CHICAGO – Known as the "Strategy Diva," Cynthia Cohen says this is no time to rest in today’s digital world. Cohen, founder and president of Strategic Mindshare, will present "It’s a Social, Mobile, Digital World! Are You Taking Advantage or Letting Opportunity Pass You By?" at the 2013 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS), May 21-22 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare near Chicago. 
"We’re beyond the tipping point of the importance of social media. Mobile is driving exponential sales growth and your best customers live in the digital world," says Cohen. "Consumers have radically changed their information acquisition and buying habits. Standing still in this digital world will put you further and further behind your competition and, oh by the way, there are new competitive players stealing your market share as you read this."
Cohen’s presentation will provide successful strategies to help aftermarket companies take advantage of these new technologies to maintain and increase market share.
Cohen is a prominent retail strategist. Considered one of the nation’s leading authorities on consumer trends and strategic marketing, her areas of expertise include market positioning, branding, e-commerce, social media, market intelligence and business strategy. Cohen’s clients range from global Fortune 100 companies to fast track start-ups. They include retailers, consumer product companies, real estate firms, media companies and technology vendors such as: Campbell Soup, NCR, Disney Resorts, Office Depot, Godiva, Boston Proper, Macy’s and Ross Stores.
A widely sought-after speaker and authority on trends and new consumer technologies, Cohen’s presentations are a lively combination of consumer insights and prognostications with realistic market penetration strategies. Frequently quoted by the national press, she has appeared on Nightly Business Report, Fox, CNN and other business news programs. She has guest lectured at Harvard Business School, Wharton, Babson College, Cornell, University of Miami and University of Florida. She also is a past presenter at GAAS. Her most up-to-date trends and retailer reviews are at www.twitter.com/StrategyDiva.
With the theme "Driving Change," GAAS 2013 will feature four breakout sessions and is co-located with the Aftermarket eForum, May 22-23. Each year the net proceeds of GAAS are invested in the organization’s scholarship fund to help students get their automotive aftermarket career started. Additional scholarship funding comes from industry contributions from individuals, companies and foundations. To date, GAAS has awarded scholarships to more than 1,600 students, representing $1.6 million in aid.
To register for GAAS 2013, visit www.globalsymposium.org.
