Jess Koscher: Winner – Women Leader in Strategic Growth & Brand Architecture | International Women Awards 2026
- Great Companies
- Jun 9
- 3 min read
The 8th International Women Awards 2026 by Great Companies celebrates women leaders who are helping organizations grow with purpose, clarity, and meaningful impact.
Among this year’s distinguished winners is Jess Koscher, Founder & CEO of Write Connections | strategy + design, honored as Winner – Women Leader in Strategic Growth & Brand Architecture.
Based in Elkhart, Indiana, USA, Jess has built a highly respected consulting and brand architecture firm that helps businesses, nonprofits, and leadership teams align strategy, communication, and organizational growth to achieve measurable results.
Company Overview
Founder: Jess Koscher
Business: Write Connections | strategy + design
Location: Elkhart, Indiana, USA
Founded: 2019
Category: Strategic Growth & Brand Architecture
Industry: Strategic Consulting, Brand Development & Organizational Growth
Website: makethewriteconnections.com
Connecting Strategy, Leadership, and Growth
Write Connections | strategy + design is a certified women- and minority-owned consulting firm that works at the intersection of strategy, communication, and organizational development.
The firm provides expertise across:
Strategic Planning
Brand Positioning
Leadership Facilitation
Website Development
Growth Marketing
Fundraising Strategy
Organizational Development
Board Training and Team Development
Its mission is clear:
To help organizations gain clarity, strengthen alignment, and execute growth initiatives that create measurable outcomes.
Beyond Marketing—Building Organizational Alignment
What sets Write Connections apart is its belief that successful organizations need more than marketing campaigns or creative assets.
The firm focuses on helping leaders answer critical questions:
Where are we going?
Are our teams aligned?
Does our messaging support our goals?
What barriers are preventing growth?
Key differentiators include:
Combining strategic consulting with implementation support
Operating as an extension of leadership teams
Aligning communication with organizational objectives
Relationship-driven client partnerships
Focus on measurable business outcomes
The philosophy is simple:
Great brands are built when strategy, leadership, culture, and communication work together.
From Nonprofit Leadership to Entrepreneurship
Before launching Write Connections in 2019, Jess spent more than two decades working in:
Nonprofit leadership
Community development
Fundraising strategy
Organizational growth initiatives
Throughout her career, she observed a recurring challenge:
Many organizations struggled not because of a lack of passion or talent, but because leadership, communication, and strategy were operating independently rather than together.
This realization inspired her to create a firm dedicated to bridging those gaps and helping organizations grow with greater intentionality and alignment.
Turning Professional Setbacks into Entrepreneurial Success
One of the defining moments in Jess’s journey came when she experienced a major professional setback after losing a position that had been a significant part of her career and identity.
At the time, it felt devastating.
However, that challenge ultimately became the catalyst that pushed her toward entrepreneurship.
Supported by decades of trusted relationships built through community leadership and professional collaboration, Jess decided to stop waiting for opportunities and instead create her own.
Launching Write Connections required her to overcome:
Financial uncertainty
Fear of failure
Imposter syndrome
The pressure many women and minority founders face to continually prove themselves
Today, those experiences have become some of her greatest strengths.
Leadership Built on Relationships and Authenticity
Jess believes leadership is not about titles—it is about influence, trust, and the ability to help others move forward.
Her leadership philosophy centers on:
Authentic communication
Strategic thinking
Collaboration
Courageous conversations
Relationship building
She is known for helping organizations navigate complexity while remaining focused on practical solutions and long-term impact.
Her approach reflects a powerful belief:
Strong relationships are often the foundation of the most sustainable growth.
Advice for Women Entrepreneurs
Jess shares a powerful message for women founders:
"Stop waiting for permission."
She encourages women to:
Trust the value of their experience
Lead authentically rather than fitting a mold
Build genuine relationships over chasing visibility
Focus on long-term reputation and trust
Create businesses that reflect who they truly are
Her message is clear:
The most successful leaders are often the ones who stop asking for permission and start trusting their own voice.
The Future
Write Connections is focused on:
Expanding strategic growth consulting services
Supporting more nonprofits and mission-driven organizations
Strengthening leadership development programs
Helping businesses align culture, strategy, and communication
Building long-term partnerships that drive sustainable growth
The vision is to create:
Organizations that grow with clarity, purpose, and meaningful impact.
Official Recognition
Jess Koscher has been honored as the Winner – Women Leader in Strategic Growth & Brand Architecture at the 8th International Women Awards 2026 by Great Companies, recognizing her contribution to organizational growth, leadership development, and purpose-driven business transformation.
About the Awards
The International Women Awards by Great Companies celebrates women leaders who are driving innovation, impact, and excellence across industries worldwide.