I help EdTech startups and mission-driven education companies scale smartly - from messy beginnings to meaningful impact.

With over a decade of experience spanning classroom instruction, curriculum design, product strategy, and organizational operations, I now work with pre-seed, Series A, and growing educational organizations to build better learning experiences, stronger systems, and more strategic teams.

I specialize in:

- Curriculum and product development (especially experiential, SEL, STEM, and AI-integrated learning)
- Operational infrastructure and go-to-market strategy
- Policy-informed AI professional development for educators
- Branding, messaging, and community-building
- Cross-functional team leadership with a human-first approach

Whether I’m serving as a fractional COO, leading market research, developing a data dashboard, or building a gamified student learning journey - I’m a connector, a problem-solver, and a builder.

If you’re a founder or education leader looking to move faster without sacrificing quality, let’s connect.

Claire Smizer

Happy #SocialSaturday!

If you are an #Educator, #Principal, #DistrictAdministrator, someone in the #Curriculum, #School or #Classroom IT space, or anyone that works with or has ever worked with #Schools, #Districts, or organization that serves kids - we should be connected! 💯

In a nutshell: I'm a former #Teacher, turned #EdTech generalist that specializes in early stage #StartUps and #UserExperience (think #ProductDesign, #UI, #InstructionalDesign, #L&D) - I've been fortunate to have a wonky career path that has given me the opportunity to work across neurotech (that bordered on sci-fi!), #STEM, gamified #SEL, and even with a handful of founders working on much-needed products in the #Education space. 

What do I do now? I run BrightMinds AI with my best friend and co-founder, Jessica Maddry. 🥰🥰🥰

We're two former #Teachers who got tired of watching districts adopt #AI and innovative tech backwards - tools first, strategy maybe. BrightMinds flips that. We build policies, train educators, and audit tech stacks so districts make informed decisions, putting people first, always. 

Think that sounds like someone you'd like to have in your network? Smash that connect button! 

Can't wait to see you in my DMs!

💜 me!

Co-Founder @ BrightMinds AI | Board Member | EdTech Start-up Builder and Strategist 🌀| Teacher Advocate | Oxford Comma Enthusiast

Let's talk math for a moment. #Politician math. 😒

The proposed FY2026 federal budget cuts over $6 billion from #K-12 #PublicEducation. 

Not one program. 
Not one state. 
Across the board.

$6B is a large number - a really large number. So large that it's almost incomprehensible so... what does that look like in reality?

💸 Migrant Education: $1.3 billion. Poof.
💸 English Language Acquisition: Eliminated entirely.
💸 Title I funding to high-poverty schools: $4.7 billion. Gone.
💸 18 grant programs consolidated from $6.5 billion down to $2 billion - over a 60% reduction.
💸 Community Schools grants: $168 million. Cut.

But we won't be feeling that loss evenly. #Districts primarily serving #Students of color would lose nearly double the funding that their counterparts serving primarily white students will face.

Want an example? 

In #Pennsylvania, the districts most underfunded are also those where students of color make up the majority of enrollment - 64%, compared to 22–30% in adequately funded districts. That gap equals $1,732 less per student, nearly 9% less, in state and local revenue. Federal dollars can help (or rather would have helped) to bridge that disparity.

This isn’t a budget conversation. It’s a values conversation. It's an #Equity conversation.

When #Legislators use language like “local control”, they aren't talking about community empowerment. They're obfiscating the truth. They're asking (telling, really) local communities to make do. 

With less. 

For the kids who already had the least.

I’m not sharing this to spark outrage (though we should all feel outraged). 

I share this to bring attention to the tension local decision makers - #Superintendents, #CFOs, #SchoolBoard members - are grappling with. 

Too many conversations about “innovation” in #Education gloss right over the part where the floor is being pulled out. Purposefully. Systematically.

You can’t build on a foundation that's actively being dismantled.

💜 someone who thinks *actual* math should inform policy

#Teachers! Help!!! 

I'm trying to get a general temperature check on where we are with Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) in classrooms. 

Are you able to set your own?
Is that something that feels necessary in this moment?
Is that something you'd expect for your district or even school leaders to set and roll out? 

You know Jessica & me - we're always looking to close gaps and create useful tools! 

❤️  someone very excited to be building tools that #Educators actually want

#Education #K12 #TeachersofLinkedin #AIinEducation #InnovativeTech #AcceptableUse #ItTakesAVillage

Do you have an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for AI-enabled/enhanced tech in your classroom?

Calibration Marketing - Achieving Marketing Outcomes in O&P

Calibration Marketing was started with the goal of helping those in the O&P industry, or any small entity, that need marketing support to grow their business/clinic but do not have the ability to have a dedicated marketing staff member on the team.  

Calibration Marketing offers the needed support on an ad hoc or project basis to help contain costs.

