Mara Leighton

Background

About Mara Leighton

I build partnerships that drive revenue and growth at the intersection of technology, media, and AI. I've spent 8+ years in external-facing strategic partnerships and business development, managing multi-million dollar portfolios across technology, digital media, e-commerce, and B2B SaaS sectors. My background includes AI/ML partnerships (Ramp, Superhuman, Perplexity), fintech and healthcare technology (navigating complex regulatory environments), news media operations (6+ years at Business Insider), and strategic consulting to startups on their GTM content engine. I specialize in: • Partnership development & business development across emerging technology sectors • Deep expertise in news media operations, content strategy, and publisher economics • Navigating sensitive or heavily regulated industries including fintech and healthcare • Performance marketing, affiliate partnerships, SEO strategy, and revenue-share models • Managing complex agreements from opportunity identification through execution and support • Leading cross-functional teams and collaborating with product, engineering, and marketing • Navigating ambiguity and solving strategic problems in fast-moving markets Currently Associate Director at GrowthX AI, where I manage a partnership portfolio and lead a team of writers, editors, and strategists. Previously Strategy & Operations Lead at Verbatim Labs (20+ tech clients including Perplexity, Rho, Slack, Nirvana) and Senior Reporter at Business Insider (partnerships with MasterClass, Coursera, Skillshare).