About Intelligentsia
The agility to execute today with the expertise to strategize for tomorrow.
Intelligentsia is a scale-on-demand consultancy built to serve startups in their most dynamic early stages—when growth and visibility is at its highest demand and resources at their most precious.
We have a lean shop with big capabilities, designed to keep pace with our clients' rapidly evolving goals. Anchored by managing partner Samantha Merley, Intelligentsia offers each client the executive experience of a fractional CMO, the partnership of a multidisciplinary consultant, and the soup-to-nuts capabilities of a full-service agency—and the flexibility to choose your preferred adventure.
Samantha Merley
FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER
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A true hybrid of creative, marketing, and business development disciplines, Samantha builds strategies that dissolve the silos between them and pave the way for growth.
Samantha has launched or scaled dozens of brands through her work in agencies, as a marketing executive, and a consultant to numerous startups. After cutting her teeth in the New York agency world, Samantha opened her first studio at 25, serving an industry-spanning roster of clients including Burt’s Bees, Inspirato, Versace USA, Blade, Excel Sports, Eileen Fisher, Planned Parenthood, Louis Jadot, Wiffle Ball, and many more.
She also served as executive creative director for new media publisher Wicked Cow Studios, overseeing design of original and licensed IP and activations across publishing, digital, soft goods, and experiential. In 2020 Samantha joined health-tech scale-up Zeel as VP Brand & Marketing, elevating its positioning from mass-market to luxury wellness, later helping expand Zeel’s footprint into clinical care.
With Intelligentsia, Samantha combines her brand background, strategic chops, and executive insight with a sleeves-rolled-up passion for getting shit done. Whether serving as a fractional exec, an outside consultant, or spinning up a full team, she’s every client’s secret weapon, seamless partner, and trusted ally.