Think of us as an extension of your team who's there when you need us.

Currently serving 5 clients.

I offer services in:
- Marketing Strategy
- Go To Market Product Strategy
- Branding
- Content Creation
- Social Media (content & management)
- Email Marketing
- Web Project, & Content, Management
- Project Management
- Market Research
- Complimentary gut check conversation

Chief Marketing Officer/Owner

Dankmeyer Prosthetics & Orthotics

I was contacted to look into supporting this 70 year old clinic with their social media content efforts.  While they are well known in the industry by those of us who have been around, my goal was to bring new life into their messaging to attract new referral sources and patients through strategic and informative posts.

Content Manager

MOZN Solutions

MOZN Solutions is providing their clients with all the day to day clinic support they need, but as is often the case, they themselves don't have the time to promote the great work they do.  That's where Calibration Marketing comes in.  
Responsibilities:
- Write social content
- Publish and create blog and eblast content
- Manage metrics for all marketing activities

Content and Marketing Manager

NuTech Synergies

Supporting NuTech Synergies & NuTech Institute with their marketing needs.

Projects have included but are not limited to:
🖊️Social media content creation, execution, & analytics management
🖊️Email newsletter content creation
🖊️Web content creation
🖊️Branding
🖊️Marketing collateral creation

Marketing Director

Infinite Biomedical Technologies

Worked on a refresh of the IBT website with the IBT team and created a future website layout in Canva.

Their existing website did not follow brand guidelines, was built on an unsupported platform, and the team needed a better layout.  I took provided content, product information, and desired layout direction to create a better flow that could evolve as their product line grew.  As part of the project I provided a resource to help take the layout and then design everything in wordpress.  Once their team grew, they took the project in house to take the next needed steps.

Web Project Manager

BrainRobotics

Was responsible for setting the business strategy and project managing the go to market activities for our BrainRobotics prosthetic hand. 
🖊️Setting, & executing on, all business strat plans for a successful US operation - org, quality, infrastructure, project & product plans, etc
🖊️Managing & executing on all marketing strategies & tactics
🖊️Managing our project with the support of contract engineering support
🖊️Overseeing all quality and regulatory conversations with the support of a quality & regulatory partner
🖊️Setting our strategic product roadmap
🖊️Budget setting & management
As well as all activities outlined in the role below

Senior Product & Marketing Manager

As the acting head of an entire business unit, I have had to think through all of the operational pieces of running a prosthetic device business – 
🖊️Working directly with the CEO of BrainCo to ensure the US business is focused & operates according to US market needs & regulations when bringing new products to market
🖊️Budgeting
🖊️Marketing & branding
🖊️Product management
🖊️Reimbursement
🖊️Go to market planning & strategy setting & execution
🖊️Key resource partner management in support of our:
      o	Quality management systems build out for US operations
      o	Regulatory needs
      o	Adverse event management through CRM platforms
      o	Engineering resource management
🖊️Global communications, to name a few key responsibilities.

Acting Head of US Prosthetic Operations while performing Product & Marketing roles

As the lead for the US BrainRobotics prosthetics team I am currently program managing & executing on BrainRobotics' product development projects & their marketing components by collaborating with global counterparts on supply chain, component sourcing, costing, & engineering responsibilities to name a few. (BrainRobotics is a BrainCo company)

With a focus on the US market, my responsibilities include:
🖊Oversee and lead US Prosthetics Product Development, Operations, & Go-To-Market processes  
🖊Lead our organizational needs efforts as they pertain to operations, regulatory processes, product management, & GTM plans 
🖊Plan & guide the strategic vision for our products 
🖊Develop product-focused marketing plans, content, and strategic positioning of our product for the US market, set business strategies, and manage product-specific budgets
🖊Established a core team of advisors & seasoned experts who are running our US engineering efforts 
🖊Analyze competitor insights
🖊Plan & guide the strategic vision for our products 
-	Early in the project identified the product gaps as they pertained to our product versus & set up conversations with key industry leaders – Resulted in the US team breaking off to work on the re-development of our prosthetic hand
🖊 Set business strategies and manage product-specific budgets

Daily tasks include:
✏Business plan development
✏Project manage product improvements & setting US product standards
✏Design & implement a comprehensive overall brand & product strategy for BrainRobotics US
✏Collaborate with sales & executive leadership
✏Work with a team of experts to build and implement all required procedures and documentation for an ISO 13485:2016-aligned QMS

Results:
📍Successfully registered a prosthetic device with the FDA
📍Kicked off QMS project
📍Have brought on seasoned partners within O&P to build out the US business  
📍Manage & run all marketing activities, including LinkedIn Live webinars with over 100 registrants/event

Upper Limb Team Lead - Senior Product & Marketing Manager

I was hired to help bring a new myoelectric multi-articulating prosthetic hand to the upper limb prosthetics market.  The key goals were to build up brand awareness, create an online presence and set the tone for the BrainRobotics brand.  I also spearheaded the creation of our Go To Market strategy within an already saturated upper limb prosthetics market by identifying key partners for product testing.

