Gage Ecker

Experience

• 

  EF Education First

  Feb 2009 - May 2018

  In this role, I was integral to shaping EF’s operational and strategic direction, providing critical insights to drive decision-making around pricing strategies, market trends, and identifying both risks and opportunities. I played a key part in managing complex financial modeling and led monthly and quarterly financial reporting directly to the CFO, ensuring that leadership had the data necessary to guide high-level decisions.I introduced new methodologies for strategic pricing and product development that not only optimized margins but also directly supported sales, customer service, and operations teams. My work helped foster cross-functional collaboration and ensure that all teams were aligned with the company’s financial goals and growth objectives.Key achievements:* Shaped key operational and strategic decisions, providing actionable insights on pricing strategies, market trends, and potential risks and opportunities.* Led financial modeling and reporting for the CFO, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery of critical financial information that informed company-wide decision-making.Introduced new strategic pricing and product development methods, optimizing pricing structures and driving improved profitability.* Facilitated cross-functional collaboration, introducing new financial methodologies to sales, customer service, and operations teams to align efforts and improve overall business performance.In this position, I was able to blend financial expertise with strategic insight, driving smarter pricing decisions, optimizing business processes, and supporting the company’s growth strategy through data-driven recommendations. Show less In this role, I played a pivotal part in driving digital product innovation by closely engaging with customers and gathering valuable feedback to identify key areas for development. By translating consumer insights and departmental needs into clear business priorities, I ensured that product teams were focused on delivering solutions that resonated with the market and supported company growth.I created a strategic roadmap for innovation that provided clear direction for the team, aligning efforts across departments and guiding product development from ideation through execution. My work ensured that product initiatives were both customer-centric and strategically aligned with the company’s broader goals.Key achievements:* Pinpointed key areas for product development by gathering and analyzing customer feedback, translating consumer needs into actionable insights for the product team.* Translated departmental needs and customer insights into strategic business priorities, ensuring alignment with overall company objectives.* Developed a clear innovation roadmap to guide product teams in executing on growth strategies and delivering market-driven solutions.* Fostered cross-departmental collaboration, ensuring all teams were aligned on priorities and focused on driving growth through innovative product development.This role allowed me to combine customer-centric thinking with strategic planning, ensuring that the company’s product roadmap not only addressed market demands but also contributed to long-term business growth. Show less

  • Senior Analyst, Strategic Financial Planning & Analysis

    Sept 2016 - May 2018

  • Business Analyst

    Jan 2012 - Aug 2016

  • Senior Regional Account Coordinator

    Dec 2010 - Jan 2012

  • Regional Account Coordinator

    Oct 2009 - Dec 2010

  • Compliance Coordinator

    Feb 2009 - Oct 2009
• 

  Covetrus

  Jun 2018 - May 2023

  At Covetrus, I led a high-performing team responsible for Direct and Indirect SIOP (Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning) and Strategic Category Management, overseeing $4B in revenue. My role was centered on driving operational excellence, standardizing processes, and aligning cross-functional teams to optimize performance across suppliers, customers, and products.I developed and rolled out a comprehensive category management playbook that brought together Procurement, Product, Marketing, and Sales, providing a unified framework to guide decision-making and deliver consistent results. This initiative not only streamlined operations but also enhanced collaboration across functions and accelerated the company’s strategic goals.Key achievements:* Led a team managing $4B in revenue, focusing on continuous improvement in SIOP and Category Management processes to drive efficiency and revenue growth.* Developed and implemented a unified category management playbook, aligning Procurement, Product, Marketing, and Sales to drive consistency and performance across the organization.* Built trust and secured buy-in from key stakeholders across diverse business functions, using my deep industry knowledge and relationship-building skills to influence strategic direction.* Standardized operational processes, setting clear performance expectations across all areas (supplier, customer, product), and driving measurable improvements in operational efficiency and alignment.My work at Covetrus was centered on building strong foundations for growth, ensuring that all functions were aligned and working toward common strategic objectives. I thrive on creating frameworks that empower teams and drive sustainable, scalable results. Show less Spearheaded the creation and continuous enhancement of strategic initiatives, change management processes, and operational frameworks for global procurement and commercial activities. By developing and implementing strategies that improved both day-to-day operations and long-term business goals, I drove significant improvements in cost efficiency, operational performance, and organizational culture.I was instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration across teams, ensuring alignment with the company's vision and strategic objectives. By creating clear, actionable roadmaps and guiding teams through change, I helped accelerate key initiatives that supported Covetrus’s growth and success in a dynamic, global environment.Key achievements:* Led the development and execution of strategic initiatives across global procurement and commercial functions, driving measurable improvements in cost management and operational efficiency.* Created and refined change management processes, ensuring smooth transitions during organizational shifts and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.* Developed strategies to enhance day-to-day operations while aligning them with long-term company goals, resulting in more streamlined processes and improved performance.* Cultivated a culture of innovation by clearly communicating the company’s vision, keeping teams aligned, and driving a forward-thinking mindset across all functions.In this role, I was able to connect strategic thinking with hands-on execution, building systems that empowered teams and supported Covetrus’s broader business objectives. My focus on efficiency, cost management, and fostering innovation helped drive operational excellence while supporting a dynamic company culture. Show less Selected by executive leadership to lead high-priority strategic transformation projects, I worked beyond my day-to-day responsibilities to drive key initiatives that aligned with Covetrus's long-term vision. As part of the Transformation Management Office (TMO), I helped define project goals, establish timelines, and guide cross-functional teams to successfully execute against these objectives, ensuring alignment with broader business strategies.My role required a balance of strategic oversight and hands-on leadership to navigate complex initiatives, influence key stakeholders, and deliver measurable outcomes across global procurement operations.Key achievements:* Led key strategic transformation projects, partnering with executive leadership and the TMO to define critical goals, timelines, and action plans that aligned with organizational priorities.* Successfully guided cross-functional teams to execute high-impact initiatives, ensuring projects stayed on track and delivered against established objectives.* Collaborated closely with senior leadership to drive change and influence decision-making, ensuring that all efforts were aligned with Covetrus's strategic vision and long-term goals.This role allowed me to build on my leadership skills by leading transformative projects in a fast-paced environment, driving real business change while strengthening my ability to manage complex, high-stakes initiatives across diverse teams. Show less In this role, I created and launched a suite of analytics tools designed to provide the Supplier Relations and Commercial teams with deeper visibility into the financial dynamics across Covetrus's product categories, suppliers, and markets. By transforming complex data into actionable insights, I helped identify new growth opportunities and strategic levers to capture value, fueling the company’s long-term planning and design process.Always seeking innovative solutions, I proactively went beyond my defined responsibilities to engage teams and broaden their understanding of the larger business context. I introduced advanced analytical and financial modeling techniques, equipping stakeholders with the tools they needed to make data-driven decisions that directly impacted the company’s bottom line.Key achievements:* Developed and launched a suite of analytics tools that enhanced visibility into financial dynamics across categories, suppliers, and products, enabling data-driven decision-making and strategic planning.* Identified new growth opportunities and value-capture strategies by leveraging data insights, which directly contributed to Covetrus's broader strategic design process.* Introduced advanced analytical and financial modeling methods, empowering teams with focused, actionable data insights that improved decision-making and operational efficiency.* Advocated for platform improvements that focused on enhancing customer satisfaction and increasing conversion rates, ensuring that customer needs were at the center of the company’s strategy.This role was an opportunity to blend analytical expertise with a strategic mindset, driving cross-functional alignment and innovation. My work helped unlock new growth avenues, optimize operational efficiency, and foster a culture of data-driven decision-making across the organization. Show less

