Helping You Grow What Matters
We believe that everything starts with people.
Real growth comes from understanding your purpose, your team, and your processes. It’s not about quick fixes but finding the right path forward. That’s why we take the time to understand your challenges and goals, offering not just strategies, but genuine partnership. Having been through growth and transformation ourselves, we bring warmth, support, and a problem-solving mindset to help you navigate change with confidence.
Meet the Team
Founded by Drew Mathias and Erin Dress, Heartfelt Strategy bridges decades of marketing expertise with hands-on AI integration. Our people-first, practical approach empowers organizations to drive growth from the ground up, equipping leaders and teams alike with the tools and strategies to thrive.
Our Story
Heartfelt Strategy wasn’t just built—it grew naturally, the way the best ideas do. We met 7 years ago during a job interview, and two-and-a-half hours later, we were still deep in conversation, laughing, and sharing ideas. We left that room knowing one thing: we’d be friends for life.
Since then, we’ve worked side by side across industries—CPG giants, scrappy start-ups, purpose-driven brands. We’ve supported each other through new roles, big changes, and countless hikes with our dogs, Josie and Pepper (who are now great friends, too).
It wasn’t long before we realized: the way we support each other in life, the way we balance curiosity with compassion and strategy with execution, is exactly how we could help others thrive. Heartfelt Strategy is the result of that realization—a business built on partnership, lifelong learning, and the belief that when you get to the heart of what matters, everything falls into place.
Our Impact & Experience
Marketing Strategy & Business Turnarounds
Led marketing strategy achieving market share growth in competitive categories, such as haircare, supporting the only brand in the top 5 to gain share. Expanded Impossible Foods (expanded from 142 stores to 23K+ in 3 years).
AI Strategy & Change Management
Developed AI governance process and led cross-functional alignment for AI adoption and integration (early results estimated 30% time saving/increased productivity for AI-empowered teams) using behavior change principles.
AI Upskilling & Empowerment
By shifting from individual learning & development to team-based AI upskilling and applied AI approach, saved company 10% of annual budget while still investing in AI transformation for the team.
Omnichannel Transformation
Led omnichannel strategy for Fortune 500 Consumer Goods company's largest customer (Walmart) to become early market share leader; pioneered omni ROI analysis, and led the retailer media strategy for the portfolio of brands.
Purpose-Driven Brands & Non-Profits
Helped mental healthcare startup Hazel Health establish leadership in a new category, 10Xing reach, and revenue and earning Fast Company Most Innovative Companies award, UCSF's Digtial Health Award, and Forbes Best Places to Work.
B2B/SaaS
Led AI product integration strategy for a B2B service company, helping future-proof the product offering. Created custom GPTs for clients to accelerate creating brand awareness and persona-specific content, at scale.
AI Credentials
20+
Hours/week spent testing, learning, and applying, and optimizing in AI tools, automation, and workflows with risk and governance framework
4
Industry-leading AI for business certifications (SmarterX, Curious Refuge, Marketing AI Institute, GrowthSchool)
10+
Custom GPTs built and continually optimized, including sandboxes made for client-safe AI tool testing and content creation
15+
AI tools used regularly and applied to client work based on use cases and their needs for adapting to the changing business landscape
