Alice Zhang
I am equally passionate about Technology, Athletics & the Arts, and believe the best ideas are found
at the intersection of multiple disciplines.
Summary
Musician | Athlete | Polyglot
- Former NCAA D1 Rower & Junior Olympic Swimmer, Skier, Snowboarder, Equestrian, Runner
- Shanghai Conservatory-Trained Pianist, Opera Singer, Music Critic, Wagnerian
- Chinese, English, French, Italian, German, Spanish
My motto is: "play with passion, or don't play at all." Whether it's shipping a new product, skiing off-piste, or playing Beethoven's Waldstein sonata, I strive for excellence in everything I do. Always on the lookout for exciting projects, especially those that bridge my own hedonistic pursuits: the humanities, food, fitness, and technology. So if you're working on a cool product or a fan of Der Ring des Nibelungen, don't be shy and say hello.
PROFESSIONAL Experience
Full-funnel growth specialist with 10+ years of leadership experience across myriad industries spanning tech, finance, and the performing arts. Proven success in distilling complex ideas into executable tasks and leading cross-functional teams to advance projects from inception through completion. Passionate about optimizing processes, designing exceptional user experiences, crafting compelling narratives, and leading high-performance teams.
Specialties: Product Management, Product Marketing, Growth, Strategic Partnerships, Monetization, Storytelling, Go-to-Market, Customer Acquisition & Retention, Data-Driven Decision Making
San Francisco Symphony
VP, Product Marketing & Communications 2015 - 2017
● Developed new products, narratives and campaigns for the Symphony’s main revenue line (>$30M) comprising Corporate Partnerships, Individual Giving, Foundation, and Endowment
● Spearheaded data-driven, omni-channel content marketing strategies (SEM, mobile, social, direct mail, influencer, onsite) to improve acquisition, engagement and retention
● Relaunched a seamless web & mobile giving pathway optimized for click-through and conversion; grew revenue from multi-device digital campaigns by 5x
● Slashed $200K from telefund costs by negotiating down pricing and miscellaneous fees while introducing efficiencies through a more targeted, customized approach across segments
● Managed cross-functional teams to identify key messages, develop positioning and the production of digital marketing content + creative assets
● Pioneered the ideation, creation, and launch of the Music Education Alliance, a new initiative that garnered 16 corporate partners and $160K in revenue in its first year
● Structured individual underwriting and corporate partnerships yielding >$1M● Partnered with Facebook to make San Francisco Symphony among the first arts organizations to execute fundraising campaigns directly on Facebook
Sustainable Microfarms
Sustainable Microfarms was a startup that created automated dosing systems for hydroponic farming
Chief Operating Officer & Head of Growth 2013 - 2014
● Led a data-driven culture with extensive A/B testing, usability testing, and quant/qual analysis to evaluate customer behavior, define requirements, and drive growth
● Devised and executed B2C and B2B go-to-market strategies across multiple channels and identified the most cost-effective way to scale given resource constraints
● Accountability for financial performance, including P&L responsibility, cashflow management, and meeting all budget targets
● Implemented and continuously optimized agile processes (rapid iteration, prototyping, and testing) across product teams that resulted in a 2x faster feedback loop
● Responsible for HR and all in-house recruiting; grew the organization by 5x
● Risk management: intellectual property, suppliers, and meeting all legal requirements
● Fundraising and investor relations; turned company around from near bankruptcy and raised $250,000 seed roundThankster
Thankster automates sending personalized, handwritten correspondences for individuals and businesses
Product Manager, Growth 2010 - 2013● Increased revenue from stagnant to 70% increase in 2012 and 400% increase in 2013 by shifting from a consumer-centric model to focus more on enterprise, and by building partnerships with gift registries and integrating with direct marketing platforms
● Spearheaded the redesign of both the physical product and digital UX/UI, resulting in a 20x increase in engagement and a 65% decrease in shopping cart abandonment
● Created user journey & value proposition narrative; produced digital marketing collateralGBOPERA
GBOPERA is a European classical music magazine
Head of Growth, North America 2009 - 2013
● Established content partnership with Opera Tattler; grew readership by over 30,000
● Elevated the brand and scope of the publication by establishing accreditation and partnerships with some of the most prestigious international opera companies, concert venues, and festivals including Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony, Cal Performances, BBC Proms, Bayerische Staatsoper, Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, and Festival Napa Valley
● Contributed opera and concert reviews, interviews, and editorial pieces as Editor-At-Large
● Recruited English language contributorsForward Accelerator (formerly Forward Innovations in partnership with Outlook Ventures)
Co-Founder & VP Strategic Product Partnerships 2008 - 2009● Developed FI’s proprietary product innovation methodology (rapid prototyping & rapid iteration) known as "Fast Forwarding"
● Formed product partnerships between portfolio startups and mature companies looking to acquire new technologies
● Helped raise over $10M in funding for FI venture arm
● Directed cross-functional teams of designers and engineers to build out platforms and products to meet the needs of the acquirerAshton Partners (Acquired by FTI Consulting)Investor Relations Analyst 2006 - 2008
● Managed the relationship between publicly traded tech clients (e.g. Symantec, Skyworks Solutions, Covad Communications, eHealth Insurance, Advent Software, Applied Materials) and financial institutions (buy-side & sell-side)
● Devised & executed communications strategy to address shareholder concerns over integration issues following Symantec’s $13.5B acquisition of Veritas. SYMC stock price increased 25% over a 12-month period following strategy implementation
● IR lead for eHealth’s initial public offering: organized road show, crafted messaging around IPO, wrote financial releases and earnings call scripts
● Designed and performed quant/qual perception studies that measured buy side and sell side sentiment toward a company’s stock based on recent earnings calls and financial releases; refined messaging and external reporting based on feedback from these studiesSan Francisco Opera
Board of Directors, BRAVO! CLUB 2006 - 2007
● Served as an ambassador for San Francisco Opera by recruiting, educating, and cultivating the next generation of opera goers
● Made key operational decisions, chaired fundraising and educational events, grew membership by 25%, and secured over $100K in cash and in-kind contributions from corporate sponsorsMorgan Stanley
Research Intern (IM) 2002 - 2003
Conducted bottom-up fundamental analysis and valuation of publicly traded companies, measured performance of asset portfolios, and advised clients on investment strategies.USDA
Biological Science Aid 2000 - 2000
Worked in the Crop Improvement Unit on a project to eliminate Ricin and other toxins from the castor plant via genetic engineering.Skills
Languages: English, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Spanish
Strategic Partnerships
Product ManagementProduct Marketing
StorytellingEducation
University of California, Berkeley
Bachelor of Arts
Concentrations: International Business & Music
Athletics: NCAA Division I Cal Women's Crew