Kati Karottki

A Chicago-native, Kati Karottki is a strategic innovator, transformation executive and people-first leader building at the intersection of data and applied AI within sports, entertainment, consumer brand and climate tech industries. Kati has driven global enterprise transformation and brand innovation with VC-backed start-ups and on behalf of blue chip brands such as Kraft, Philadelphia, and Ocean Spray after formative years at Octagon scaling AB InBev’s global sports portfolio in post-M&A phases and at Navigate supporting the NFL’s Research & Insights team. Kati is an EIR at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, a StartOUT Mentor, Advisor to Gen1 Capital, and a Bay Area Leadership Learning Circle member via the Harry L. Davis Center for Leadership at the University of Chicago.

• Strategic Management
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• Thick Data & Applied AI
• Global Brand Management

• Thick Data
• The Eval as Customer  
• Brand Partnerships Congruence

• University of Chicago, MBA in Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Marketing, 2016
• University of Massachusetts - Amherst, BS in Sport Management, 2009

• COO & CMO Advisor, VC-backed Climax Foods (2023-2024)
• CMO, VC-backed New Age Eats (2021-2023)
• Head of Beverage - Core Innovation, Ocean Spray Cranberries (2019-2021)
• Senior Manager, General/Brand Management & Innovation, The Kraft Heinz Company (2016-2018)
• Various, Global Consulting, Octagon Worldwide (2010-2014)