Direna A Cousins is a growth-oriented marketing leader who drives market expansion, organizational growth, brand visibility, and ecosystem development across technology and innovation-driven sectors. As Vice President of Marketing at TEDCO, she leads the organization’s enterprise marketing, communications, brand, and market development strategy to strengthen TEDCO’s position across Maryland’s innovation ecosystem and expand awareness of its programs, partnerships, and impact. Her work focuses on translating innovation, entrepreneurship, and public-private collaboration into clear market strategies that drive participation, visibility, and long-term growth.
Direna has built her career across industries, operating at the intersection of innovation, market development, leadership, and strategy. She is known for translating complex ideas and innovation initiatives into clear, compelling narratives and leveraging strategic storytelling to elevate brands, drive stakeholder engagement, and strengthen market presence. Her work focuses on building integrated go-to-market strategies that align communications, partnerships, and growth objectives to deliver measurable impact and drive sustainable, long-term value.
Earlier in her career, Direna worked as a journalist and communications professional in Washington, DC, covering local and national news and current events on Capitol Hill. She also worked in television and digital media production. This foundation sharpened her ability to distill complex issues, craft compelling narratives, and communicate with clarity and influence across diverse audiences. She continues to apply these capabilities to strengthen market positioning, expand brand awareness, elevate executive visibility, and drive strategic engagement across sectors.
Prior to joining TEDCO, Direna worked in transportation and mobility technology, where she led enterprise growth and engagement initiatives across a national network of state and local government agencies, Fortune 500 companies, emerging technology firms, and academia and research institutions. She drove revenue growth, strengthened market positioning, and led strategic initiatives focused on partnerships, pricing, and long-term value creation.
Direna holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Montreat College and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. She is committed to advancing inclusive innovation and unlocking economic opportunity by connecting innovation, entrepreneurship, and capital.