Key Marketing Responsibilities Included:
✏ Designing & implementing a comprehensive overall brand strategy for BrainRobotics
✏ Manage and oversee all marketing and communication activities (website management & optimization, social media, demand generation, etc.)
✏ Manage the B2B and B2C content strategy and editorial calendar; create messaging and communications for current and prospective customers via email newsletter, social media channels, video content, promotional campaigns 
✏ Review and report marketing campaign analytics; prioritize for optimum results 
✏Design and implement a robust and ROI-rich omni-channel mkt program

First 90-day results:
📍 Created an online presence through strategic use of social media & grew our LinkedIn page from 0-600+
📍 Created the content and layout for an upgraded website & launched it
📍 Led & executed efforts in rebranding, target market identification, market analysis, & GTM strategies

Marketing Manager

NeuroMaker STEM

NeuroMaker STEM is the sister company of BrainRobotics - 
I stepped in to support the NeuroMaker STEM team and created, executed, and managed all marketing content for the team.  I quickly came up to speed on the education market to help support the needs of the sales team.  (NeuroMaker STEM is a BrainCo company.)

The NeuroMaker STEM solution provides students an opportunity to experiment & develop real world applications of AI & BCI technology.

My current focus for NeuroMaker is to:
🖊 Lead web re-design efforts
🖊 Set overall marketing strategy & focus
🖊 Build up brand recognition
🖊 Create engaging content
🖊 Grow the monthly MQL number

Daily tasks included:
✏ Creating, managing, and executing upon a robust content marketing strategy
✏ Managed/oversaw/created content across three social platforms 
✏ Created bi-monthly newsletters using Revue by Twitter & monthly newsletters using Pardot
✏ Wrote eblasts for lead nurturing & engagement 
✏ Wrote 3 customer stories
✏ Implemented and led LinkedIn Live events with the goal of bringing in new leads (over 300 signs ups over two events)

Results:
📍With $0 in marketing spend was able to get sales over 100 leads to follow up on over the span of two quarters - one quarter alone resulted in over $1M in long term opportunities & over $17K in closed/won sales
📍Grew our MQL KPI by over 200% in month one after implementing a content strategy
📍Grew new user traffic to website by over 180% in the quarter after implementing a content strategy
📍Grew quarter over quarter MQL KPI by 200%, not including the leads from events
📍Customer stories brought in leads for the sales team & opened the door to demos
📍Jamestown HS story was picked up in 5 regional papers, through collaboration with the school, and resulted in a proposal worth over $14K

Responsibilities ended when a new full time lead was brought in to allow me to focus on BrainRobotics fully.

FocusCalm

FocusCalm is the sister company of BrainRobotics - 
While supporting BrainRobotics and NeuroMaker STEM I also took on the role of marketing communications manager for FocusCalm during a gap in marketing support.  I quickly came up to speed on the mental health and wearables industry and worked directly with our sales team to identify focus areas and needs from a marketing perspective.(FocusCalm is a BrainCo company.)

FocusCalm is an EEG headband & app that uses neurofeedback to help you learn how to control your mindset & is another BrainCo company.

Daily tasks included:
✏ Managed/oversaw/created content across three social platforms 
✏ Wrote eblasts for lead gen 
✏ Wrote 1 case study & customer story

Marketing Communications Manager

Össur

This was a truly multifaceted role that is a hybrid between Product Management, Product Marketing, & Brand Management.  I was responsible for implementing market specific product launches for the upper limb prosthetic product portfolio & creating internal & external support material.  

Direct Responsibilities:
•	Develop & implement GTM strategies in line with the market requirements & supporting the value proposition
•	Content creation for marketing efforts to support product launches and general product mkt
•	Price setting and management 
•	Sales tracking of key products
•	Analyze existing market potential & how to succeed/where to focus in those markets
•	Manage the product portfolio & product pricing in line with the value proposition and an objective to maximize sales & profit growth
•	Lead cross functional task forces with a global reach (South/North Europe, DACH, Emerging Markets)
•	Responsible for Americas & Australian markets
•	Collaborate with marcomm team to ensure proper coverage of products in media
•	Work closely with sales, customer support, global product management, M&O, Training, & Service departments
•	Gather & process market intelligence data required to support product portfolio management 
•	Sales support 
•	Manage different product launch/product life-cycle management projects in different phases

Results:
• Successfully launched an innovative wrist rotator to the market
• By providing targeted lists of accounts to the sales team have helped uncover new business 
• Customer eblasts have resulted in some potential leads & business generation
• Editorial content creation has resulted in 3 editorial placements in key industry mags, to date

I was also an integral part of our integration into Ossur by helping with process integration, identifying re-branding & support service needs, & uplifting in office morale for our tight knit group.

