Kristina Connors
Kristina Connors is a highly accomplished product marketing and merchandising professional with over 23 years of experience in the consumer goods industry. Currently serving as Customer Success Manager at Avery Dennison, she brings a wealth of expertise in strategy development, process innovation, and sales leadership. Her career spans the full spectrum of product management, starting as an associate product line manager and advancing to director of product in a new channel offering. Kristina is known for her ability to analyze markets, identify sales opportunities, and develop product lines that meet both business objectives and client needs, while establishing processes that improve efficiency, foster collaboration, and encourage creativity.
Throughout her career, Kristina has held leadership positions at adidas Group and other prominent consumer goods companies, where she managed product life cycles, category strategies, and go-to-market initiatives. For the past five years, she has focused on sales, applying her deep product merchandising and marketing experience to enhance client relationships and business outcomes. Kristina attributes her success to being client-centric understanding each client’s goals, challenges, and long-term vision while ensuring that product offerings and strategies align with their needs.
A graduate of Butler University with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Spanish and Business, Kristina combines analytical rigor with creative problem-solving. After taking time off to focus on her family, she has returned to the professional world with a renewed passion for leadership. Over the next five years, her goal is to lead and develop teams directly, guiding and mentoring professionals while shaping innovative strategies that drive growth and customer success.
• Butler University - Bachelor of Liberal Arts, Spanish and Business
• Local Little League Baseball - Volunteer coordinating uniforms and other needs
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being client-centric and understanding the client's needs and goals. I always try to think of what their goal is when taking my approach and building product, or how they're using it, what they're using it for, and what they're trying to accomplish. I have a comprehensive understanding of what the client actually needs, the challenges they're facing, and then where they want to be in the long run. This client-focused approach has been key to my success throughout my career in consumer goods.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say the advice I would give would be to stay focused, be reliable, and willing to take on new challenges. A big part is honestly to get comfortable with going outside your comfort zone. So, somebody put it to me one time, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Go make that extra connection with somebody, or volunteer on a project you might not be familiar with, but just help yourself grow and gain as much knowledge as you can. You have to be a lifelong learner and be okay with change, because change is inevitable, so being adaptable is key.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are integrity, trust, transparency, and strong relationships. I'm a very transparent person and I tend to show my feelings. I believe you earn that trust from other people by being transparent. Whether it's personal or professional, building strong relationships is fundamental to everything I do. Being transparent, even when it comes to making mistakes, allows you to continue to grow and gain people's trust.