MARA PERLOW

From a young age, Mara developed a keen interest to the messaging behind products and services. Sitting attentively, on the other side of the phone calls her trailblazer grandmother was making selling classified ads for a major financial magazine, Mara understood the importance of the story behind the product and service. Hearing those well-crafted messages, Mara started to develop her own storytelling style, enjoying the creative process and seeing her version make an impact towards increasing customer engagement and the sales cycle.

Mara began her career in professional services as a proposal writer learning the importance of tying copy to an organization’s vision and mission statements along with highlighting differentiators and the skill sets of project team members. Mara’s career path evolved into building an inventory of client testimonials relied upon to sell new projects, working in higher-ed featuring academic thought leaders and student life, and now culminating her experience elevating the Katalyst Group brand. Bringing the Katalyst Group story to life through the eyes of all involved — individuals, organizations, recruiters and founder Kevin Kay — drives Mara’s daily work enjoying the collaborative Katalyst Group spirit towards better understanding the client journey experience.

Mara earned a Master in Business Administration from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Arizona. In her free time, Mara practices yoga, cycles long distances, reads, and spends time with her family and friends exploring the cultural offerings of Chicago.