Marissa Fezzey
Executive Culture & Engagement Strategist
I partner with C-suite leaders and founders to build cultures that don't just sound good on paper — they change how people actually behave. A significant part of that work is origin work: uncovering where a company's values and philosophies truly came from, and canonizing that story in a way that evokes genuine human connection and a sense of purpose. My work starts with leadership alignment — getting clarity on what a company stands for and ensuring that story is owned, not just approved, at the top.
From there, I focus on activation — translating cultural intent into the systems, expectations, and development experiences that make it real for the people doing the work. Storytelling and communications are powerful tools in that process, but they're means, not the end. The end is behavior change at scale.
I've built and led teams on both sides of this work — creative teams focused on how culture shows up through storytelling and communications, and an Organizational Engagement & Listening function that translates how employees actually feel into rigorous analysis and actionable recommendations for business areas and the global organization.
I hold an MS in Strategic Design for Global Leadership from Parsons School of Design at The New School, grounding everything I do in structured design thinking — so I can hold complexity, facilitate ambiguity, and deliver clarity when it matters most.
Outside of work, my passion for culture extends well beyond organizations. I'm endlessly fascinated by geographical culture — the way tradition, customs, food, architecture, and art tell the story of a place and its people. Travel is one of my greatest sources of inspiration.
I have three kids who keep me playful and genuinely connected to my creative source, and a husband who champions me fully and is my greatest partner in life. He happens to be a private chef, and his artistry in the kitchen is a constant source of inspiration — and a daily reminder of how lucky I am. My other outlets are nature, movement, and anything that creates space for presence, contemplative thought, and the kind of sensemaking that only happens when the brain is left to wander.
MS · Strategic Design for Global Leadership · Parsons School of Design, The New School