Jillian Carol Brown
Digital Project Management & Communication
formerly known as Jillian Kuhn Warren
I am a creative and technical problem solver, master planner, storyteller, and strategic communicator who likes to make useful things and messages that make a difference.
Based in North Carolina, I specialize in digital project management and product management for higher education websites and services.
Professional Experience
Current Position
Senior Project & Client Relations Manager
Duke Web Services (DWS) – Digital Product Management
Duke University Office of Information Technology (OIT)
As the project & product management lead for Duke University's “in-house web agency,” I draw from my 17+ years of web PM experience to bring order and direction to Duke digital projects of all shapes and sizes – from higher education to research to healthcare.
Taking the group's project/product management practice from non-existent to a full-time team of 3, I built both of my positions here from the ground up, while helping the team navigate our evolving organizational structure, mission, and technologies.
I specialize in strategic priority projects, client relationship management, daily internal operations and resourcing, project proposals that meet customer needs, and coaching colleagues in digital project management. As the product manager of our new enterprise website service, Sites@Duke Pro, I have shaped the product and its processes from initial planning, execution, and marketing to service launch, maintenance, growth, and beyond.
Highlights
As the first Senior Project & Client Relations Manager, guided team through transition from a project to product focus
Manages collaborative cross-functional teams on complex and high-profile projects, from the President's office to professional schools, administration to research
Saved hundreds of thousands of dollars by pioneering innovative reusable components and repeatable processes to reduce the need for custom work and improve productivity
Led Sites@Duke Pro product from conception to launch, meeting all initial project goals and growing customers by 1216% over 18 months
Activities
Communications Chair for TechExpo 2023 , Duke’s annual IT conference
Information Technology Advisory Council Coordinator (two-year term: 2017-19), collaborating with CIO/VP of IT, senior IT staff, faculty, students to shape the direction of IT at Duke
Duke Communicators
Former OIT Communications Liaison & TechFair committee member
Co-founder of Triangle DPMs
Conferences & Education
Completed contact hours for Project Management Professional certification
Duke ProComm classes
Higher Ed Web (2020, 2021)
Digital PM Summit (2014, '16, '17, '19)
Digital PM Camp (2018)
Duke TechExpo (2014 – 2017, '19, '22)
Speaking Engagements
Duke TechExpo poster: "Website Development Options at Duke" (2023)
OIT Update: "Sites@Duke Pro: Year One" (2022)
Bureau of Digital DPM Summit interactive session: "Doing a Lot with a Little: Project Management at Scale" (2019)
Duke Learn IT @ Lunch session: “Making Informed Decisions: Google Analytics Crash Course" (2019)
Duke ProComm multi-day course: "Putting Web Metrics to Work" (2015, 2017, 2019)
Duke TechExpo: "Digital Project Management for Non-Project-Managers" (2017)
Duke TechExpo: "Getting More out of Google Analytics" (2015)
Duke CFAR Fall Scientific Retreat: "Duke Center for AIDS Research Website" (2014)
Freelance Communications
As an independent consultant on communications initiatives, I offer a wide range of services, including:
Copywriting and editing
Career and resume counseling
Website creation
Video, photo, and graphic production
Social media
Marketing strategy
Event planning
Services & Expertise
Project Management
Bringing order and direction to projects of all shapes and sizes, I efficiently guide project teams from conception to completion using proven digital PM techniques.
Product Management
By setting priorities, shaping requirements, managing communications, and providing customer support, I manage strategy and operations for every stage of the product lifecycle.
Web
From content management systems to social media, HTML to functional requirements, my understanding of online best practices helps clients improve their web presences.
Content
As a versatile writer, judicious editor, and creative content strategist, I craft clear, strategic content for both online and offline channels.
Marketing
I get results through analytics, branding, communications, and SEO – using creativity, insight, and hard data to create strong campaigns.
Media
As a former television news producer and press relations officer, I understand media strategies and am experienced in video, audio, and graphics production.
Offline Life
The Basics
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Hometown: Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Alma mater: University of Pennsylvania – BA in Communication, minors in cinema studies & French, magna cum laude
A.K.A.: Jillian Carol Kuhn / Warren / Brown... or any combination of those names
You Can Find Me...
Supermom-ing my 4 wonderful daughters
Searching for adventure and cooking up new home improvement projects with my husband
Staying active on the trails, on my bike, on the yoga mat... Maybe I’ll run another marathon someday
Hiking, camping, kayaking, or hammocking in the great outdoors
Painting or watching videos of other people painting
Listening to alternative rock... Well, let's be honest, it's mostly Jimmy Eat World
Cheering for my teams and loving baseball season
Winding down with a good movie, TV show, or book
Eating Chicago thin crust pizza & explaining that, yes, this exists
Dreaming of my next visit to France and Italy
Planning something… Probably my next trip or get-together
Volunteer Activities
Current
North Carolina Parent Teacher Association
Briarcliff Elementary PTA (2022 - present)
Secretary
Communications Committee Chair
Teacher Support Committee
Member (2021 - present)
Social media & marketing (2023 - present)
Previous
Parish Athletics
Team Parent (2023)
Church Ministries
Saint Giles Presbyterian (2021 - 2023)
Grace Lutheran (2015 - 2017)
University of Pennsylvania Alumni Interview Program
NC-Raleigh/Wake Committee Chair (2016 - 2018)
Raleigh/Cary Interview Manager (2014 - 2016)
Alumni Interviewer (2006 - present)
Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon
Social Media Coordinator (Jun 2014 - Dec 2015)
Raleigh Galloway marathon training program
Team Leader (2013 - 2014)
Capital RunWalk's Fit-Tastic 5k training program
Mentor (2013 - 2014)
