Sally Durcan

I’ve spent two decades building brands and growth strategies, including founding and scaling my own brand experience agency. What I’ve learned is that most founders don’t get stuck because they’re not capable; they get stuck because there’s too much noise, too many decisions, and no space to think clearly. That’s why I’ve spent the last two years deepening my leadership and coaching capability (transformational coaching, counselling skills, and personal leadership work), so I can support both the commercial and the human side of growth.

I’m energised by helping founders find focus, remove blockers, and build a business that scales with stronger systems, pricing, pipeline, and team leadership.

Brand & Growth Strategy Consultant (Director-Level Advisory) at Brand & Growth Strategy Consultant (Director-Level Advisory) (2021-06 – Present)

Accountable for diagnosing brand and commercial challenges, clarifying long-term direction, and translating strategy into aligned action across leadership, teams and partners.

• Lead strategic brand reviews to identify gaps, misalignment and growth opportunities
• Reposition brands to better articulate value, ambition and commercial intent
• Define brand strategy, messaging and go-to-market direction aligned to business objectives
• Act as a trusted strategic partner to senior leadership, bringing clarity to complex or ambiguous situations
• Work across brand, marketing, sales and communications to ensure strategy lands operationally

Founder and Head of Strategic Brand Experiences & Campaigns at Hotcow Ltd (2006-01 – 2021-06)

Founded and led a brand experience agency with full responsibility for defining the agency's brand vision, positioning and commercial growth strategy. Accountable for shaping strategic, integrated brand experience programmes designed to deliver compound commercial results.

• Set and evolved Hotcow's brand vision, positioning and market proposition
• Led strategic responses to client briefs, pitches and new business opportunities
• Acted as senior strategic lead, advising clients on brand experience direction, campaign architecture and commercial impact
• Led, managed and nurtured teams across experiential, PR, outdoor, radio, creative, operations and production, with responsibility for performance, capability development and delivery standards
• Built a high-performing culture by coaching individuals, setting clear expectations and supporting progression across permanent and freelance teams and external agency partners

Founder & Marketing and Brand Director at Talk to Mums (2016-06 – 2021-06)

Founded and led a peer-to-peer brand communications business after identifying a clear market gap for brands to connect more meaningfully with women, the primary household decision-makers and shoppers. Accountable for defining the brand vision, commercial model and community-led growth strategy, positioning Talk to Mums as a trusted bridge between brands and women.

• Identified and validated a market opportunity centred on trust, influence and belonging within female consumer communities
• Defined Talk to Mums' brand positioning, value proposition and go-to-market strategy
• Built a scalable community-led model connecting brands with engaged women through authentic conversation and shared experience
• Led, managed and nurtured teams and community contributors, setting standards for performance, quality and brand integrity
• Acted as senior strategic advisor to brand partners, shaping how value was created and communicated to women audiences

Marketing & Business Consultant at 3rdi Services Ltd

Event B2B Conference Producer at CSR Data Networks

Marketing & Communications Director at Ethical Corporation Magazine and Conferences

Creative Services Manager at Universal Pictures

Producer, Internal Communications and Events at MTV Networks International

Researcher at Endemol Entertainment

Marketing & Promotions Coordinator at Harvey Goldsmith Entertainment

Diploma in Marketing & Business Communications – Torrens University (1994)

Certificate in International Travel Agency – TAFE (1992)