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Kathleen Lucente

CEO and FounderRed Fan Communications

Austin, TX

Member Since September 2022

Skills

Media Relations
Public Relations
Corporate Communications

About

Kathleen Lucente is the founder and president of Red Fan Communications, an Austin-based strategic communications firm that partners with high-growth B2B technology and consumer brands to drive visibility, growth, and successful exits. With over 30 years of experience spanning both agency and corporate environments, Kathleen has developed a reputation for architecting communications strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes. As a trusted advisor to CEOs and CMOs, Kathleen specializes in helping companies navigate critical inflection points—whether positioning for rapid growth, preparing for funding rounds, or orchestrating successful IPOs and acquisitions. Her expertise lies in building comprehensive brand narratives that resonate with investors, attract top talent, and create meaningful connections with target audiences. Under Kathleen's leadership, Red Fan Communications has become known for its customized approach to strategic communications, combining deep industry knowledge with agile execution to help clients break through in competitive markets. Her work has supported numerous successful exits and funding rounds, while establishing lasting brand equity for companies across diverse sectors. Beyond her role at Red Fan, Kathleen actively contributes to the broader business community as a member of the Forbes Agency Council and through her board positions with Austin Gives and the ABC Kite Festival, America's oldest kite festival. She regularly shares insights on brand building and strategic communications through her #AskKathleen YouTube series, where she addresses the critical questions facing today's business leaders. Kathleen's leadership philosophy centers on constant evolution and learning, reflected in her current focus on business culture transformation through works like Ben Horowitz's "What You Do Is Who You Are." When not crafting strategic narratives for clients, she can be found gathering with family around her Austin fire pit, where she believes the best stories often come to life. Connect with Kathleen at kathleen@redfancommunications.com to discuss how strategic communications can accelerate your company's growth trajectory.

Published content

20 things business owners put too much weight on (and what to focus on instead)

expert panel

Keep your business priorities straight by focusing on the most impactful areas. Running a business is a game of competing priorities, both day-to-day and long-term. With so many areas to tend to, business owners can easily favor certain tasks over others—including those that aren't necessarily the most impactful. To help, the members of Fast Company Executive Board discuss the things business owners tend to put too much weight on and why overprioritizing these areas can limit growth. They also share their insights on what business owners should focus on instead to achieve lasting success.

15 budget-friendly ways to show customer appreciation all year

expert panel

Here's how to show your customers appreciation without breaking the bank. Showing genuine appreciation can go a long way in building lasting relationships with customers and clients. Small but thoughtful gestures can make a big impact for companies on a limited budget and keep customers feeling valued year-round. Here, Fast Company Executive Board members share what you can offer to show how much you value their loyalty while being mindful of your budget. From personalized messages to exclusive access and special perks, there are many ways businesses can express gratitude and strengthen connections without a large expense.

15 solutions to help brand leaders debunk misinformation

expert panel

Here's how to stop the lies from spreading and keep loyal consumers updated on what's correct. When it comes to maintaining a positive image and authentic brand reputation, company leaders need to control their narrative before someone on the outside tries to spin their own tales about the brand in a non-appealing way. Here, 15 brand leaders from Fast Company Executive Board each share their most effective strategies to combat misinformation and ensure the integrity of information in an era of digital manipulation.

Navigating your company through an election year: Strategies for success

article

Here’s what to consider and a few tips for running your company effectively during an election year.

16 tips for coaching future leaders and nurturing their success

expert panel

Encouraging your team to be problem solvers is a better way to build trust and keep them engaged in the process. Unleashing your full potential as a leader begins with having the willingness to embrace your own humility and enable others to shine. Empowering others to find the right solutions when they are faced with business challenges is an essential part of delegating responsibilities and building stronger teams. When it comes to helping direct reports develop decision-making strategies at work,16 experts from Fast Company Executive Board agree that it is much better to "coach" people rather than "manage." This is how potential successful leaders continue to grow.

Learning to lead effectively in the workplace: 16 tips to success

expert panel

Business experts share what it takes to manage a company and its people. Leading an organization to success can be a tremendous amount of pressure, but managing teams and being a positive influence on how they see the institution can be an even trickier balance to strike—whether you are new or seasoned when it comes to guiding direct reports in the workplace. Here, 16 Fast Company Executive Board members each talk about the most important thing they have learned in their current role about how to lead others in an organization or department.

Company details

Red Fan Communications

Company bio

Red Fan Communications is a strategic, integrated communications partner for dynamic B2B and technology brands. The full-service senior consultancy helps high-growth and established businesses build and sustain their brand reputations. Established in 2008 by marketing and communications industry veteran Kathleen Lucente, the firm delivers communication platforms that map to clients’ business goals, resonate with key audiences, strengthen brand identity and deliver measurable results. Red Fan Communications pushes the boundaries for clients, blending traditional and nontraditional communications strategies and tactics to craft customized campaigns that position brands as market leaders, support sales, engage customers and stakeholders and build brand awareness.

Industry

Marketing & advertising

Area of focus

Public Relations
Content
Brand Marketing

Company size

11 - 50