Ben Stangland — Mentor profile, Title: President, Company: Strum Platform, Industry: Marketing & MarTech, Mentor Type: Albers

Background

Job Description

I serve as President of Strum Platform, a MarTech company focused on helping financial institutions grow through brand strategy, data-driven marketing, and personalized member engagement. I lead cross-functional teams spanning strategy, creative, data science, and technology. My role involves business development, product innovation, and mentoring leaders across the company to deliver impact for credit unions and banks nationwide.

Company Description

Strum helps credit unions and community banks grow. Through our platform, we provide brand strategy, data analytics, marketing automation, and personalized engagement tools that drive deeper relationships, increase deposits, and improve member retention. We work at the intersection of finance, technology, and human behavior

Employment History

I began my career over 25 years ago as an intern at what was then Weber Marketing Group, now Strum Agency. Over the years, I’ve held nearly every role within the agency, helping grow it into a national leader in brand strategy and marketing for credit unions and community banks.

I developed many of the agency’s early data strategies and saw firsthand the growing need for more advanced analytics and personalized engagement. That insight led me to lead the acquisition of a smaller analytics firm, which I transformed into Strum Platform, a MarTech company purpose-built for financial institutions.

I later spun off Strum Platform as a separate sister company, and today I lead that company. The two companies still work together and they combine strategic consulting with technology to help financial institutions grow, deepen relationships, and operate more effectively.

As a mentor, I can support students in the following: 

- Resume review, interview prep, LinkedIn branding
- Career exploration, matching interests and talents with professions and industries
- Student transition from college to first professional role
- Building technical or subject matter expertise (hard skills)
- Improved communication and interpersonal skills
- Development of leadership skills, confidence, and executive presence
- Expanding a network, building connection, navigating an organization
- Helping entrepreneurial students define a business or product and business plan
- Career Pivot - transition to new role, career, and industry

Education

I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a major in Marketing from Seattle University.

No civic involvement entered

Mentoring Objectives & Scope

I want to work with students who are genuinely curious and proactive. Please come to each session prepared with good questions or topics that we can discuss to help you prepare to enter the professional workforce.

I'm especially eager to mentor students looking to build or expand their own business. 

My objective as a mentor is to help students bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world impact. I want to provide honest guidance on navigating career choices, developing strategic thinking, and building leadership skills early. I’m especially interested in mentoring students who are curious, entrepreneurial, or exploring careers in marketing, data, business strategy, or startups. The scope of my mentoring includes career path discussions, resume or portfolio feedback, mock interviews, decision-making frameworks, and honest conversations about what it’s really like to build and lead companies. I’m here to challenge, support, and help students think bigger.

When and where do you hold meetings with your students?

Hybrid meeting, on the SU campus or at my office in SLU.

Additional Information

I’m a builder at heart. I started as an intern and worked my way up over two decades to lead two companies. I’ve sat in creative, strategy, data, and leadership roles, so I understand how businesses actually work from the inside out. I care about doing meaningful work, asking better questions, and helping others grow. I’m direct, curious, and always up for a good challenge. If you’re navigating career decisions, trying to find your edge, or thinking about how to create something of your own—I’ve been there, and I’m happy to help.