2011 – 2025   TPN, CHICAGO/SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR & CONTENT DIRECTOR   
  • Lead digital-first creative strategy and execution for high-growth CPG brands including Sara Lee, Tropicana, and Barilla, ensuring brand differentiation in crowded market categories
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to develop performance-oriented creative for E-commerce and PDP strategy, driving profitable growth through optimized digital content
  • Differentiate brand presence via photo and video shoot leadership, overseeing the production of national 360˚ campaigns from concept to post-production with a results-driven focus
  • Translate client business objectives into high-impact social content by spearheading the Chicago social media studio and leading a team of designers to build modern creative engines with finite resources
  • Manage external agency relationships and internal creative talent to deliver shopper marketing and experiential activations for brands in regulated categories like Medline and Quidel

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2000 – 2011   DDB, CHICAGO/ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
  • Developed performance-oriented creative for challenger brands across all media channels, including high-profile sponsorship integrations for the Academy Awards and MTV VMAs
  • Partnered with global accounts like McDonalds and Wrigley to translate brand identities into digital-first assets, maximizing impact within finite resource constraints
  • Led creative development for regulated category clients (State Farm, Lenscrafters), focusing on clear brand differentiation and consumer engagement in competitive sectors

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1999 – 2000   YOUNG & RUBICAM, CHICAGO/SENIOR ART DIRECTOR
  • Differentiated national and independent brands through the development of comprehensive visual identities and performance-focused video/print content
  • Translated complex brand missions into cohesive digital-first identities for new product launches, maintaining a scrappy and results-driven mindset for high-growth brand success

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EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION    

MIAMI AD SCHOOL

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

GOOGLE UX DESIGN CERTIFICATION

Google AI Essentials

ADDITIONAL SKILLS    

CREATIVE LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY: Digital-first creative, Performance-oriented creative, Photo and video shoot leadership, E-commerce/PDP strategy, Team Leadership (2-6 designers), High-growth brand experience, External agency management, 360˚ Campaigns, New Product Launch

DESIGN & PRODUCTION SOFTWARE: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Figma, After Effects, Premiere, Final Cut Pro, Keynote, PowerPoint

AI AND DIGITAL TOOLS: Firefly, ChatGPT, Generative AI, Social Content Creation, Post-Production

INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE: CPG experience, Shopper Marketing, Startup/Hustle Mindset

EXPERTISE: Strategic Visionary specializing in Creative Efficiency, Brand Synthesis, AI-Assisted Concept Development

sonja elisabeth olson

312-560-6287