Auna.Get in touch
Denver · Sydney · New York

Consumer insight, converted into revenue.

Auna Jornayvaz is a marketing strategist and research consultant with 15+ years as a founder, advertising sales leader, keynote speaker, and journalist — turning research into positioning, pipeline, and closed accounts.

See the workWork with me
Years
15+
Clients onboarded
100+
Keynote audience
400+
Warm editorial illustration of a Colorado sunset

"Onboarded 100+ clients including The Four Seasons, Marriott, and Vail Resorts."

Profile

A consultant's toolkit, built from the client side.

Career built across three continents as a founder and CEO, a Senior Research Strategist, a Director of Business Development, and a journalist for leading magazines. Co-founded and led Gold Calendar, a scheduling-technology platform that signed 100+ clients including The Four Seasons, Marriott Hotels, and Vail Resorts.

A trusted board leader for Denver's major civic institutions — bringing a consultant's toolkit from the client side: rigorous mixed-methods research, sharp positioning, and executive-ready communication.

Core Competencies

  • Brand strategy & market positioning
  • Go-to-market & venture leadership
  • Advertising & national account sales
  • Keynote speaking & sales workshops
  • Qualitative & quantitative market research
  • B2B & B2C sales strategy and copywriting
  • Event & experiential marketing
  • Board governance & stakeholder management
Signature Experience

Three chapters. One point of view.

Founder, research strategist, business-development lead — the through-line is turning insight into closed accounts and enterprise-grade brand credibility.

Denver · Global

CEO & Co-Founder

Gold Calendar · 2014 – 2018

Created a scheduling-technology platform and API that let event-industry professionals search inventory by date — and built the brand, sales engine, and partnerships that scaled it globally.

  • Onboarded 100+ clients including The Four Seasons, Marriott Hotels, and Vail Resorts; partnerships across the US, Australia, UAE, Hong Kong, and the UK.
  • Led a team of five sales associates, two developers, and interns; formulated sales strategy and product changes that improved quality and customer satisfaction.
  • Ran a mixed-methods research study in the US and Dubai on how millennial brides navigate online resources, feeding directly into product and positioning.
  • Keynoted the Engage Conference (West Palm Beach) to 400 wedding professionals on reaching millennial audiences through technology.
Research & Sales Strategy

Senior Research Strategist

One Fine Collective / Easy Wedding Conference · 2018 – 2021

Shaped sales strategy and content direction from customer research; keynoted to 400 wedding professionals on best practices in client surveying.

  • Built comprehensive strategies from customer discovery, combining qualitative and quantitative methods across B2B and B2C.
  • Wrote high-performing sales copy grounded in descriptive statistics and research insight.
  • Led a strategy retreat with an interactive SWOT sales model and delivered sales workshops for B2B leadership.
National Advertising

Director of Business Development

Denver Magazine · 2009 – 2012

Secured large national advertising accounts and expanded brand recognition through TV, non-profit, and civic partnerships.

  • Closed national accounts including Mercedes-Benz.
  • Previously Junior Editor (2007–2009): exclusive interview with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for the Democratic National Convention.
  • Orchestrated the editorial strategy and Vogue Documentary launch with Vogue's marketing team (2012–2013).
Board & Civic Leadership

Trusted where it counts — the room where decisions are made.

Trustee

2025 – Present

University of Denver Board of Trustees

Governance of a top-100 private research university: strategy, finance, and institutional advancement at the board level.

Trustee

2023 – Present

The Denver Health Foundation

Philanthropy for Colorado's safety-net hospital; advocate for postpartum trauma, mental health, and invisible-disability causes.

Board of Advisors

Graduate School of Professional Psychology, DU

Instrumental in securing major funding for the school from the LARRK Foundation; also serves on the LARRK Foundation board.

Board of Directors

2011 – 2015

Colorado Ballet

Prior civic board service alongside Level One Board, Denver Health (2010–2013) and Philanthropy Australia, Sydney (2016–2018).

What I bring

To a consulting team, to a boardroom, to a launch.

01

Client-side empathy

Founder, CEO, advertising sales leader, and board member — I have sat in every seat a consulting client sits in.

02

Research that persuades

Journalist-grade sourcing plus formal qualitative and quantitative methods, delivered in language executives act on.

03

Enterprise credibility

Closed and served brands from Mercedes-Benz to Four Seasons, Marriott, and Vail Resorts.

04

A platform presence

Repeat keynote speaker to 400+ audiences, with deep reach across Denver's civic, philanthropic, and business communities.

Let's talk

Have a brand, a launch, or a hard-to-win audience?

I partner with consulting teams, founders, and institutions on positioning, research, and brand strategy that stands up to real markets.

Denver, Colorado

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