Every brand-defining decision has a backstory.
Callia helps leaders understand theirs and decide what comes next.
Meet Callia Hargrove (she/her)
People often call Callia the “Olivia Pope of brand strategy.”
She has a particular ability to enter a complicated brand moment, see what’s happening beneath the surface, and help leaders name the problem they’re actually trying to solve.
Before founding Backstory, Callia shaped brand, marketing, and impact initiatives at Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Teen Vogue, and Vox. Working inside influential companies showed her how closely a brand’s public story is connected to its internal decisions, and what can happen when the two fall out of alignment.
She founded Backstory in 2020 to help leaders navigate that intersection with greater clarity, cultural intelligence, and intention. Today, she advises founders and C-suite leaders through the moments that shape what their brands become next.
Here are some of the
brands we’ve supported.