I left due to my role being moved to CA & me not being able to move with it, although relo was offered.

Product Marketing Manager

Responsible for all North American marketing activities that supported: 
•	Brand awareness growth
•	Increase in web traffic
•	Sales growth

The key to our marketing strategy hinged on focusing on key areas of support provided to our customers, expanding our patient ambassador program, as well as collaborating with the international marketing team on all marketing efforts.

Direct Responsibilities:
•	Managing the Marketing Budget
•	Planning & executing tradeshows and other co-marketing activities
•	Managing all US corporate social media sites (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Glassdoor)
•	Coordinating monthly advertising
•	Creating content: case studies, ambassador stories (see below), blog posts, and editorial articles for key industry publications
•	Managing Patient Ambassador program
•	Overseeing SEO on the corporate website
•	Coordinating and executing timely product launches for North America
•	Involved in Product Marketing Process integration project

Year 1 Results: 
•	Increased LinkedIn follower base by over 40% (and by over 100% by year two)
•	Increased audience by over 3K for overall social media program
•	Increased referral numbers to website via key publication & social media traffic - helped drive over 150K visitors to website
•	Increased eblast engagement from 25 in 2015 to 240 engagements in 2016
•	Created 2016 advertising & tradeshow vitals calendars to ensure proper management
•	Implemented SEO strategy to focus meta & title tags on TB keywords
•	Created sales support materials - through: infographics, flyers, presentations  
•	Improved Touch Bionics ambassador program

Touch Bionics, which I was hired in, became a part of Össur in April 2016.

Marketing Manager - Touch Bionics

Hanna Instruments

This position was key in developing, implementing, and managing integrated, multi-channel, strategic B2B and B2C marketing campaigns and communications programs. In this all-encompassing role, I was tasked with the creation and management of a strategic marketing roadmap aimed at increasing brand awareness and lead generation, as well as increasing sales.  The refined marketing program included both digital (SEO/PPC/video/eblast/social) and traditional (tradeshows/advertising/PR) marketing initiatives. 

Responsibilities included:
•	Creating a marketing strategy and marketing plan, based on overall business objectives 
•	Developing market specific marketing strategies
•	Being an instrumental part of growing US end user sales
•	Growing, and identifying target customers within key target markets
•	Managing international tradeshows and advertising initiatives
•	Creating, and guiding the creation of needed processes

Drove the development of new processes:
•	Tradeshow Management & Execution
•	Social Media & Blogging
•	Eblasts for both internal and external audiences
•	SEO & PPC
•	Media Placement
•	Website Development & Launch
•	Branding 
•	International Relations

The new processes and strategies were the key pillars of an all-encompassing marketing roadmap which was set to drive, among other things, overall business growth and brand awareness.

Results: 
•	Web traffic increased 141% year over year
•	Web sales were up 33% month over month in Q1
•	30% more customers had been reached via targeted eblasts

The role was supported by three direct reports.

📣Seeking new Calibration Marketing clients AND full time opportunities!📣
With over 15 years of experience in product & marketing I have had my hands in a variety of projects. 
My last 3 years at a start up have been a combination of strategy, branding, product management, operations, partner management, and marketing, to name a few responsibilities.  With new insight into regulatory and QMS affairs, I've been able to help our business ensure success when we go to market with our new prosthetic device.

Marketing & product needs to know the goals of the overall business and how to differentiate their product in a saturated market, and that can't be done in a vacuum.  There are other critical handoffs that have to take place, such as those between strategy, creative, engineering, product, and sales.  

I am self-motivated and accustomed to working under pressure in large global organizations, as well as small start-ups, quickly developing new strategies to achieve the goals of a regional business unit.  Not one to sit and wait, I'll hit the ground running to get the team some quick wins.

Whether the product/service falls into a B2B or B2C industry, my style of content centers on evoking emotion and helping drive sales through a focus on the user or target audience. 

No marketing budget? No problem! Large budget? Let's go!

These are the skills I have sharpened in my past roles:
•	Building a team & business unit
•	Creating a GTM strategy from the ground up in a start up organization by focusing on the "WHY?"
•	Launching new products  
•	Helping to grow existing product offerings through effective internal & external comm.
•	Adjusting marketing tactics based on market & competitor landscape
•	Increasing brand awareness
•	Market research
•	Creating & executing upon yearly marketing roadmaps
•	Managing marketing budgets spanning from $500K to $2M
•	Strategically optimizing the exposure, reach, & effectiveness of our brand marketing communication 
•	Creating new nurturing and lead generation campaigns (through social, email, and SEO)

taplio

The Battle

Claire Smizer

Linda Calabria

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The Battle

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Linda Calabria

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Claire Smizer's LinkedIn Performance

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