Career Profile

Thirty Years. Multiple Sectors. One Consistent Standard.

A record of professional practice connecting corporate marketing, boardroom strategy, digital transformation, adult learning, AI readiness, and leadership research.

Career History

Professional Experience

Professor, Digital Strategy and Applied Learning

Georgian College — Barrie, Ontario
2020 — Present

Full-time professor in the Digital Content Creation and Strategy (DGCC) program, teaching web design, content strategy, accessibility, business communication, entrepreneurship, and project management. Responsible for curriculum design, assessment development, and program renewal initiatives. Applies the BOPPPS instructional design methodology across all courses. Recipient of consistent student performance outcomes above program benchmarks.

Founder & Principal Consultant

The Front of the Class — Barrie, Ontario
2022 — Present

Career transition consultancy providing professional branding, resume development, LinkedIn strategy, and interview preparation services to displaced Ontario educators and graduating postsecondary students navigating the transition from institutional roles to independent professional identities.

Digital Ecosystem & AI-Ready Strategy

Independent Practice — Ontario
2018 — Present

Active development of WordPress plugins, themes, and custom web applications for teaching, business, and client purposes. Recent projects include a comprehensive relational database management system with invoicing, quoting, time tracking, task management, and a client portal; booking management and testimonial systems for a cleaning services business; and a learning management system prototype.

Marketing Executive / Senior Strategic Marketing Professional

Various Organisations — Ontario
1994 — 2020

Approximately twenty-six years of progressive professional marketing experience across sectors including retail, services, and media. Responsibilities spanned brand development, strategic planning, campaign management, team leadership, budget oversight, and digital transformation initiatives. This career forms the professional foundation for his current academic and consulting practice.

Interested in Working Together?

Let's Start a Conversation

GET IN TOUCH

Professional Experience

What Keith Can Contribute as a Corporate Strategist

Keith combines more than three decades of leadership experience with advanced study in leadership, innovation, organizational policy, workforce development, and digital transformation. His ability to bridge strategy and execution helps organizations navigate growth, change, and the challenges of an increasingly AI-driven business environment.Throughout his career, he has helped organizations align business objectives with communication strategies, leadership development, workforce capability, customer engagement, and operational improvement. His approach focuses not only on achieving organizational goals but on ensuring that employees, leaders, and stakeholders understand how their work contributes to broader strategic outcomes.

Keith is particularly effective at connecting leadership, change management, learning and development, digital transformation, and organizational culture into practical initiatives that drive measurable results. He helps organizations build stronger leaders, develop more engaged teams, improve communication, and create environments where innovation and continuous improvement can thrive.

His leadership style emphasizes collaboration, mentorship, knowledge sharing, and evidence-informed decision-making. Whether supporting executive teams, emerging leaders, or cross-functional groups, Keith brings a strategic perspective grounded in real-world business experience, research, and a commitment to helping people and organizations perform at their best.

Innovation and AI in professional practice

Innovation & AI

Technology, applied creativity, and practical problem-solving.

Keith’s innovation and AI work connects practical experimentation with responsible academic and professional use. His work includes custom WordPress development, learning tools, content systems, automation, digital strategy, and applied AI conversations that help students, faculty, and organisations understand how emerging tools change communication, creativity, workflow, and decision-making.

People Are Talking

People Are Talking

"I have worked with Keith for seven years now, and I can honestly say I have never stopped being surprised by what he brings to the table."
Doug Wilson
Client of Turtleback Canada
Read Full →
"What I appreciate most is that no matter what came up, Keith always found a way to help. He doesn't give up on his students. Whatever the challenge, he figures it out with you, and that level of mentorship is something you'll never forget."
Hollyanne Campbell
DGCC Graduate, 2026
Read Full →
"He has a natural ability to read a room, keep people engaged, and move things forward without making it feel forced. During the harder stretches, he was able innovate solutions for his team that kept them motivated."
Paul Anderson
Previous Supervisor
Read Full →
"He had the ability to motivate and encourage me while at the same time provided me with the feedback I needed to develop my skill."
Richard Lehmann
Former Colleague
Read Full →
"Keith is one of those rare people whose energy, creativity, and commitment elevate every room, every project, and every person around him."
Kelly Duggan
Colleague
Read Full →
"Keith is highly respected by the employees who worked under his supervision and co-workers for his willingness to help anyone anytime he can."
Kay Gosling
Colleague
Read Full →
"Keith Connell speaks the students’ language — he truly gets on our level. His knowledge and experience really shine through when he’s teaching, and that kind of enthusiasm is infectious."
Aurora Pittick
Former Student
Read Full →
"Keith is willing to put in extra effort and lend his expertise in his role as business professor and coordinator but also as a volunteer with student leadership."
Joanne Campagna
Colleague
Read Full →
"I took a class during the Annual Leadership Conference at Georgian College about How to Maximize/enhance your LinkedIn Profile and he was fantastic at explaining the best way to use the platform and how to strategically use it. "
Nicole St-Pierre
Colleague
Read Full →
"Keith is a creative visionary! I had the pleasure of collaborating with Keith on a number of college-wide events and his passion for his students and content creation is inspiring."
Rebecca Kendall
Colleague
Read Full →
"I had the pleasure of working closely with Keith and his students on several cross-functional projects that bridged classroom learning with meaningful community initiatives."
Erin Chafe
Colleague
Read Full →
"Keith’s vision, extraordinary supportive personality and passion for his work speaks volumes for itself. It’s has always been a great pleasure and learning opportunity to work with Keith!
Hossai Jasar
Colleague
Read Full →
"One of the many of Keith’s attributes is his work ethic. He is devoted to solving the client’s problems and maximizing the successful implementation of their project."
Gary Boydell
Former Student
Read Full →
"Professor Keith was my communications professor at Lakehead, and he is one of those people you do not forget. He helped me refine my communication style, both verbally and in writing, while bringing incredible energy into every class."
Joel Abraham
Former Student
Read Full →

Let’s navigate growth and change together.

If this work aligns with your executive, consulting, board, speaking, marketing, learning, AI, or change leadership goals, I would welcome a conversation.

Contact Keith