  • Senior Manager, Strategy & Operations

    Apr 2022 - May 2023

  • Manager - Center of Excellence

    Jan 2021 - Apr 2022

  • Lead - Covetrus Global Transformation Office

    Apr 2020 - Jan 2021

  • Senior Analyst, Global Strategic Partnerships

    Jun 2018 - Jan 2021
• 

  Fullscript

  May 2023 - Aug 2024

  Director, Strategy

  At Fullscript, I operated at the intersection of strategy, execution, and technology, bridging business needs with innovative solutions to drive growth. My role required an agile, cross-functional approach to problem-solving, where I pioneered new ways of working to move the needle across multiple teams and functions.I spearheaded a customer-first digital product strategy, leveraging insights from transactional data, customer feedback, and market trends to optimize Fullscript’s growth trajectory and improve sales. By aligning product vision with real-time customer needs, I delivered measurable business outcomes that set the foundation for long-term success.Key achievements:* Uncovered $200M in untapped opportunity within a competitive supplier landscape, using financial analysis and modeling to inform strategic decisions.* Identified revenue and margin expansion opportunities across 300 product categories, representing over $1B in sales, and created a comprehensive playbook for applying Strategic Category Management methodologies to maximize impact.*Drove patient and practitioner-centric product evolution by researching and understanding user behavior, surfacing market trends and opportunities, and identifying functionally gaps. I partnered with Clinical and Product leadership to shape roadmaps and launch new functionality that supported growth. * Built and led a high-performance analytics team, transforming Fullscript’s catalog team into a key strategic asset and collaborating closely with brand and supply chain leaders to streamline processes and drive growth.* Led the PIM tool selection process for Fullscript’s 17,000-SKU catalog, modernizing product data management systems and processes, and laying the groundwork for greater scalability and efficiency.In my time at Fullscript, I was able to align diverse teams around a shared vision of success, streamline operations, and drive significant results in a complex, fast-moving environment. Show less

• 

  Self

  Oct 2024 - now

  Consultant/Startup Advisor

  As a strategy consultant, I help organizations craft scalable business plans, optimize operations, and drive impactful outcomes. I partner with startups, growth-stage, and established companies to navigate challenges, streamline processes, and build sustainable practices for long-term success.Areas of Expertise:* Navigating Uncertainty & Scaling: Helping companies make strategic tradeoffs amidst ambiguity, confidently tackle tough decisions with limited resources, and iterate quickly to transform ideas into scalable, high-impact solutions.* AI Strategy & Governance: Guiding companies in integrating AI strategies with broader business goals, establishing data infrastructure, and fostering organizational learning.* Strategic Initiative Execution: Developing and implementing actionable pathways for high-impact projects.* M&A/Innovation Integration: Leading transformation efforts to maximize value and ensure smooth transitions.* New Function Creation: Establishing and optimizing business functions to support growth and scalability.* Talent Strategy & Deployment: Identifying and positioning top talent to drive business objectives.* Operational Excellence: Streamlining processes and implementing best practices for efficiency and performance.* Continuous Improvement & Change Management: Driving innovation, standardization, and long-term success.By leveraging my deep expertise across industries, I help businesses unlock their potential and achieve durable, sustainable growth. Show less

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  Schola

  Apr 2025 - now

  Head of Revenue & Partnerships

  Schola is a leading EdTech company focused on revolutionizing student enrollment and engagement for schools across the United States. Our mission is to connect families with the best educational opportunities and support schools in achieving their enrollment goals through innovative technology and personalized solutions. Schola recently received the Enrollment Management Innovation Award from EdTech Breakthrough in 2024, highlighting our commitment to innovation and excellence in education technology. Show less