Shelley Sullivan’s marketing career spans decades, beginning “back when we were doing direct mail and licking stamps,” she fondly recalls. Her journey started with cause-driven messaging—promoting a breathalyzer device that keeps drunk drivers off the road—and that early mission set the tone for everything that followed. “Knowing that what I was doing was having a positive impact became an important part of my work goals,” she says.
Her career veered into unexpected territory when she joined a small biotech company in Iowa that specialized in DNA analysis instruments. Surrounded by PhDs, Shelley initially felt like a fish out of water—her last science class was in high school. But in true marketer fashion, she immersed herself in learning enough science behind the technology to do her job well, relying on mentors to coach her along the way. That experience reaffirmed a personal guiding principle: no matter the role, her work must make a meaningful difference in the world.
Finding her career fit at Danaher
In 2024, Shelley found an intriguing role at Danaher. What attracted her wasn’t just the company’s reputation as a science and technology innovator—it was the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the powerhouse behind many impressive brands she already knew. “I realized some of the companies I’d worked with and respected were all part of Danaher,” she says. “Once I made the connection between those businesses and Danaher, the challenge of bringing the corporate brand into focus really excited me.”
Today, in her role as Director of Digital Communications, Shelley leads marketing campaigns for both corporate and recruitment initiatives. She and her team oversee paid media, manage the company’s careers site and blog and juggle creative development with data analytics and brand strategy.
“No two days are the same,” she explains. “Some days I’m a strategist, others I’m a creator, analyst, or even webmaster. And often, I’m all of them at once.”
Shelley’s onboarding experience at Danaher, affectionately known as “immersion,” laid a strong foundation and introduced her to a network of support that proved invaluable—especially when a team member’s early maternity leave left her with additional workload.
“Thanks to those early connections, I never felt alone,” she said. “There was always someone ready to help.”
“I realized some of the companies I’d worked with and respected were all part of Danaher.”
Shelley Sullivan
Director, Digital
Danaher
Finding satisfaction in Danaher’s culture
Shelley thrives in work environments that value innovation and iteration. With a natural inclination toward continuous improvement—even without formal training—she constantly asks, “Can we do this better?” It’s a mindset rooted in her marketing background, where even minor tweaks can yield major insights.
Her work philosophy is grounded in curiosity and constant evolution. “Marketing is never one-size-fits-all,” she says. “What works today might flop tomorrow. That’s what makes it exciting—there’s always more to learn.”
One of the many things Shelley appreciates about Danaher is its culture of authenticity and belonging. “Here, I get to be fully me. I’m a farm girl AND a marketing pro—and both are equally valued,” she said. That inclusive spirit fuels her drive and deepens her connection to the company’s mission.
Finding joy in all aspects of life
When she’s not building campaign journeys or crunching performance data, Shelley finds joy in the quiet rhythm of her garden. A self-described “farm girl from Iowa,” she loves digging in the dirt, nurturing blooms, and finding peace in nature. Gardening isn’t just a hobby—it’s a reminder of patience, growth and the quiet satisfaction of tending something meaningful. Each fall, you’ll find her in front of the stove simmering homemade applesauce or spaghetti sauce from her harvest, preserving the season’s rewards in jars that carry their warmth into winter.
Her love for the outdoors extends to music festivals, too. When the mood and music are right, she and her husband pack up their camper, head off grid, and reconnect with old friends and new melodies.
“We love the sense of community that forms at those festivals,” she says. “It’s our way of resetting.”
When it comes to her work, Shelley was energized this year by refreshing Danaher’s careers site and launching a new blog series—projects that tapped her love of iteration, storytelling, and impact measurement. After months of planning, designing, and refining, the transformation felt like planting a new garden—and Shelley can’t wait to watch it grow.
In the long term, she envisions helping expand the marketing function at Danaher to further elevate the company’s brand as a science and technology leader that innovates at the speed of life.
Take your next step
Explore these links to start your career journey with Danaher today.
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