I turn challenger brands into mega-stars.
Looking for a speaker who transforms brands into category leaders?
Meet Courtney O’Brien, a bold marketing strategist and founder of The Outlier Initiative, a branding consultancy dedicated to helping small brands disrupt the norms. With over 22 years of experience at global giants like Coca-Cola, Danone, and E&J Gallo Winery, Courtney has driven the success of brands like Coke Zero and Apothic Red, turning them into household names that get noticed in a crowded marketplace.
Courtney offers a bold perspective on brand building and market disruption. Her innovative strategies have transformed under-the-radar products into billion-dollar successes, securing her status as an expert in scaling growth-stage brands and ensuring they thrive in the long-term.
Courtney is passionate about helping brands challenge conventions, connect deeply with consumers, and build lasting connections. She delivers practical, battle-tested insights on how brands can differentiate themselves and scale, even in competitive markets. When she’s not guiding brands to success, you’ll find her biking, hiking, or spending time with her three kids in the Sierra Foothills of California
Watch Her Story:
Learn More About Her:
Notable Press:
Latest Features:
Meininger's International (Expert Interview):
What Wine Can Learn from Coca-Cola
Podcast Interviews:
Co-Host Features:
Bevnet’s “Elevator Talk” Podcast with Ray Latif :
Speaking Topics:
From Product to Movement:
01.
Wine is facing a crisis of relevance: The market is saturated, and consumption is down, but it doesn’t have to be this way!
In this session, audiences will go behind the scenes of Apothic Wine’s transformation from a product into a movement that captured hearts and minds (and even got tattooed on bodies).
Audiences will discover what wine brands—and others—can learn from Apothic’s success to stop the slide and build resonance with modern consumers, and what it takes to reconnect with consumers, challenge category norms, and spark loyalty that drives long-term growth.
This talk is a call to action for wine and beverage leaders and will inspire them to embrace bold strategies that go deeper than the bottle.
How Wine Can Lead a Consumer Loyalty Comeback
New flavors and ingredients and flashy trends dominate the beverage industry. But are they building real brands or just fueling a race to the bottom?
This session will reveal why chasing the “next big thing” often backfires and how founders, marketers, and distributors can rethink their approach. Audiences will learn practical strategies for creating brands that resonate deeply with consumers, stand out in crowded aisles, and grow sustainably.
This catalyzing talk will push industry leaders to challenge the status quo and build something that lasts.
02.
Breaking the Innovation Cycle:
Building Brands That Last in a Trend-Driven World
03.
Social media has transformed how brands connect with consumers, but it’s also created a world where relevance fades faster than ever.
This session will explore how the smartest beverage brands are using modern marketing—social media, cultural branding, and storytelling—to build meaningful, lasting connections and how founders and marketers can avoid the pitfalls of chasing clicks and trends and use these tools to amplify their brand’s purpose, create loyal communities, and drive real growth.
Audiences will discover an exciting roadmap for success—whether they’re new to modern marketing or looking to refine their strategy.
Using Modern Marketing to Build Loyal Communities
The Social Formula:
Empowering growth-stage food and beverage brands to cut through the noise and achieve breakout success.
is a marketing strategist, branding expert, and professional speaker available for keynote presentations, workshops, media interviews, and spokesperson opportunities. Her dynamic storytelling and proven expertise in building breakout brands captivate and inspire audiences in the beverage and consumer goods industries. Download Courtney’s media kit, schedule an interview or meeting, or book her on your stage today!
