
Randy D.
5.0
(10)
Top Journalist, PR, Marketing, Biz Writer 20+ yrs | Nail your Application!
Studied at Robert H. Smith School of Business
Worked at Procter & Gamble
Available Monday at 5:30 PM UTC
Usually responds within 18 hours
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Randy's Coaching Offerings

Write Powerful College Essays
Expert help to brainstorm, draft, and polish winning college essays
Starting at $3565h+ of coaching

Get Into Your Dream College — Getting Started
Build a strong foundation and college strategy from day one
Starting at $3565h+ of coaching

Common App Essay Review + Free BYU Essay Review (2-4 hours)
Expert help on your college admissions essays
$4752h–4h of coaching
Custom hourly
Get help with Financial Aid & Scholarships, Editing, and .
Randy’s College Qualifications
10+ people coached for College
The way we are taught to write in school is wrong. You know the style—boring, wordy, and utterly forgettable! It takes hours to write, and the end product is gray wallpaper, which lacks story and blends in to every other essay. That won't get you where you want to go...unless as an academic you're publishing in a scientific journal that no one will ever read. I am a highly trained writer. I graduated in PR/Journalism, was named #1 senior in Journalism, and was a writer for 2 years for PR and Marketing departments through school. My writing helped me secure scholarships, internships, and a job for one of the largest PR agencies in the world. I thought I knew how to write. I was wrong. Years later, I was Global Brand Manager at P&G leading a $2B brand. In this $85B company, multi-million dollar decisions were made based on written one-pagers. Clear and compelling writing was vital. They taught, "Writing = Thinking. If you can't write clearly, you haven't thought clearly." I learned how to write for impact and do it in a fraction of the time. If you are applying for college admission, a specific program, or internship, I can help you to nail the writing, stand out, and secure your place.
Randy can help with:
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Editing
Recommendations
Interviews
Essays
Resume
Randy also coaches for Career Coaching, Executive Coaching, Marketing, Military, and Startups. View all.
About Randy
With 20+ years of experience leading strategy, marketing, product management and innovation for top companies ranging from startups to Fortune 50 global giants, I’ve led and worked with some of the most respected companies in the world like Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, P&G, Target, and many more. I bring expertise from many domains including Tech, CPG, Retail, Consumer Products, Couture Fashion, etc. After achieving my corporate goals, I cofounded a Silicon Valley startup accelerator, started companies, and lead a strategy consultancy. I’ve built high-performing teams, launched category-defining products, and drove record-setting growth consistently across my career. Exciting? Yes. But what really matters to me is helping others to achieve their dreams. I’m deeply committed to helping people grow. While new to Leland, over the past decade, I’ve coached hundreds of professionals—from early-career starters to transitioning executives and elite U.S. Special Operators—guiding them through career pivots, crafting resumes, networking, interview mastery, and offer negotiation. I meet clients where they are and help them move forward with clarity, confidence, and momentum. What I Help With • Career Strategy & Navigation – Whether you're leveling up, switching industries, or starting over, I help clarify your direction and build your roadmap. • Get Past Gatekeepers to Hiring Managers – Teach you the strategies to bypass the gatekeepers and the blackhole of ignored applications. • Career Reconnaissance to Position You for Success – Learn how to find the right role for you, get insight, build rapport, and get insiders to ask for you! • Resume & LinkedIn Optimization – Translate your value into clear, differentiated messaging that stands out in competitive markets. • Interview & Offer Coaching – Sharpen your storytelling, anticipate hard questions, and negotiate from a position of strength. • Executive Leadership Coaching – For emerging or seasoned leaders, I help you refine your leadership presence and decision-making. • Military-to-Civilian Transition – As a mentor to U.S. Special Operators, I help elite veterans translate their strengths into meaningful civilian careers. My Approach I blend two decades of experience working with some of the best companies and leaders together with coaching that’s rooted in emotional intelligence, storytelling, and authenticity. I believe successful careers start with understanding people: your audience, your team, and yourself. If you’re looking for an honest partner who has done the work, built the brands, hired the talent, and helped others rise—you’re in the right place. Let's connect.
Why do I coach?
I coach because I’ve seen the transformative power of mentors — both in my life and those whom I have supported. At pivotal moments in my life and career, coaches helped me find clarity, courage, and direction when the roadmap disappeared or no longer fit. They helped me navigate transitions, find purpose, and develop the confidence to pursue goals that seemed out of reach. I coach to give back what so many helped me to achieve. I believe YOU have a unique story worth telling, a destiny to achieve, and a distinct set of strengths waiting to be unlocked. Coaching isn’t about giving you a script—it’s about helping you to discover your own voice and chart a path that aligns with who you are and where you want to go. Whether I’m supporting a seasoned executive in a career reinvention, an MBA applicant working to tell their story with authenticity, or a military veteran navigating civilian life, I bring empathy, clarity, and hard-won insight to each conversation. My greatest fulfillment comes from watching people step into their potential, land the role, earn the offer, or simply rediscover what matters most. Everyone deserves someone in their corner who can help them get unstuck, reframe setbacks, and move forward with intention. That’s what I strive to be—for every client I work with.
Work Experience

