Jill L.

Experience

• 

  Sage

  Senior Director, Retail Product Marketing and Product Strategy

  Nov 2024 - May 2025

  Sage — a global provider of cloud business management software (accounting, payroll and payments) that helps small and mid-sized businesses run their operations.

  • Defined and executed retail product strategy and roadmap to align Sage’s product portfolio with evolving retailer needs, prioritizing features that reduced manual reconciliation and improved store-level visibility.
  • Led go-to-market for multiple retail product launches, creating positioning, messaging, competitive differentiation and sales enablement that shortened sales cycles and improved win rates.
  • Partnered closely with product, engineering and UX to translate customer and channel feedback into prioritized product requirements and measurable KPIs (time-to-value, adoption, churn).
  • Built cross-functional playbooks (pricing, packaging, onboarding) and trained global field teams to ensure consistent execution across regions and channel partners.
  • Introduced customer segmentation and use-case marketing for retail verticals, driving more relevant campaigns and higher lead-to-opportunity conversion rates.
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  Sage

  Senior Industry Marketing Director, Retail

  Nov 2023 - May 2025

  • Owned industry marketing for retail: developed vertical messaging, buyer personas and content programs to position Sage as a retail transformation partner.
  • Directed integrated demand-generation campaigns (digital, events, PR, analyst relations) that increased qualified retail pipeline and improved marketing-sourced revenue.
  • Collaborated with solutions and partners (POS, payments, e‑commerce) to build co-marketing programs and joint value propositions for multi-channel retailers.
  • Created retailer-focused thought leadership (research, case studies, webinars) used by sales to accelerate conversations with C-level and merchandising stakeholders.
  • Implemented measurement frameworks to report campaign ROI, pipeline velocity and content effectiveness to senior leadership.
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  Inventory Planner by Sage

  Global Director of Product Marketing, Inventory Planner

  Oct 2022 - Nov 2023

  Inventory Planner — an inventory planning and forecasting solution for e-commerce merchants that provides automated replenishment recommendations and integrates with platforms like Shopify, Amazon and BigCommerce.

  • Owned global product marketing for Inventory Planner, translating complex forecasting and replenishment functionality into clear value propositions for merchants and partners.
  • Led global product launches and major integration announcements (Shopify, Amazon, BigCommerce), coordinating product, docs, support and field enablement to drive fast adoption.
  • Developed pricing and packaging strategies informed by usage data and customer segmentation, increasing monetization of advanced forecasting features.
  • Created sales enablement, website messaging and self-serve onboarding flows that improved activation and reduced time-to-first-purchase for new customers.
  • Collaborated with customer success and analytics to define feature adoption metrics and iterate on product messaging based on real-world merchant outcomes (reduced stockouts, lower overstock).
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  Inventory Planner by Sage

  Vice President of Revenue

  Nov 2021 - Oct 2022

  • Led revenue strategy and operations, owning pipeline growth, pricing, renewals and GTM alignment to scale ARR.
  • Built and executed a repeatable sales motion for SMB and mid-market merchants, establishing KPIs, CRM processes and commission structures that improved forecast accuracy.
  • Partnered with marketing to convert demand into predictable revenue through targeted campaigns, trial optimizations and expanded channel partnerships.
  • Instituted renewal and expansion programs with customer success to maximize lifetime value and reduce churn.
  • Implemented data-driven reporting and forecasting processes to provide leadership with timely visibility into bookings, churn drivers and growth levers.
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  Inventory Planner by Sage

  Vice President of Business Development and Marketing (company acquired August 2021)

  Apr 2018 - Dec 2021

  • Spearheaded business development and marketing to accelerate growth and prepare the company for acquisition.
  • Established strategic partner relationships (platforms, agencies, marketplaces) that expanded distribution channels and referral revenue.
  • Built the marketing function and pipeline programs that demonstrated scalable demand growth to acquirers, including positioning, content and performance campaigns.
  • Negotiated commercial partnerships and led due-diligence readiness for M&A, aligning product, finance and legal for a smooth transaction.
  • Designed post-acquisition integration plans for go-to-market, partner programs and customer communications to protect revenue and retention.
• 

