Digital Marketing Leader| storyteller | Founder | detroit returnee | Emmy winner

blagica
bottigliero

(blah-ghee-tsa) (boh-til-ee-eh-ro)

From Orbitz and Fortune-100 brands to DTC beverage growth and creator products, I build systems that turn ideas into traction - without the fluff.

Contact Me

welcome!

I’m a growth marketer and storyteller with 25+ years across Orbitz, Edelman, Motorola, Target, and DTC brands - blending strategy, creative, and analytics to drive real outcomes. I’ve launched Super Bowl livestreams, scaled virtual events at Bottles Nation, and led full-funnel performance for a fast-growing beverage brand. I also write the You Can Call Me Barb series, build Gen X life tools and champion what’s happening across Detroit’s tech and startup scene. After years in Chicago and on the road, I’m back in Metro Detroit - plugged into founders, community, and the next wave of Midwest innovation. If you need sharp strategy, hands-on execution, or a clear plan to grow—let’s talk.

how we can work together

Digital & Growth Consulting
Team Training, Employee Hiring and More
Temporary Program Pinch Hitting
AI Tools
Content Creation

Education

AllIANCE FRANÇAISE, CHICAGO

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE, LYON

Western Michigan University’s Haworth college of business

Awards & key milestones

Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business, Dept of Marketing Outstanding Alumni Award, 2024

emmy for new media and interactivity, NBC5 chicago

Member, Chicago 2016 Olympic bid team

Co-Commissioner, Cook county new media council

commissioner, Oak park civic information commissioner

president, new buffalo business association

Email: blagica dot bottigliero at gmail dot com
Phone: 312 890 blog

Handy Dandy Formal Bio on Blagica Bottigliero

Hi, I’m Blagica.

I’ve spent the last 25 years at the intersection of marketing, technology, and culture - from launching early digital campaigns at Orbitz, to leading integrated programs at Edelman and Motorola, to building DTC growth engines for emerging brands. I’ve watched platforms rise and fall (Friendster to TikTok), argued - lovingly - about whether anyone would ever post their résumé on LinkedIn, and helped teams ship the kinds of experiments that turn into repeatable systems.

What I do best is translate ambition into traction. That usually looks like:

A crisp brand and messaging spine
A paid/owned/earned plan that actually ladders to revenue
Creative testing loops you can run in hours, not months
Analytics that executives and operators both understand

Along the way, I’ve led livestream launches around the Super Bowl, scaled a virtual events business at Bottles Nation with surgical paid social, and built full-funnel programs for a high-growth DTC beverage brand - standing up the stack (GA4, cAPI, attribution), content ops, and the creative engine to match.

I’m also a writer and builder. I’m developing You Can Call Me Barb, a memoir-in-essays about being a first-gen Macedonian kid who learned to navigate two worlds - work and home, grit and reinvention. I run Your Gen X Guide, a growing set of practical tools for midlife careers, family, and finance. And I’m deeply involved in the Detroit ecosystem: spotlighting founders, amplifying Michigan’s tech momentum, and partnering with people who care about building things that last.

After years away, I’m back in Metro Detroit, where my family first put down roots near 94 and Chene. It feels right to bring everything I’ve learned home.

If you’re a founder or team who wants clear strategy, honest execution, and momentum you can measure - I’d love to help.

Work with me or say hello.

Letting loose in Detroit, Blagica’s hometown and the birthplace of her beloved Red Wings.

Organizations & Speaking Engagements

Adobe Advertising Research Foundation All Web (Macedonia) Chicago Association of Direct Marketing Educational Foundation Chicago Interactive Marketing Association Chicago Women in Publishing CIBOLA Crain's Chicago Business Small Business Forum CRAVE Chicago Excelerate Labs Future Midwest Conference Greater South Loop Association Local First Chicago Loyola University Marquette University National Main Streets Conference Northwestern University Oregon Main Streets Conference PRSA Retail Show Middle East (Dubai) Social Media Breakfast Minneapolis/St. Paul Social Media Week Chicago Social DevCamp Chicago sxsw Interactive TechWeek Chicago TEDx University of Chicago University of Illinois Washington Main Streets Conference Web Analytics Association