Anne Kubek seamlessly blends her expertise as a dynamic Chief Operating Officer (COO), accomplished Startup Strategist, and perceptive Growth Advisor to steer organizations towards significant growth, culminating in multiple successful exits. Boasting a distinguished career of over 25 years, Kubek has successfully led international companies within the Technology, Education, Learning and Development, Digital Content, and Publishing sectors through industry evolution, organizational optimization, and innovation.

Beyond envisioning change, she dives deep into the ‘how’ and ‘who’ of transformation, ensuring strategies are grounded in realism and opportunity. Her unwavering commitment to guide purpose-driven organizations is exemplified through her efforts to uplift female leadership, cultivate inclusive workplaces, and create impact for the betterment of our world.

Her strategic leadership has been pivotal for female-founded organizations like Verb Inc., which she drove to significant growth and recent acquisition by industry giant Paycor. While in her role as a fractional COO for several Evolve Venture Fund portfolio companies, Kubek’s human-centric approach rallies teams around overarching visions while empowering each team member to best contribute.

Kubek is an active participant in women’s leadership groups, including her current engagement with the Athena Alliance, where she connects, shares knowledge, and empowers fellow female leaders in various fields. She has held prominent positions such as Board Chair for the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, Founder and Board Chair of the Bay Area Women in Publishing, and Board Member at the Ann Arbor Book Festival, where her C-Suite leadership experience helped elevate the organizations within the broader community and industry.

As Chief Operating Officer at ReUp Education, she played a critical role in steering the company to grow its reach in helping higher education organizations find, enroll, and support adult learners. And, at INscribe Digital, her role as Executive Vice President and General Manager marked a period of significant development and eventual acquisition of the innovative technology platform. During this time, Kubek cemented her reputation as a thought leader in the ever-evolving digital content realm. She shared insights on industry trends and best practices through articles in outlets such as Publisher’s Weekly and interactive forums.

As a Senior Executive at Borders Group, Kubek played a pivotal role in the rapid evolution of bookselling, and the dramatic shifts in online retail and digital distribution. Her nearly 15 years of leadership experience in Marketing, Operations, and Human Resources for the book and music retailer, established her expertise in cross-departmental growth. 

Her academic credentials from the University of Michigan, where she obtained both an MBA from the esteemed Stephen M. Ross School of Business and a BA in English Language and Literature laid the foundation for her career. Her commitment to her alma mater is evident through her leadership roles, including serving as Co-Chair of the Ross EMBA Alumni Association and as a Member of the Alumni Board of Governors. 

These formative experiences have culminated in Kubek’s unparalleled ability to lead with intention and impact. Her journey has refined her strategic acumen and solidified her reputation as a future-focused leader driving progress and purpose in the boardroom and beyond.