Deepthi Welaratna

A well-told story is my favorite weapon. Explore the rest of my arsenal below.

About

15+ years of agency experience creating and directing brand platforms, integrated global campaigns, and social movements. Writing, research, training, facilitation, and public speaking. Ex-startup founder @ Thicket, a design lab and technology company.

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Case Studies

<b>YWCA Southeast Wisconsin</b> <br><i>Strategic Planning & Retreat Facilitation</i>

YWCA Southeast Wisconsin
Strategic Planning & Retreat Facilitation
<b>Mustard & Miel</b> <br><i>Brand Strategy & Ecommerce Launch</i>

Mustard & Miel
Brand Strategy & Ecommerce Launch
<b>Global LA</b> <br><i>Marketing & Operations</i>

Global LA
Marketing & Operations
<b>The Art of Voting</b> <br><i>Fundraising Campaign</i>

The Art of Voting
Fundraising Campaign
<b>Courage California</b> <br><i>Content Program & Product Launch</i>

Courage California
Content Program & Product Launch
<b>McGill University</b> <br><i>Service Design</i>

McGill University
Service Design
<b>JEME Agency</b> <br><i>Monitoring and Evaluation</i>

JEME Agency
Monitoring and Evaluation
<b>Google & YouTube Originals</b> <br><i>Audience Research</i>

Google & YouTube Originals
Audience Research
<b>The Center for Global Policy Solutions</b> <br><i>Public Policy Design Lab</i>

The Center for Global Policy Solutions
Public Policy Design Lab
<b>The University of Toronto</b> <br><i>Collaborative Learning & Product Design</i>

The University of Toronto
Collaborative Learning & Product Design
<b>Foundation Rwanda</b> <br><i>Fundraising Campaign</i>

Foundation Rwanda
Fundraising Campaign
<b>Openbox</b> <br><i>Business Design & Agency Launch</i>

Openbox
Business Design & Agency Launch
<b>The Rockefeller Foundation</b> <br><i>Integrated Communications</i>

The Rockefeller Foundation
Integrated Communications
<b>Brilliant Earth</b> <br><i>Brand Narrative & Content Strategy</i>

Brilliant Earth
Brand Narrative & Content Strategy
<b>Netpop Research</b> <br><i>Market Research & Product Launch</i>

Netpop Research
Market Research & Product Launch

Skills

Brand Narrative Systems

Crafting brand narratives and touch points that resonate including brand stories, messaging frameworks, style guides, personas, and more.

Creative Direction and Production

Guiding teams to produce websites, campaigns, videos, workshops, convenings and more from concept to completion.

Research and Design Methods

Including workshops and focus groups, ethnography, surveys, quizzes, A/B testing, design research, and HCD frameworks.

Content and UX Copywriting

Including ad campaigns, SEO content, email marketing, blog writing, white papers, case studies, video scripts and more.

Strategic Innovation

Including trend and foresight analysis, open innovation, product development, digital transformation, and organizational design.

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Communications and PR Strategy

Training, pitching, mentorship, and guidance for individuals, teams, and organizations in times of crisis and opportunity.

Clients

  • ArtsRising

  • Asian Pacific Fund

  • Athlete Ally

  • Autism Speaks

  • Be The Change / ServiceNation / Opportunity Nation

  • The Bellagio Center

  • Born This Way Foundation

  • Boston Rising

  • Brilliant Earth

  • The British Museum

  • Carnegie Hall

  • The California Endowment

  • California Tomorrow

  • The California Wellness Foundation

  • Cause Communications

  • The Center for Global Policy Solutions / Global Policy Solutions

  • Center for Investigative Reporting

  • Chinatown Youth Initiatives

  • Civic Ventures

  • Dance Films Association

  • Digital Democracy

  • Dow Chemical

  • The Elab at Parsons School of Design

  • Enspiral Foundation

  • Experience Corps

  • FIRST Robotics

  • Foster Youth Alliance

  • The Fosters

  • Foundation Rwanda

  • The Global Fund

  • Godiva

  • Google 

  • Groupe EDF

  • Hope to Action

  • i.e. communications

  • IKEA

  • Impact NYC

  • The Institute of Development Studies

  • The James Irvine Family Foundation

  • The Knowledge House

  • Lifehack HQ

  • Little Giant Creative / JEME Agency

  • The Los Angeles Public Library

  • The Lowline

  • Lights in the Delta

  • Magnum Foundation

  • Media-Screen / Netpop

  • The Metropolitan Museum

  • Marsh McLennan

  • McGill University

  • Miss O & Friends / Hyperlinked

  • Movement Strategy Center

  • Mustard & Miel

  • Nationswell Studio

  • Neuro Water

  • NYC.gov

  • Openbox

  • Public School

  • Randi Zinn, Beyond Mom

  • Renault

  • The Resource Alliance

  • The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

  • The Rockefeller Foundation

  • Secretary of State of California

  • Shelter Scotland

  • Soy Andina

  • Speakaboos

  • Specialty Food Association

  • Thoughtworks

  • United Way of the Bay Area

  • United Way Worldwide

  • The University of Toronto

  • Verizon

  • V-Day/One Billion Rising

  • Vote For Africa

  • West Point Military Academy

  • YouTube

  • YWCA SEW

Testimonials

  • Deepthi is an accomplished business leader who demonstrates integrity, capability, and determination to do quality work in every situation. I would hire her and Thicket again in a heartbeat."

    - Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, Founder, President, and CEO of Global Policy Solutions

  • “Thicket Labs' strategy was refreshingly innovative and approached our initiative with the necessary nuance and empathy to craft solutions specific to our needs. Their expertise in data analytics, professionalism, and dedication to our project's success resulted in outcomes that were spot on and highly informative.”

    - Meegan Denenberg, Founder, JEME Agency

  • "Love Deepthi. She's a really wonderful writer who has on more than one occasion turned me on to interesting cultural information that I would have otherwise been oblivious to. She's fun to work with, creative and has great style and energy."

    - Mark Taylor, Former Editor, KQED Arts & Culture Blog

  • “Brilliantly facilitated large and small group conversations. Clear focus of group discussions with plenty of time for peer learning and engagement that then was reflected in a group collaborative work product. How great is that?”

    - Anonymous participant, Health Equity Design Lab workshop

Talks

Let’s talk about your next project, shall we?