Hidden Gems: Meet Nancy A Shenker of theONswitch & Nunu Ventures

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy A Shenker.

Hi Nancy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Even as a little girl, I was fairly right/left brain-balanced. Very creative, I also liked to solve problems and turn chaos into order. Fast-forward to adulthood… after majoring in English/Psychology at the University of Michigan, I started my career in publishing and got a graduate degree in Book Publishing. I got tired of being poor and ended up taking a job in financial services. After rising in the ranks to executive positions at Citibank and Mastercard, I went back into the media world as CMO of Reed Exhibitions (the company that now owns ComicCon). In 2003, I saw a need for businesses to innovate and adopt more tech-powered solutions to growth. I launched theONswitch marketing (www.theonswitch.com) to meet that need. I also began serving on non-profit boards and furthering my writing/speaking career, forming another company called nunu ventures nunu means “the original chaos from which the earth was formed” and was also my late father’s nickname for me. Over the past 17 years I’ve helped hundreds of companies and people grow and rebrand, resulting in millions of dollars in new business and customer retention. I am actively involved in the Society of Saleswomen (SOS) and CIRKEL.world and coach both young and older professionals. I am actively crusading against ageism in our society, fostering more cross-generational collaboration and respect. I write for Thrive and Forbes and run three web properties. I’ve published four books and am working on my fifth. I have two daughters and two grandkids. I recently moved from NY to AZ to be closer to my 94 year old mother and bring my transformative brand and understanding of technology to the valley.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No road is ever smooth or straight. Going from corporate life to entrepreneurship was a major transition. Surviving the last recession was tough, but prepared me well for the pandemic. My professional and personal lives still work in progress. Balancing play, business, family/friends, and self-care is a challenge for all entrepreneurs and working women.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about theONswitch & nunu ventures?
Having worked for big brands, I’m able to bring best-of-class thinking and innovation to SMBs (small and mid-sized businesses), as well as companies that are scaling. I specialize in combining solid strategic planning with conventional and digital media to deliver breakthrough results. My creative and storytelling skills come into play with many assignments, as I help businesses develop their differentiating message points and build company cultures. That said, I am also very results-oriented and create tech-powered marketing programs that can be measured. Unlike other consultants, I do not believe in having a big impressive office or lots of on-salary staff. I custom-craft “superhero teams” for each assignment, ensuring the client gets best-of-class and experienced talent. I treat every client’s business as if it’s my own — respecting their budget and time. My 40 years of marketing experience has made me resilient, highly-creative, flexible, and super-fast.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was a chubby geeky shy girl. But I always had a sense of humor and respected other people. Writing, reading, movies, live music, and crafts and cooking projects were among my passions. Both my parents encouraged me to be fearless and fun.

Contact Info:

• Email: nancys@theonswitch.com
• Website: www.theonswitch.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/theonswitch
• Facebook: facebook.com/theonswitchmarketing
• Twitter: twitter.com/theonswitch
• Other: https://clearvoice.com/cv/NancyAShenker