  SitStay.com

  CEO (company acquired 2018)

  Mar 2014 - Feb 2018

  • Develop and lead implementation new business direction building on strengths of existing company
  • Build and empower team to significantly improve all financial, customer service and operational aspect of the business
  • Monitor inventory turnover, product ordering needs, and cash flow
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  Nelnet

  Marketing Specialist - Innovation Hub

  Sep 2013 - Mar 2014

  • Cultivate new business ideas through customer development with internal and external customers
  • Using Lean Startup techniques, vetted ideas for new venture development.
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  NMotion

  Program Manager

  Mar 2013 - Sep 2013

  • Train startup companies in lean startup techniques, including customer development and market validation
  • Participate in selection of startup team to NMotion program
  • Advise and support five startup teams during three-month accelerator program
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  Pop Art

  Owner

  Apr 2012 - Sep 2014

  • Pop Art frozen treats are handcrafted pops featuring fun, fresh flavors. We focus on locally sourced ingredients, skipping preservatives and artificial flavors.
  • Started and developed gourmet popsicle business from idea, implementation and deployment
  • Increased revenue over 300% from first to second year
  • Continuously conducted intake of customer feedback and input to improve product, branding and sales
• 

  NUtech Ventures

  Marketing and Operations Manager

  Oct 2010 - Sep 2013

  • Overseeing external marketing and communications with businesspersons, investors, and entrepreneurs regarding the latest advances in University technology development and innovation to develop new engagement opportunities to support broadened and deepened R&D public-private partnerships.
  • Organizing the internal activities of NUtech Ventures to ensure the schedules, meetings and goals of each division work together to meet organizational goals.
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  University of Nebraska-Lincoln

  Industry Relations for the Office of Research and Economic Development

  Jun 2009 - Oct 2010

  University of Nebraska–Lincoln — a public R1 research university and Big Ten member focused on undergraduate education, research and economic development.

  • Connected businesses with university resources across faculty, student talent, facilities and instrumentation to support R&D and professional development.
  • Coordinated cross-campus stakeholders to match company needs with faculty expertise and student project teams, accelerating applied research and internship placements.
  • Developed and promoted engagement programs and workshops that increased industry–university collaborations and streamlined access to university services.
  • Facilitated proposal support and introductions that helped local companies secure research partnerships and leverage university labs and equipment.
  • Measured and reported partnership outcomes to the Office of Research and Economic Development to inform strategy and resource allocation.
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  United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut

  Senior Manager, Community Investment

  Apr 2006 - Jun 2009

  United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut — a local United Way organization that mobilizes volunteers and resources to improve health, education and financial stability in the community.

  • Established strategic direction and volunteer development guidelines for long-term philanthropic investments across the region.
  • Facilitated and coordinated over 130 volunteers — including three boards of directors — to allocate resources and oversee community investment decisions.
  • Designed evaluation criteria and reporting for community programs to ensure investments delivered measurable outcomes for families and children.
  • Built volunteer onboarding, training and recognition programs that improved governance, decision quality and volunteer retention.
  • Collaborated with nonprofit partners to align funding with community priorities and track progress against impact goals.
• 

  Friendship Home of Lincoln

  Women's Advocate

  Jan 2002 - Dec 2003

  Friendship Home of Lincoln — a long-standing nonprofit that provides shelter, advocacy and services for survivors of domestic violence and their children.

  • Provided direct advocacy and support to women and children escaping domestic violence, including safety planning and referrals to shelter and services.
  • Led research initiatives for the Family Violence Council to inform local policy, service gaps and coordinated community responses.
  • Developed and delivered outreach, education and survivor-support programs to increase access to crisis intervention and long-term resources.
  • Collected and analyzed client and service data to improve program design and coordinate cross-agency responses to family violence.
  • Trained volunteers and partner organizations on trauma-informed practices and survivor-centered advocacy.