Dr. Cathy Thompson – Dissertation Defense Announcement

I am excited and grateful to officially share that I have successfully defended my dissertation and have completed the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Strategic Marketing. I am now Dr. Cathy Thompson.

My research study, “Quantifying Impact: Buyer Persona Alignment on Marketing and Sales Effectiveness,” focused on the relationship between buyer persona alignment, marketing strategy effectiveness, and return on marketing investment. This research is important because many organizations invest significant resources into marketing and sales but do not always see the results they expect. One of the key reasons is misalignment — misalignment between the business, the marketing strategy, and the actual customer.

This journey required discipline, sacrifice, faith, and perseverance. Balancing teaching, consulting, speaking, leadership roles, and research was not always easy, but it was worth it. This accomplishment is not just about a title; it represents years of study, research, and a commitment to contributing knowledge to the fields of business strategy and marketing.

Earning this degree strengthens the work I do through Cathy Newman Consulting, where I focus on:

• Business Strategy
• Marketing Alignment
• Leadership Development
• Organizational Strategy and Growth

My mission has always been to help individuals, businesses, and organizations move from vision to action, and this milestone allows me to serve at an even higher level with research-based strategy and data-driven decision making.

Thank you to everyone who supported me throughout this journey — family, friends, colleagues, students, clients, mentors, and my community. Your encouragement meant more than you know.

This is not the end of the journey — this is the beginning of the next level.

— Dr. Cathy Thompson
Cathy Newman Consulting
Business Strategy | Marketing Alignment | Leadership Development
From Vision to Action