Barbara has 20+ years experience in market research. She founded Outlaw Consulting in 1994 and brings her vision, experience, and hands-on participation to literally every project the company undertakes. Over the years she has developed a deep skillset and worn a multitude of hats, including: strategist, skilled moderator, inspired creative thinker, strong client partner, sought-after speaker, excellent writer, and pioneer in non-traditional research methods.

Prior to founding Outlaw, Barbara worked in a number of major advertising firms, including Leo Burnett; Tatham Laird and Kudner; Chiat Day; and ending her agency career as a VP at Foote, Cone and Belding. Beginning as a researcher and moving into Account Planning, she gained a wide range of both technical and strategic skills.

Barbara earned her BS in Communication from Florida State University and her MA in Advertising from Michigan State University.

She is currently working on developing a book on Gen Y women. Barbara is a member of the Global Business Network, a scenario planning agency that relies on her for Gen Y expertise. She is also leading the vision and development of a beauty school in Rwanda as part of the Business Council for Peace (Bpeace), a not-for-profit organization devoted to bringing job skills to the third world. For fun, she spends time messing around with her camera and seeking out the best yoga instructors in San Francisco.

If the saying “it takes one to know one” is true, Holly’s trendsetting lifestyle makes her perfect for her job. Immersed in the today’s forward cultures, she is able to authentically translate the many styles, attitudes, and genres associated with youth today into actionable marketing strategies. In essence, Holly has become an expert at decoding her generation. But she goes beyond just knowing what’s cool for young people – she knows why it matters for corporations.

With a background in writing, Holly brings an analytical mind and strong writing skills to our newsletters and presentations. She is also an expert at identifying the coolest kids for our panels, and effortlessly enticing them to work hard for our clients.

Prior to joining Outlaw, Holly studied English at UC Berkeley and received her MFA in Writing from Columbia University. She worked as a freelance copywriter for many years, and taught English for Upward Bound in East Harlem. She maintains a busy social life, going out to hear bands or DJ’s several nights a week, and is working on a novel. We all can’t wait to read it.

As our Trend Analyst, Courtney Leeds always knows what’s up. Her obsession with street fashion and cultural shifts perfectly supports her position at Outlaw; she comes to the office every day with new trends, both micro and macro, that she observes in her favorite bars, blogs, and zines. She also acts as Outlaw’s project manager, expert recruiter, and critical design eye.

Courtney graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in Communications and a minor in French. Before joining Outlaw, she lived in France for a year, dabbled in graphic design for Mesh Magazine, and helped manage the PR and marketing for Tokyo Bay, an independent fashion accessory company. She spends her free time taking art classes, planning epic vacations, and shopping at thrift stores.