“If Not Me Then Who?”

Marie Vlad is a dynamic and high-impact executive with a proven record of driving growth, engagement, and brand evolution across early-stage ventures and enterprise organizations. With a unique blend of commercial strategy, customer success leadership, and experiential marketing expertise, Marie has cultivated a career defined by transformation—whether launching new markets, scaling multimillion-dollar portfolios, or forging authentic in-person connection in a digital-first age.

Currently serving as the Founding Managing Director for Thursday Dating in South Florida, Marie has taken the reins of the brand’s third U.S. market—following New York City and Chicago—and built it into a flagship region. From zero to a vibrant community of over 5,000 followers, Marie has orchestrated a consistent stream of revenue-generating, high-engagement events, averaging 2–3 in-person gatherings per week across multiple cities. Her leadership more than doubled regional revenue, expanded operations into new markets, and created a local ambassador network that has cemented Thursday as a major player in IRL dating culture. Beyond operations, she has served as the public face of the brand, elevating its media presence and representing its mission through panels and press.

Marie’s foundational expertise in enterprise client success was honed through roles with leading SaaS and fintech companies. As an Enterprise Customer Success Manager at Sana Commerce, she owned a $100K monthly recurring revenue book of business, led high-stakes commercial negotiations, and migrated legacy clients to innovative SaaS and GMV-based pricing models. Her outstanding performance earned her the 2025 President’s Club Award, with a record-setting 372% over target—the highest upsell achievement in company history.

At Glia, Marie managed a $3.2 million book of strategic accounts and led initiatives that accounted for 20% of the company’s annual expansion revenue. Promoted to Senior Customer Success Manager and recognized for her domain expertise in financial services, Marie built data-driven account plans and launched internal infrastructure projects that scaled the Customer Success function. Her influence extended to organizational culture as well, having served as a Chair Member on Glia’s DEI Committee from 2020 to 2022.

Earlier in her career, Marie held customer success and operations leadership roles at Rhino and Stayawhile Inc., where she was instrumental in onboarding strategy, real estate operations, and market expansion. Her educational background includes an M.S. in Management Studies and a B.S. in Behavioral Health from Boston University, reflecting a lifelong interest in behavioral science and the human side of business.

A sought-after voice in the customer experience and startup ecosystems, Marie serves as a panelist for SuccessHacker’s webshow and brings public speaking, brand advocacy, and trend forecasting into her work. She has held multiple leadership and campus roles, including Recruitment Director for Kappa Alpha Theta, Health Educator for Peer Health Exchange, and Student Athlete and Team Manager for Boston University Cheerleading.

Marie Vlad’s career reflects a rare balance of entrepreneurial agility and enterprise discipline—anchored in people-first leadership, strategic foresight, and a passion for building vibrant, engaged communities. She is an executive force driving real-world connection in an increasingly digital landscape.

Character
Marie Vlad demonstrates an exceptional blend of drive, adaptability, and integrity, consistently rising as a trusted leader in high-growth environments. Her passion for human connection, inclusivity, and authentic engagement is evident in both her leadership style and her sustained success across diverse roles and industries.

Knowledge
Marie brings a deep and diverse knowledge base rooted in behavioral science, customer success, and experiential marketing, supported by advanced degrees from Boston University. She has cultivated expertise in enterprise SaaS, strategic account management, and community-driven brand building, which she applies to drive innovation and long-term client value.

Strategic
Marie’s career is marked by visionary thinking and the ability to architect scalable solutions, whether launching new markets, optimizing revenue operations, or guiding legacy clients through digital transformation. Her strategic leadership has directly resulted in record-breaking growth, operational expansion, and sustained market influence.

Communication
Marie excels at translating complex ideas into compelling narratives, whether negotiating enterprise contracts, speaking publicly on behalf of a brand, or leading cross-functional teams. Her ability to foster relationships, engage communities, and amplify brand voice makes her a powerful communicator in both digital and real-world settings.