{CHICAGO} FFC Fireside Chat: Business As A Brand: Scale Your Business through Powerful Brand Strategy, Not Big Budgets

​Join marketing brand strategist/Fractional CMO, Anna Bleers and creative/web expert Ari Krzyzek for an insightful discussion on building brands that last. Learn how to create strong brand foundations and marketing systems that scale with your business growth. Anna brings decades of experience working with brands across multiple categories at every size and stage of growing driving double-digit growth, while Ari has helped hundreds of businesses go from idea to market and achieve 6-7-figure success through strategic branding and digital solutions. Walk away with practical insights on crafting your brand strategy, implementing effective marketing systems, and making smart decisions that drive real business growth. Perfect for entrepreneurs who want to build sustainable brands from day one.

​Hosts & Speakers:

​Ari Krzyzek, CEO & Head of Strategy at Chykalophia

​Ari Krzyzek is the CEO and Head of Strategy at Chykalophia (read: see-ka-lo-fia), a woman minority-owned web & creative agency transforming websites for women-led B2B tech brands. With over 13 years of experience, Chykalophia has helped 250+ businesses achieve 6- and 7-figure success through high-quality web design & solutions, branding, and UX services. Ari, co-author of the bestseller Made to Sell: Creating Websites that Convert, actively supports female entrepreneurs through various organizations and as a board member at DePaul University's Coleman Entrepreneurship Center. Chykalophia's expertise is recognized by Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, Gold House Ventures, and SBDC. Ari has been featured in Forbes, Thrive Global, and Buffer. Recently, Chykalophia was named to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's CO—100: America's Top 100 Small Businesses list, cementing their industry leadership. Chykalophia stands out with WBENC certifications, award-winning work, and a 5-star Clutch rating.

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​Anna Bleers, Founder & CEO, FEARLESS Brand Marketing

​Anna is the Founder & CEO of FEARLESS Brand Marketing, a woman own company offering 1) fractional CMO services 2) The FEARLESS Workshop – a 2-day workshop that starts with identifying fear-based behaviors that hold you and/or your organization back, designed to identify a strategic brand idea, a jumping-off point for communication/creative development 3) speaking engagements on The FEARLESS Approach to Brand Building & Life Mindset. She brings over 25 years working with world’s most successful marketing organizations as a global and North American client leader at Leo Burnett, Energy BBDO and BBDO Worldwide. 

​Throughout her career she has worked across multiple categories and with brands at every size and stage of growth.  She has worked across multiple categories and with brands at every size and stage of growth, partnering with PepsiCo Beverages, Starbucks, SodaStream, The General Insurance, Procter & Gamble, Nintendo, Frito Lay, Sun Chips, Kohls, The Chicago Cubs and more. Anna has a particular passion for challenger brands, which she defines as brands with ambitions bigger than their budgets.

​Anna has won every creative and effectiveness award multiple times, including Cannes Lions’, Effie’s, D&AD’s, Emmy’s, Clio’s, WARC’s, and The Jay Chiat Awards. 

​Anna lives outside of Chicago in the northwest suburbs with her husband Tom of 20 years and their three sons, Roman, 17, Leo, 16, Dominic, 14, and their dog Bandit (yes, she is out-numbered!).

​For more information, please visit www.fearlessbrandmkg.com