Andi Graham, CFRE
CEO & Managing Partner
“My proudest work isn’t a campaign or a launch—it’s building a company that grows without losing its soul. I believe how you do the work matters as much as the work itself, and that great marketing starts with clarity, trust, and respect for people. I’ve spent my career helping organizations navigate change while balancing values and performance, and becoming a certified B Corporation is my proudest accomplishment because it reflects the kind of leadership I care most about.”
I’m the CEO and strategy lead at Big Sea. I help organizations get clear on what matters, say it well, and build marketing systems that actually work. My work sits at the intersection of strategy, messaging, and execution, and I stay closely involved because strategy without follow-through is just a nice deck.
I’ve spent 25+ years building story-driven websites and campaigns across nearly every industry, with a deep focus on purpose-driven organizations that want growth and integrity. I’ve led digital transformations, supported campaigns that raised millions of dollars, and helped leadership teams make smart, confident marketing decisions without chasing shiny objects.
My undergrad and graduate education blends sociology, design, and technology, so I approach marketing as a human system, not a checklist of tactics. I hold a Master’s in Strategic Communication, I’m a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and I’m relentlessly practical about platforms, tools, and what actually performs (yes, including a lot of HubSpot).
Now, you’ll find me on stage at conferences, workshops, and industry events, teaching and sharing the wisdom I’ve gained through the decades of experience. My talks often center on communication strategy and innovation, storytelling that drives action, fundraising and nonprofit marketing, digital transformation, and building values-driven organizations without sacrificing performance. I’m known for being candid, grounded, and deeply pragmatic. Less theory, more what actually works.
I founded Big Sea in 2005 and have since led the agency through sustained growth, acquisitions, a merger, and a fully distributed future, all while protecting a people-first, high-performance culture. We’re a Certified B Corp because doing good work starts with doing work well and responsibly.
When I’m not building brands or raising funds, I’m texting my fiercely independent teen daughter-slash-worlds-worst-roommate, spoiling my two dogs, and soaking up mountain life in Asheville after years on Florida’s Gulf Coast. I survived Hurricane Helene (am *still* surviving Helene, tbh), swapped CrossFit for a Peloton addiction, and remain hopelessly devoted to the Green Bay Packers.