Two partners. One university. And a mission to succeed.
If you’re looking for a link between Silicon Valley, New Haven, one of the world’s largest tool manufacturers, and the Inc. 500/5000 list, you’ll find your answer in a pair of Northeastern graduates running this little marketing agency we refer to as Response. Partners Carolyn Walker (Class of ’91) and David Klineberg (Class of ’00) are the dynamic duo leading this 16-person agency that is home to brands such as STANLEY Black & Decker, Amazon Web Services, PROTO, Intel Security, Sony PlayStation, and many more.
Carolyn’s Story
As a B.S., B.A. double major in Marketing and Management, she took advantage of her Northeastern Co-Op opportunities to work with agencies and brands such as Kraft, Frito Lay, and Saatchi & Saatchi. A self-described “accidental entrepreneur”, Carolyn took advantage of her co-ops to try her hand at research, sales, brand marketing, and advertising. It was at Saatchi where she found a home, and began a career that would take her to places such as New York City, Florida, and eventually New Haven. It was in New Haven where Carolyn’s journey to Response Partner would begin with a freelance gig for Response.
A Fortuitous Link
While looking to fill an open position within Response, David’s resume crossed Carolyn’s desk. Noticing Northeastern on his resume, she immediately bumped him to the top of the list. “Northeastern really teaches you how to be a pro,” says Walker. “I felt there was a level of trust before even meeting him.” His co-ops with Allied Advertising and the Downtown Crossing Association steered him towards his current path. Much like Carolyn, David took the scenic route to Response, spending time in New York and California before settling back in New Haven.
From Alums to Partners
Today, the pair of Northeastern alums are in charge of an agency that has made the Inc. 500/5000 list for three years running. Their complementary management styles, skill sets, and shared experiences deliver an added advantage to an agency that often competes for clients with agencies in New York, Boston, and San Francisco. Whereas Carolyn’s influence can be seen on the more creative aspects of the business, David’s strategic thinking and media knowledge ensure clients receive great ideas that will be seen.
“Both being graduates of Northeastern, we have similar work ethics,” says Klineberg. “Partnering with Carolyn helps to keep us both balanced. We push each other, and that helps us push the agency as a whole.”
Carolyn agrees.
“A partnership is like a marriage. There are hard parts, there’s compromise, a lot of give and take. But it’s great to get different perspectives. We’re both very open to each other’s ideas.”
“Not to sound cheesy, but the decision to partner with Carolyn was easy because I know that the type of person who succeeds at Northeastern will be a good leader.”
“We put a lot of trust and faith in each other, and we’ve been through a lot. But we’ve made it, and that’s really nothing short of a miracle.”