2011 Deputy administrator and chief operations officer
Responsible for strategic planning and program development; assessing library programs and services; leading library communications, publicity, and marketing programs; administering the library’s budget; managing staff resources and personnel programs; overseeing facilities management and space planning; and representing and acting on behalf of the dean in campus and community activities. - Instructor, Marketing Basics for Libraries offered through the American Library Association, 2011 to 2015
- Instructor, San Jose State University, 2007 – 2011
I taught LIBR 204, a class on management of information organizations, which was a required course for all MLIS students. - PhD student, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007 – 2010
- Adjunct Instructor, UNC Greensboro, 2007 – 2008
Taught information literacy to graduate students in Library Science - Head of reference, instruction & outreach, Social Sciences and Humanities Library, University of California San Diego, May 2004 – Jul 2006
Provided leadership in reference, outreach, and instruction. Led the development and implementation of new programs. Evaluated and modified existing programs. Actively represented the concerns of the SSH Library in library wide planning initiatives. Communicated to and from library wide groups on behalf of Research Services. Facilitated staff performance. Planned and participated in the staffing of the combined Reference/Government Documents Information Desk and the Libraries Information Desk. Mentored and directly supervised 6 librarians and four staff (there were 17 employees in my line of supervision, including the staff in Current Periodicals, Newspapers & Microtext and the staff at the Libraries Information Desk). Subject liaison for the Rady School of Management. - Head of reference / Business & Economics Librarian, Wake Forest University, Jun 1998 – Mar 2004
Provided leadership, vision, and initiative in planning, implementing, marketing and assessing user-centered reference services and resources. Initiated and coordinated the information literacy program, which includes a for-credit elective course, LIB100. Provided and planned for outreach to faculty, students, and staff. Actively participated in delivery of a full range of multidisciplinary reference services. Responsible for collection development in reference, business, and economics. Subject specialist for business and economics. Mentored and supervised 6 librarians, 2 staff, and 16 student assistants.