As the founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Tote + Pears, Amber has built a studio that has positively impacted over 100 million people, delivering more than $1 billion in value per day to her clients. She achieves this by helping companies connect with the audiences who need them most—when, where, and how they need it.
Amber's journey to creating generational impact began in ed-tech, where she was instrumental in bringing online learning to the mainstream. At Apollo Group, she led a cross-functional team of 300, spearheading projects that reduced student processing times from months to hours. This extended educational opportunities to over 1 million students across the U.S., U.K., Brazil, and Chile, delivering $12 million in improvements within a year. At Education 2020 (now Imagine Learning), she created the operational framework for the company's K–12 product line, enabling the organization to scale from 100,000 to 15 million students across 20,000 schools.
For over a decade, Amber has studied how layers like gender, race, and life stage influence the way people view the world and how the world views them. However, it was the premature birth of her son that brought her research into sharp focus. Becoming a mother gave her a new perspective on work, life, and identities, and strengthened her commitment to supporting women and their families.
During the Great Resignation and COVID-19 pandemic, Amber advised scaling tech companies like Shipt and Globant, as well as established brands like Foot Locker, on strategies to attract, retain, and empower talent in rapidly changing environments. Collaborating with nonprofits such as Women Who Code, Women in Product, and Black Women Talk Tech, she has supported over 1 million women in tech by diversifying the workforce and fostering inclusive cultures.
Under Amber's leadership, Tote + Pears has developed strategies and advised leaders for a diverse range of clients—from startups to global brands such as Arizona State University, TED, and American Express. She has built a network of 4,000 professionals who come together to work on initiatives supporting causes they care about. Drawing from personal experiences and professional expertise, they help organizations engage meaningfully with their audiences.
Amber's insights have been widely recognized, with features in The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Forbes, and Inc. In addition, she hosts The Tote and Pears Podcast , bringing together industry leaders and experts for candid conversations about work, life, and the experiences that shape us. Her column, "The Marketing Mix by Amber Anderson," on the American Express Business Trends and Insights Blog is the platform's most popular content.
Amber's best days are at home, spending time with her husband, Kai-Saun, their son, and their adorable and mischievous dog, Annabelle.
