Everyone who knows Emily Sanford is inspired by her generosity, intuitive drive and her ability to think big without missing a single detail. A champion of people and bold ideas, Emily harnesses her power of connection and community to approach every personal and professional challenge with innovative thinking and purpose. With over twenty years of marketing experience in brand building, data, digital, and tech, Emily is passionate about empowering and igniting teams to maximize sustainable impact and growth. 

She currently serves as the Chief Marketing Officer at Sunny, a purpose-over-profit organization committed to helping people build meaningful connection in a world that’s increasingly disconnected. In her role, she leads brand, culture, marketing, and content strategy—believing that marketing isn’t just about getting attention, but about earning trust, building community, and creating momentum around what matters.

Emily’s passion for storytelling and community-building inspired the evolution of Nectar for Good into a broader creative platform that celebrates meaningful connection through personal expression. This next chapter includes A Glittering, a digital diary where reflections meet practical inspiration. Through her blog, Substack, and curated Etsy shop, Emily shares stories, tools, and thoughtfully designed products that aim to bring more joy, beauty, and order into everyday life.

She leads with heart and candor as she guides brands to make a difference in the lives of their stakeholders—all while maintaining an unparalleled ability to usher in growth. This approach anchors the work she does through Nectar for Good, the consultancy she founded to champion and accelerate mission-driven organizations. Emily found her inspiration for Nectar for Good in the hummingbird, a creature that spends its life cross-pollinating the natural world. Like the hummingbird, Emily brings value from her past experiences to the present moment in order to create something new.  

Through her expertise in brand strategy, data, and digital transformation—and strong ties to the greater advertising community—Emily helps her clients actualize their most ambitious goals. An intentional and thoughtful communicator with an avant-garde approach to brand strategy, Emily deeply understands the power of a brand and knows how to weave it through every step of the customer journey. Whether she’s advising a startup or repositioning a nonprofit, she has a unique ability for connecting with a brand’s legacy while also generating new opportunities. 

Emily brings the wisdom of her agency roots from The Richards Group and Team One, where she led brand and digital work for clients like Lexus, Central Market, and The Salvation Army. At Team One, she drove a full digital transformation for Lexus, setting new industry standards for immersive automotive experiences. At The Richards Group, she co-founded and launched Quadratic, an innovation-driven company focused on bridging marketing, technology, and data strategy. Over her 13-year tenure, she led cross-functional teams, managed marketing and P&Ls for 20+ clients annually, and helped build a collaborative culture grounded in heart and results.

Central to Emily’s success is the investment she makes in her relationships with internal teams and clients alike. Known for cultivating highly collaborative environments in which all parties feel seen and validated, Emily is able to drive newfound energy and momentum into projects. She’s an accelerator on every level. While she drives results through cross-channel engagement, website and app development, social media, and CRM, she takes the most pride in the human-first approach she uses whenever she’s working with others. By routinely showing up as her authentic self, she encourages others to do the same – bringing out each person’s fullest potential. 

Emily doesn’t turn this approach off at the end of the workday—she lives it. Whether she’s writing, mentoring, parenting, or launching something new, she brings her full self to every moment. A lover of tennis, long walks with friends, and camping under the stars, Emily finds joy in both movement and stillness. A self-proclaimed rock-hound and astronomy nerd (thanks to her geologist dad), she draws inspiration from nature, connection, and curiosity. Based in Dallas with her husband and two kids, she’s most at home exploring the world with them—or dancing in the kitchen to the beat of a brass band.