Founder & President
Innovacean
August 2016 - Present
Lead strategic agency that helps companies scale through customer-driven product innovation, data analysis, research, strategy, and go-to-market execution. Innovacean combines the expertise of a strategy consultancy with the execution expertise of marketing agency to bring end-to-end solutions. Helps companies create product/service solutions and open new channels to drive disruptive growth.

Cofounder
sFoundation
April 2019 - April 2020
Co-founded Silicon Valley startup accelerator. Coached startup founders on market research, MVP development, product market fit, marketing, and investment preparation. Developed strategic mentorship with Startup@UC Berkeley. Met with investors to garner investment, build strategic relationships, and achieve revenue goals.
Vice President of Marketing & Innovation
Tailored Brands
September 2017 - February 2019
As senior marketing officer, led brand strategy, marketing, and innovation for one of the largest men's specialty brands in the US (Men's Wearhouse). Managed marketing teams, agencies, initiatives, steering committees, channel plans, and budget. Drove transformational growth in sales, acquisition, retention and a turnaround to consistent profitable growth.

Director of Marketing & Product Management
Luxottica
April 2013 - August 2016
Led holistic marketing and e-commerce product management for the world's largest eyewear company (owns LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Ray-Ban, Oakley, etc.). Led brand strategy, innovation marketing, and online customer journey. Led strategic roadmap, user needs, competitive analysis, cross-functional development, and Go-To-Market execution. Reversed 10-year decline; drove record sales, profitability, retention, and traffic growth for 3 years.
Brand Manager - Global, Innovation, and N. America
Procter & Gamble
March 2010 - April 2013
Led $2B global brand, managed P&L, $45MM marketing budget, and innovation pipeline. Partnered with regional teams, managed agencies, media, channel plans, and led broad cross-functional teams. Launched holistic brand restage, product innovation, and creative campaign that drove business from 10-year decline to positive growth.
Marketing Manager
Target
April 2006 - December 2009
Led holistic marketing for multiple categories including $6B Electronics category, Registries, and Holiday Gifting. Helped Apple to launch the company's first retail store-in-store. Developed joint business plans with Samsung, Sony, Microsoft, LG, and others. Led category development for Target.com--the 2nd largest e-commerce site in the world. Helped develop the first integrated realtime experience between site and store in the retail industry. Drove +42% growth in online sales (+$44MM) and propelled category to the 4th highest-traffic category on all of Target.com.
Randy was also given offers to work at
Abbott
Brighthouse Financial
Education
Robert H. Smith School of Business
MBA, Marketing
2002 - 2004
Utah State University
Bachelors, Journalism/Public Relations
1993 - 1999
Graduated Magna Cum Laude. Awarded Outstanding Senior in Print Journalism by Department.
10 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Knowledge
5.0
Value
5.0
Responsiveness
5.0
Supportiveness
5.0
Randy has helped clients get into these companies: