“You made my day! You gave such awesome feedback on your visit to my restaurant. Thank you for your thoughts and brilliant editing advice.”
Lucia Watson, author, James Beard award nominee, chef and owner of Lucia’s Restaurant, Wine Bar and Lucia’s To Go.
“You’re a star, thanks Kathy!”
Beth Nicholls, Founder, Do What You Love and Hello Soul, Hello Business e-course
“You have a dynamic way of talking, engaging, and totally hooking all of us on the panel and audience with your frankness, connection, and enthusiasm.”
Kelly Rae Roberts, artist, author, founder Hello Soul Hello Business e-course
“When I saw the work Kathy had done, I had to figure out a way to partner with this woman!”
Beth Kieffer Leonard, Managing Partner, Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company, LLP
“Your frank talk that inspires women to lean forward and hang on your every word when you are speaking on camera or in person. Your ability to connect with women and inspire them to make a change is what you are all about. It’s not forced and that is what makes you a ‘natural talent’. I cannot teach the gift you have to draw women in when you are giving them business info and tips. It is who you are and it is rare. Very rare. You are what we would call in the television world–”ratings gold”. Put you on camera and women will watch.”
DeDe Barnum, Independent TV producer
“Thank you Kathy!! You are great!”
Nancy Soriano, media brand strategist, founder The Creative Connection, former editor in chief Country Living Magazine
“Thank you for your hard work. It was a fun and successful event!”
Greg Frankenfield, Co-founder, Magenic and Board President- Smile Network
“You are just amazing, and a huge congratulations on the book.”
Lucia Watson, author, James Beard award nominee, chef and owner of Lucia’s Restaurant, Wine Bar and Lucia’s To Go.
“Your participation in helping the Board arrive at a resolution was invaluable. Thank you, thank you , thank you.”
Kim Valentini, Founder, The Smile Network
“Thanks to Kathy Hanson of Backpocket Strategy for helpful tips during our strategy session the other week! I now have my foot in the door at the Walker Art Center =)”
Jennifer Merchant, Jennifer Merchant Designs
“AMAZING conversation w/ Kathy of Backpocket Strategy. In just 30 mins I learned a ton about finding/retaining interns or paid assistants & I totally get it now! All her ideas were so amazing. She was really able to give me insight into what I am looking for & who to look for AND how to use their skills/interests to my advantage for a prefect marriage! I can see why her business is ROCKIN!”
Nicole Fae, Makeup Artist, www.nicolefae.com
“Your insight was empowering. You rock! Preparing today for presenting my Pitch to an editor from Chronicle Books and had an empowering and reassuring chat with Kathy at Backpocket Strategy.WOW! What a valuable resource who can lend her expertise to assist you in identifying your needs.”
Kim Flatland, Founder, soulformation
“In all my years at (Fortune 50 company- financial institution) I have never seen an outside contractor get an ovation after presenting their idea- Kathy is the first.”
Dean Haugen, Vice President, Wells Fargo Ventures
“I am very particular who I associate with professionally. When I saw Kathy Hanson working with clients I just knew the level of sophistication she would bring to our partnership would measure up to my high expectations. A year later and my intuition was dead on- Kathy more than delivered. She has a rare combination of passion and savvy business sense that benefits her clients immensely.”
Lisa Rubin, Consultant
“Kathy Hanson is an energetic and involved community leader. She asks smart questions, sets high standards, and makes a difference.”
Scott Lucas, Olson & Lucas P.A. Attorneys at Law
“Kathy is motivated by intellectual curiosity and a driving force to be altruistic in her professional life. Her commitment to over 125 business women in her community is continuously proven by Kathy endlessly providing editorialand marketing strategy for a project promoting shopping and eating local. When she saw this opportunity to help the entrepreneurs in Minneapolis/St. Paul, she jumped at it and worked relentlessly to insure consumers and business owners alike understood the power of choosing where to spend their money.”
Caroline Mercury, Engineer, Koch Industries and President, Downtown Camas Association
“I can only offer the highest recommendation for Kathy Hanson and Backpocket Strategy. She helps create the buzz that everyone needs and did just that for Tiger Athletics by co-hosting a buzz-launch party, blogging, tweeting and getting the media involved. Kathy is a master at empowering and connecting strong, savvy, inspiring, local women within the community. “
Stacie Clark, Co-Founder of Tiger Athletics
“WOW you rocked this one! you are a natural! you had your bullet points on the tip of your tongue at all times. awesome job!!!!!!!!!!”
Melody Biringer, Founder, Crave Company
“Kathy Hanson is incredible. Her innate sense of business, marketing and strategy blew me away from the moment I met her. Fantastic, spot-on ideas simply pour out of her. She is truly passionate about helping businesses succeed and her energy is unstoppable. To top it off, she is incredibly personable and makes every meeting and strategy planning session a blast to take part in. I consider it an honor to have worked with her.”
Jennifer Sellers, freelance editor, Minneapolis
“Kathy Hanson and I have worked closely together to strategize and set goals. She is always able to come up with salient ideas that are germane to the vision set forth. Kathy’s ability to create success is unparalleled.”
Austin R. Kraft, President, Kraft Medical Products, Inc.
“..you’re right . . . . you’re always right. When this is over I’m going to come live with you for 2 days, just to see if you are this good at everything else.”
Alicia Brownell, owner, A*live PR, Houston
“Kathy told me I had to learn to brag about myself on my website (in all my marketing and PR) and as a direct result, I have new corporate clients who would not have hired me otherwise. ”
Web designer
“Kathy was thinking of ways to grow my business w/o even trying. We were in a meeting about her own website and she just started giving me ideas.”
Leslie, CodeMonkeyGirl, Web Development
“Working with 5 divisions (technical, sales, manufacturing) in our Fortune 50 company is like herding cowboys & Indians. Kathy Hanson has no problem creating strategic alignment among people who don’t usually work well together.”
T. Huberty, Santa Clara, CA
“Kathy Hanson is the echo of good strategy for business. Her knowledge for driving my small business forward has allowed me to have her as an experienced ear for my business, but a passionate partner in my strategy and success. Kathy exhudes business intelligence where it counts: In empowering those around her and arming others with her personal brand of business strategy. What I love most about Kathy is that she understands how HUMAN business and partnerships evolve. I think of Kathy as the sounding board for my creative business strategy and innovation.”
Kate-Madonna Hindes, Founder, Girlmeetsgeek and National Speaker
“Kathy has been invaluable helping with marketing ideas for diverse businesses as well as myriad of practical steps.”
Pansy Flick, entrepreneur, Austin, Texas
“Thank you for your stellar work this year! It has brought so many great people into my life!”
Catherine Sheppard, Los Angeles
“Kathy Hanson, my Team Director; I have learned so many things from you that continue to craft me as an entrepreneur. I am so thankful for this experience because you are now and will be such a dear, kindred and lifelong friend.”
Jenn Jett, Waxpaperonline, Dallas, Texas
“Thank you for all you have done to ensure that I am equipped to make this project a success. I appreciate your patience and motivation.”
Alicia Brownell, Houston, Texas
“We are so thankful you came into our lives this year. You made the hard work all worth it and we are excited to see what next year has in store for us!! Your favorite Texans”
Jon Sprinkle
“You amaze me how much you care about your team. Thanks Kathy for leading the team. You are great to work for and with! Always standing behind the team to get the job done while having fun in the process.”
Staci Shapiro, Minneapolis
“Kathy Hanson knows her stuff and I wouldn’t work with or for anyone else on a project with this many moving parts and players. She is the reason I am doing this project.“
Kenny Friedman
“A big thank you to my Team Director, Kathy Hanson, who has been my personal cheerleader throughout this entire process. There were many obstacles that we had to face in getting this book curated and Kathy was there to talk me through every single one of them. Without her, I could not have achieved the amazing task of curating this book”.
Lesleigh Smith, Lux Events, Ft Worth, Texas
“Kathy brought a new energy to our team and her insight and strategic thinking helped us focus on what mattered. We hated to see her leave so badly we threw her a huge going away party – something we NEVER do for outside contractors.”
M. Fudge, VP, Edward Jones Mortgage, Minneapolis