Koehler Slagel, MBA
Blacksburg, Virginia
Overview
Koehler “Kay-Ler” Slagel is a strategist, educator, and entrepreneur with a mission to help businesses and individuals lead with clarity in a noisy, fast-changing world. A former U.S. Marine, today, he serves as an Assistant Professor of Practice in Management at Virginia Tech, where he focuses on programs in entrepreneurship, leadership, and strategic management. His work equips students and professionals to think like founders, act like leaders, and move strategically in complex environments. He is the founder of Not Average Inc. and Branded78, and works as a Fractional CMO, building and s
About
Koehler “Kay-Ler” Slagel is a strategist, educator, and entrepreneur with a mission to help businesses and individuals lead with clarity in a noisy, fast-changing world. A former U.S. Marine, today, he serves as an Assistant Professor of Practice in Management at Virginia Tech, where he focuses on programs in entrepreneurship, leadership, and strategic management. His work equips students and professionals to think like founders, act like leaders, and move strategically in complex environments. He is the founder of Not Average Inc. and Branded78, and works as a Fractional CMO, building and scaling marketing strategies for startups, nonprofits, and growth-stage companies. From brand clarity to execution systems, Koehler helps organizations rise above the noise and move with purpose. As a keynote speaker and consultant, he leads workshops and delivers talks on mindset, leadership, personal branding, marketing in the age of AI, leadership under pressure, and building high-performance habits. Known for blending practical insight with big-picture strategy, his work has guided founders, reimagined leadership pipelines, and helped multi-brand teams lead through change. Koehler built his companies and career on a simple principle: “Not Average” isn’t a slogan—it’s a standard. His work is rooted in action, clarity, and momentum, and he is dedicated to helping others do the work that actually moves them forward.