THE BIG IDEA CATALYST

STRATEGY - A.I. - MARKETING

THOUGHT PARTNERS

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MARKETING TODAY IS CHAOS

With the explosion of small businesses, indie brands, and content creators, launching a new product has never been more accessible—or more confusing. The two biggest challenges? Finding the right audience and actually getting them to care.

 

The most overlooked step in launching something new? Research. Not just stats and surveys - but deep insight into culture, behavior, and what customers want. With fragmented audiences and hyper-niche interests, knowing who you’re talking to is no longer optional.

 

Promotion today means juggling Strategy. Creative. Branding. TikTok. Instagram. Paid. Organic. Video. Out-of-home. Experiential. Email. Partnerships. SEO. Influencers. Data. Measurement. Storytelling. AI.

It's a lot.

Big corporations throw millions at this with entire agencies. But what about everyone else? Most brands, creators, and founders are left DIY-ing a playbook that changes by the minute.

That’s where we come in.

 

The Big Idea Catalyst is your strategic thought partner—blending audience insights, cultural intelligence, innovation, and marketing strategy to launch smarter products and unlock stronger business results.

 

WHAT WE DO

SOPHISTICATED YET SIMPLE MARKETING FOR BRANDS, CREATORS & BUSINESSES

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Modern Marketing Strategy

- Who will love my product and why?  
- What should I tell them to get excited?  
- Where should I say it?  
- What will it cost me? 

We help you answer these questions, then turn the insights into a detailed, goal-driven plan.

It starts with research and real conversations. From there, we develop the strategy, working closely with your team to bring it to life.

 

AI Education & Training

Al has changed everything. How your creative & marketing teams incorporate Al can be the difference between surviving and thriving. But it doesn't happen by accident.

Yes, people drive strategy. AI accelerates it.

We don’t just use the latest tools—we transfer that power to your team, so big ideas don’t just happen faster and go further.



Big Idea Labs

Sometimes teams get stuck, defaulting to familiar ideas, using the same tools, relying on the same channels.

Solving that takes more than a meeting. It takes stepping away from routine to see things differently. 

We are that catalyst for big ideas.

Our in-person and online Big Idea Labs spark innovation, deepen connections, and help teams solve tough problems together.

HOW WE DO IT

TALENT, TOOLS, PROCESS

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Top Tier Strategists

We’re a network of seasoned strategists who’ve launched and scaled big ideas across industries.

We work directly with owners, founders, and creators to move what matters most: sales, leads, engagement, influence, and brand power.

 

 

Culture

What makes us different? Cultural fluency.

If your brand doesn’t speak the language of your audience, you’re not just missing connection—you’re leaving money on the table.

 

The 4C's 

All work we do starts with the 4C's:

-What's going on with the consumer?
-What's going on in the category?
-What's going on with the competition?
-What's going on in the culture?

FOUNDER

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Lesley Pinckney is the powerhouse behind The Big Idea Catalyst, a venture built on 20+ years of turning bold visions into brand and business success. Her career spans the full spectrum — from agency trenches and digital disruption to corporate strategy rooms — where she’s made an impact at every level.

She’s led marketing for Intel’s cutting-edge vision-based AI robotics, transformed Essence.com into Time Inc.’s most profitable digital platform per visitor, and helped scale initiatives for giants like Target, Unilever, and Nissan.

A sought-after speaker, Lesley shares insights on strategy, innovation, and inclusive leadership.

In her community, she teaches LEGO Robotics at her daughter’s school and serves on the school board.

Off the clock, she’s exploring Chicago’s food scene with her wife and daughter, always on the hunt for the next big flavor.

 

BRANDS WE’VE WORKED WITH

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LET'S CHAT!