Kelly CutlerAdjunct Lecturer
About
With over two decades of experience at the forefront of digital marketing innovation, Kelly Cutler is a leader in blending strategic vision with entrepreneurial expertise. Her career began with influential roles at Classified Ventures, Cars.com, and AOL, where she honed her expertise in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. She then channeled her entrepreneurial spirit to launch a digital agency specializing in SEO, growing it into a thriving business before its successful sale in 2014.
Kelly went on to found Kona Company, a technology and digital consulting firm. Under her leadership, Kona Company has delivered integrated solutions to diverse clients across industries and geographies. Most recently, Kelly has collaborated with a global B2B technology leader to advance their digital marketing strategies and leverage generative AI for innovation. Her first book, Search Marketing: A Strategic Approach to SEO and SEM was published in 2023 by Kogan Page.
Since joining Northwestern University in 2016, Kelly has been a driving force in shaping the next generation of digital marketing leaders. As a faculty member, she teaches at Kellogg, Medill, SPS, and McCormick, offering courses in Digital Marketing, Visual Communication, Marketing Principles, and AI and The Future of Marketing. She also serves as the Associate Director of Research at Medill’s Spiegel Research Center, focusing on applied research in digital marketing and integrated communications.
Beyond academia, she is an active philanthropist, having served as a Trustee on the board of True Nature Healing Arts. When she’s not helping businesses thrive or shaping future leaders, Kelly enjoys traveling the world with her family, seeking out inspiration and new experiences.
Education
M.S. Information, Design and Strategy at Northwestern University
B.A. Interdisciplinary Humanities at Michigan State University