# JOSH KESSLER

## EXPERIENCE
### ACALA (Stablecoin-Focused L1 on Polkadot) April 2021 to August 2022
**Director of Growth**
* Launched 2 token sales ($61M), 2 crowdloans ($1.3B), 2 Layer 1 blockchains, stablecoin, liquid staking and DEX protocols
* Developed and led community engagement programs; Community Calls, Crypto Classroom, Early Adopter to grow our +900k member community
* Conducted ad hoc Business Development work with insurance, liquid staking, lending and NFT protocols
* Co-led UI/UX with Product through ideation, wireframes, focus groups, and post-deployment feedback
* Oversaw 3 Community Managers by identifying moderation needs and creating product education videos
* Grew Ambassador program to over 150 Ambassadors; defined target growth regions and strategic community initiatives (e.g., localization, events, etc.)

### COX COMMUNICATIONS 2018 to 2021
**Sr. Corporate Strategy Analyst**
* Led partnership strategy for Cybersecurity product expansion; selected partnership targets, identified customer segments and created product bundles
* Co-led strategy development with head of product for Voice services ($500M in revenue) which resulted in $15M dollar acceleration in product investment and greenlight for future partnership/acquisition
* Co-led acquisition strategy for managed cloud services resulting in acquisition of RapidScale
* Collaborated with a cross-functional team of C-Suite executives to secure $10B investment from Board

### DEUTSCHE BANK 2015 to 2017
**Investment Banking Associate**
* Led over $50B of bond transactions for Anheuser-Busch, AT&T and Marriott and others
* Managed end-to-end deal execution; coordinated legal counsel, third-party vendors and colleagues
* Ranked as the top Analyst within Global Markets and was promoted to Associate in less than 2 years

### KEMPER CORPORATION 2013 to 2015
**Product Analyst**
* Led end-to-end scenario analysis on tens of thousands of customer policies in Georgia, Oklahoma and California and adjusted rating algorithm so that desired profitability and churn metrics were achieved
* Resolved inquiries from state regulators by promptly providing additional information and clarification

## EDUCATION

**EMORY UNIVERSITY, GOIZUETA (Evening MBA)**
M.B.A., Concentration in Entrepreneurship

**VASSAR COLLEGE**
B.A., International Studies, Minor in International Economics