Meet Jennifer.
Marketing consultant. Business owner. Speaker. Mentor. Author. Podcast host.
In 2009, I knew next to nothing about business.
I had just finished my master’s in nutrition, which involved a lot of time spent in the lab, nurturing cell cultures and feeding mice. It was fun and intriguing, but I soon came to an unexpected realization: I didn’t like DOING science. (So much for my childhood dream of becoming a marine biologist.)
So I took a technical writing job at a research company. I didn’t know it then, but over the next 10 years it would blossom into a career in marketing thanks to one boss who took a chance on me and my passion for digital media. I worked my way up to a management role and before long was heading the marketing department.
Things were going well on paper. Nice title, steady salary, amazing colleagues. And yet, I increasingly felt like a fish out of water. I had never taken a business course, let alone marketing. How could I continue to do this successfully?
Back to school I went, this time to study business. After earning my MBA, it felt as if a whole new world of possibilities opened up. I got better at my job and gained confidence.
Soon I thought about starting something of my own. If I could help one company expand their brand awareness and grow, why not help even more companies do the same thing?
That’s how I ended up starting my marketing consulting company, FreshLeaf Marketing, in 2019.
Since then, I have worked with nearly 50 business owners in STEM and have mentored more than 70 start-ups and entrepreneurs.
Through this work, I saw firsthand the common struggles that “scientist to CEOs” faced. How to explain their innovations in a compelling way. How to use the latest digital tools and technologies to get in front of their customers.
I developed a 5-step marketing process that I use with clients and have not stopped talking about it since.
I have given in-person talks and webinars on the topics of marketing strategy and digital marketing. I am also co-founder of Life Science Growth Intensive, a group program that delivers coaching and training on marketing and business development for life science companies.
But I haven’t stopped there. I am committed to helping even more scientific companies grow.
If you’re a scientific business owner and have ever felt like a fish out of water (like I did, as have many of my clients), you are not alone. There are things you can learn, help you can get, strategies that can work for you.
I want nothing more than to share these with you.
In my book, Scientist to CEO, I outline my 5-step marketing process so you can have a roadmap to follow. Plus, I share stories from real technical leaders I interviewed. You might be surprised (or maybe NOT surprised) that you too face some of these obstacles.
Learn more about my book, consulting work, course, and speaking engagements.
The Book
Scientist to CEOā„¢
The Marketing Handbook to Help STEM Professionals Grow a Thriving Business
Go to the Book
My Services
I provide full-service marketing services primarily to B2B companies in the life sciences.
Explore My ServicesSpeaking & Media
I regularly speak about marketing strategy, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship.
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Join the NewsletterJennifer Andrews Full Bio
Jennifer Andrews is a marketing expert with a science background and an MBA passionate about simplifying the complex to grow scientific businesses. As founder and CEO of FreshLeaf Marketing, Jennifer brings 15Ā years of experience in the life sciences industry, including as marketing director for a natural health research and regulatory firm, senior marketing director for a medical equipment company, and numerous roles as a fractional marketing director/CMO (Chief Marketing Officer). Jenniferā€™s specialties include marketing strategy, brand identity and messaging, and content creation to help clients stand out, get found, and gain more leads.
To date, she has worked with nearly 50 scientific companies and has mentored more than 70 start-ups and small businesses. Jennifer is also author of Scientist to CEO, the marketing book for businesses built by scientists. She is a sought-after speaker who has presented to hundreds of entrepreneurs on the topics of marketing strategy and digital marketing. Jennifer is also co-founder of Life Science Growth Intensive, a group program which delivers coaching and training on marketing and business development for life science companies.
She is also a business mentor and industry expert through accelerators and entrepreneurship centres across Southern Ontario. In her spare time, she mentors recent graduates and entrepreneursĀ looking to build their careers.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in biology and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in human health and nutrition from the University of Guelph, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University.
