For over 15 years Ms. Kernan has helped great brands across the U.S and Europe develop retail strategy, effective in-store programs, and satisfying, profitable shopping environments (both big box and boutique). She advises executive management teams on how to tell just the right story at the store level to improve sales and market share. Prior to founding her own firm, Secor Retail Consulting (SRC), Ms. Kernan was the Senior Director of Apparel Brand Strategy for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., managing, planning, and growing its $30 billion softlines brand portfolio, overseeing the successful, exclusive launches of both Ocean Pacific and Garanimals. From 1994 through 2012, Ms. Kernan held various buying and executive positions in merchandising, strategic planning and product development at Nordstrom, Harrod’s, Walmart and Condé Nast's Product Licensing Division.

Upbeat marketing is a strategic marketing consultancy based in Johannesburg South Africa that offers local expert advice to companies across all 55 markets of Africa. We help companies that expand in Africa with their research, marketing and business development needs. Our key focus areas include: 1- Social interventions to create and uplift your brands in the African community - Corporate Social Investment Strategies development and implementation - Experimental desgin of CSI interventions - Impact assessment of CSI interventions 2- Training on marketing in Africa. Key training topics: - 6 Ps of marketing in Africa - Fundamentals of Customer Relationship Management in Emerging markets 3- Strategic brand, marketing and communication