Upland | Mary Jo Hardy

Mary Jo Hardy

Principal

Mary Jo is a strategy and insights leader who helps organizations navigate complexity and unlock growth by bringing clarity to what matters most. She is deeply curious about how people think, decide, and behave—and uses that understanding to translate consumer and market dynamics into clear, actionable direction.

She partners with clients to cut through ambiguity, align teams, and focus investment where it will have the greatest impact. Known for connecting disparate inputs into a coherent point of view, Mary Jo helps leaders move from analysis to confident decision-making.

With experience spanning CPG and multi-brand environments, her work includes growth, brand and innovation strategy, as well as consumer insights, with a focus on translating insight into action. She collaborates closely with cross-functional teams and executive stakeholders to ensure strategies are actionable and embedded within the organization.

Mary Jo believes clarity is a competitive advantage—especially in environments where complexity and competing priorities can stall progress. She brings both discipline and intuition to her work, helping teams move forward with focus and intention.

Outside of work, Mary Jo is most at home in nature, where she re-centers and reconnects—often finding that the clearest insights emerge with space to step back and observe.

Area of Expertise

  • Consumer & Category Insights
  • Brand Strategy/Positioning
  • Portfolio Strategy
  • Innovation

Past Experience

  • 15 years on the advertising agency side as a Media Director / Account Planner
  • 16 years in CPG / Alcoholic Beverage in Insights
  • Brand & Strategic Planning

Education

  • B.B.A/Marketing, St. Bonaventure University
Upland | Mary Jo Hardy
“The best strategies are the ones leaders believe in enough to execute. I’m energized by helping leaders get clear, make brave choices, and follow through.”
Upland | Mary Jo Hardy
“The best strategies are the ones leaders believe in enough to execute. I’m energized by helping leaders get clear, make brave choices, and follow through.”
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