Contributor

Alona Elkayam

I am the Brandinista–An award-winning creative director that will drive ppl crazy for your brand. Speaker + writer. Founder Far From Timid

I am an award-winning multi-platform brand builder, designer, and branding/ trend commentator, writer, and speaker. I grew up digital and have built some of the most recognized brands of the decade from Yahoo to Marriott and, ahem, Botox using my unique BrandSlam methodology developing multi-platform campaigns and branded content. I write a style/culture column for the Huffington Post and have spoken at conferences like SXSW, Internet Week, Digital Content Summit at the British Museum, and as a commentator on TV for shows like The Strategy Room on Fox. After years of building large global brands, in Nov 2015 I just launched my very own lifestyle brand–Far From Timid–the first to market on demand retail brand selling products for home and fashion designed from trademarked patterns I created. Made in USA + Canada. We also have a seed fund that we grant to artists who are doing things Far From Timid in their community. I launched this business in the 1776.vc incubator space. Prior to launching this startup, I was the Managing Creative Director of Marriott International–managing a team of over 30 writers, editors, designers and producers who developed cross platform narratives across platforms for 18 brands that include Renaissance, JW Marriott, and Ritz Carlton. My design and brand awards include a Webby, Clio and an Emmy Nomination and her work has been on shown at the Museum of Modern Art. In 2003, I founded my first startup, 321 Takeoff, a NYC-based digital brand agency that creates integrated brand strategies leveraging digital and social platforms for global brands. There, I rebranded malnutrition for Doctors Without Borders, launched New York’s first gay resort, THE OUT, and created global brands for companies like Reed Elsevier and HotJobsYahoo. Prior to this I held creative positions at Saatchi and Saatchi, Ogilvy, Grey Interactive, and leadership creative roles at SBIRazorfish, Yahoo and Grey Healthcare Group managing P+L's. I am a devoted student of kung fu, an ING NYC Marathon finisher, and an accomplished painter. I received my BA from American University and continuing education at School of Visual Arts and at NYU. I am fluent in Hebrew and French. Oh, also, I am a small forward so you might find me in a good game of pickup.