Harriet Seitler, CMO for Oprah Winfrey Network and Harpo Studios, Joins Course Hero

By PRNewswire On Nov 8, 2019

Veteran Marketer Will Help Shape Brand for Hypergrowth Edtech Firm

Part of a wave of “mission-driven” tech companies marrying purpose and profit, edtech firm Course Hero is positioning itself for its next phase, as it passes a major milestone and invests in a high-profile new senior hire, to drive further growth and positive social impact.

For the first time in its 13-year history, the company has attracted one million new subscribers over a 12-month period, a milestone that means one in every 20 college students is now using Course Hero.

To accelerate this further, the company today announced the appointment of Harriet Seitler as executive vice president and chief brand officer.

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Seitler was previously chief marketing officer and executive vice president for both OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and Harpo Studios. During her 25-year tenure, she led marketing for the The Oprah Winfrey Show and launched TV and new media ventures including podcasting, e-coursework, and subscription series.

“As part of Oprah’s team, I’ve had the rare opportunity to build a deep, trusted bond with viewers,” said Seitler. “We shared stories that allowed people to open up to new possibilities and perspectives in their lives. I’m thrilled to be joining Course Hero to embark on an equally powerful purpose—helping students get ‘unstuck’ in those pivotal, high-pressure moments—and get to graduation both confident and prepared. We want students to become the heroes of their college journeys and their paths forward in life. It’s a hugely important mission, one that Course Hero has been quietly and very successfully delivering on for more than a decade. At a time when over 40% of college students don’t graduate, this mission has never been more important.

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“With its deep commitment and its tremendous growth, in many ways Course Hero is Silicon Valley’s best-kept secret—one I can’t wait to share with more people!”

Course Hero cofounder and CEO Andrew Grauer added, “The urgency for companies to value purpose alongside profit is a strengthening wave in America. But purpose has been the foundation of Course Hero since I started the company in my college dorm room in 2006.”

“Knowing that we now support one in 20 students is satisfying, but we know we can do better. We can reach more people and can positively impact more futures. We are so excited to have Harriet join us to help achieve our vision of a world where every student graduates confident and prepared.”

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