EXPERIENCE THAT DELIVERS
High-performance creative leadership
Vision, Drive, and Intrapreneurial spirit
High-performance creative leadership
As a people-first leader, it is important to me that the teams I build and lead can accommodate the demand of the business. Creating individualized professional and personal growth plans ensure the teams can deliver the skills and output the business requires. I am not afraid of making complex decisions to move the business forward.
Building world-class creative teams
Vision, Drive, and Intrapreneurial spirit
High-performance creative leadership
I have built, rebuilt, or reimagined the creative teams in my past several roles. This includes people and processes, org structures, workflows, and more to allow the teams to thrive and deliver creative excellence.
Vision, Drive, and Intrapreneurial spirit
Vision, Drive, and Intrapreneurial spirit
Vision, Drive, and Intrapreneurial spirit
I have experience working in many types of organizations – from a startup environment like Benevolink to an internal start-up like Coca-Cola Studios. I have successfully operated in and navigated through environments that required my scrappy, creative, and intrapreneurial spirit.
Building engagement and stakeholder trust
understanding of the business of creative
Vision, Drive, and Intrapreneurial spirit
I can seamlessly navigate politics and processes to drive internal engagement and stakeholder support. This is another crucial area that I have successfully developed through connecting and building solid relationships and trust with my teams, cross-functional departments, and internal leaders/clients.
understanding of the business of creative
understanding of the business of creative
understanding of the business of creative
The brands and their needs are always at the core of everything my teams deliver. Project costs (either time spent or cost center billings), budget planning, and overall business planning are just as critical to the agency’s success as is inspiring and developing the creatives to deliver creative excellence. Building the business of an in-house agency is more than just setting objectives, meeting/exceeding KPIs, and tracking metrics.
The Innovative catalyst your BRANDS Need
understanding of the business of creative
understanding of the business of creative
As a successful creative leader, my recipe for success includes being a thinker, problem-solver, builder, collaborator, communicator, visionary, and leader. These ingredients and more have allowed me to become a catalyst for creative growth and create a vision for new and innovative solutions.
EXPERIENCE WITH GROWING EXCEPTIONAL BRANDS
RECOMMENDATIONS
Crystal Lauderdale, Associate VP, Dev
"There are a lot of creative people in this world, but it's rare to find someone with the breadth of skills and experience Darren brings to the table. From design to storytelling to immersive experiences, Darren brings brands and their messaging to life in ways that stand out among the rest. He's done this for small firms as well as some of the biggest brands on the planet. On top of that creative ability, he's one of the kindest teammates and best collaborators I've known. In a room full of passionate voices, he helps to ensure each one feels welcome and heard. He's a great asset to any organization or cause..."
Janel Gancena, Art Director
"I've had a lot of mentors in my career, but if I had to choose one that made the biggest impact on me as a creative and as a person, it would be Darren. Darren is the definition of a true leader—he has integrity, honesty, humility and a clear vision. It was always clear to me that he took so much pride in the accomplishments of those around him. He is someone who wants to help his team reach their goals. As my creative director, Darren pushed me to focus on my craft, paying attention to the tiniest of details—which has made the biggest difference for me. His ability to empathize and understand is a gift I always wholly appreciated..."
Amanda Baird, Copywriter & Prod. Lead
"I credit {Darren} with shaping me into the creative I am today. He brings unparalleled industry experience, and it shows in everything he does. He doesn’t hesitate to...bring a thoughtful, detail-oriented perspective to every project, regardless of size or scope. He is constantly thinking about how an end user will receive an intended message and brings that mindset to every aspect of a project, from big picture brainstorming to final polishing of content, design, and interactivity. As a manager, Darren is highly emotionally intelligent, and I’ve never had a manager who was so uniquely able to rally a team, and sense when..."