Maaike van Rooden

Senior Brand Strategist | Turning insight into brand strategy and tangible direction | Based in Madrid, working internationally

Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain

About

I help organisations clarify who they are and what they stand for, aligning internal identity with external positioning. I translate complexity into clear strategic direction, and make that direction tangible through narratives, models and conceptual thinking. With 17+ years of experience in brand strategy, retail and customer experience, I work at the intersection of strategic clarity and creative translation. I combine analytical sharpness with imagination and empathy, helping clients navigate change, sharpen positioning and build shared direction. My work focuses on: 1. Brand Strategy & Strategic Support for Creative Agencies I join agency teams as a temporary senior support, strengthening strategy, design and creative teams during busy periods or specialised projects. I help teams sharpen thinking, clarify the story and bring strategic depth to client work through: • Insight development & research synthesis • Brand strategy, positioning & strategic framing • Facilitating alignment through workshops and stakeholder sessions • Scenario thinking to explore future direction • Translating strategy into tangible direction that guides design and concept development I integrate easily into ongoing projects, working closely with strategy directors, designers and creatives. 2. Brand & Experience Strategy I support organisations navigating change by defining brand strategy and translating it into aligned internal direction and coherent external experiences. This includes: • Strategy definition and positioning • Facilitating alignment through interactive workshops and stakeholder sessions • Retail & service concept development • Scenario-led visioning & future perspectives • Translating strategy into actionable frameworks that guide decision-making and adoption Based in Madrid, I work internationally with ambitious agencies, brand teams and organisations who want clarity, direction and ideas that move people. If you're exploring new strategic directions or need senior support for brand strategy or experience projects, let’s connect.

Experience