“Failure is nothing more than a chance to revise your strategy.”

Mackenzie Kastl, Founder and CEO, is an entrepreneur, consultant and change agent.

She began her professional career in a global corporate public affairs role, supporting alignment to the Olympic Games. Her experience took her to communications roles in public universities, and a leadership role in public relations and fundraising at a private business institution. She then pivoted to take the helm of a nonprofit organization with the Boys & Girls Clubs. 

Mackenzie served as Chief Executive Officer of two different "Clubs," stewarding them both through the COVID-19 pandemic. Her leadership pushed forward new organizational processes and continuous quality program adaptation. She led regional teams in fundraising and brand awareness efforts, championing nonprofits working together. Mackenzie grew one organization exponentially, garnering national attention. She spearheaded efforts to provide employment opportunities for professionals and teens in the region, becoming one of the largest employers in the city limits.

She then took on a challenging role in a private equity fund in the energy sector, where she developed an Investor Relations strategy from ground zero to serve a $200M fund and more than 1,500 investors. She implemented the launch of an investor platform and spearheaded data synchronization. Mackenzie’s keen ability to build strong teams allowed her to move quickly to set standard operating procedures for stakeholder management, communications, marketing support and sales operations.

Mackenzie prioritizes relationships with partners, overall impact, and transparency in all of the work she does. In 2021, after personal and professional adversity in her life converged into what seemed like a “black swan event,” Mackenzie conceived the idea of an agency that could help businesses–and leaders–see around corners. 

Building on a decade of corporate, public and private enterprise, and nonprofit experience, Mackenzie founded Black Swan Strategy Group LLC in 2022. Her mission is to inspire the business-weary with creative thinking, and to help organizations of all sizes plan for the unexpected. She specializes in strategic planning, crisis planning and communications initiatives of all kinds. 

Born and raised in Mid-Michigan, Mackenzie has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Michigan State University. She is a lifetime member of the American Quarter Horse Association and competes with her horses, London and Paris, nationally. She resides in Dallas, Texas, with her German Shepherd, Frenzy.