Serena Connelly

Serena Connelly

Creative Director at Ginormous, Inc.
Greater New York City Area, United States

About me

I’m a high energy, motivating, creative leader and innovation consultant. My diverse experience spans brand, digital, and experiential leadership roles across a wide range of industries. This unique background, combined with my contagious enthusiasm, inspires teams to produce engaging, impactful ideas.

I specialize in developing platforms that win pitches, define brands, and involve consumers. All executed with a technically-savvy, informed aesthetic that differentiates each brand from the competition. In addition to leading conceptual teams, I am a strong, Creative Strategist and Brand Consultant with the ability to design smart solutions to business problems without sacrificing anyone’s sanity.

I have won numerous awards for my work from One Show Pencils to Cannes Lions to Webby’s and have been featured in a variety of industry books and publications. I'm also proud to be listed as “Inventor” on several IP Patents, for innovative work on a suite of P&G-branded Mobile Apps.

Skills
Languages
  • English - Native

Positions

Creative Director / Brand Consultant / Copywriter
Ginormous, Inc.
United States
November 2012 - Present (12 years)
Target Corp., Conde Nast Brand Lab, Mother (Target), JohannesLeonardo (Google, Bezos Family Foundation, Estee Lauder), Pereira & O'Dell (Reebok, Realtor.com, Memorial Sloan Kettering),Young & Rubicam, The Martin Agency, McCann, Edelman, OKRP, Skip Hop, Chateau Montelena Winery, DDB (Electrolux NA, Electrolux EMEA, AEG Europe), Razorfish (Unilever - Dove), AKQA (Chase), Grey (Hasbro Global), Ogilvy, Juniper Jones, Imaginary Forces, Havas, Marina Maher Communications, Publicis, Cult LDN, LoweProfero (Avon, BeBrasil, TRESemmé), Story Worldwide, Code and Theory

• Continuing a proven track-record of conceiving big picture ideas, creating platforms and producing campaigns that flows through all marketing channels—telling brand stories across live, digital, traditional, mobile, social, apps, 2D, or 3D media
• Creating content programs that drive measurable results
• Building new brand strategies and directing them into actionable, topical, audience-focused messaging and content
• Maintaining a keen sense of humor and a positive attitude about stuff that is sometimes not much fun
• Leading by example with empathy, compassion, and humility
• Promoting authenticity, transparency, and ownership across departments
• Navigating high-stress projects and chaotic work environments
• Encouraging folks like you to read the copy, and, perhaps, my public recommendations to gain a better understanding my work style
VP, Group Creative Director
New York, United States
July 2017 - January 2018 (6 months)
Creative Lead on American Express Experiential Marketing Initiatives

• Enthusiastically leading the activity and output of multiple creative teams, (12 creatives total) developing large-scale experiences, innovative technological solutions, and integrated campaigns for American Express.
• Directing the expression of the brand across all a variety of media – promotions, out of home, live events, digital, social, and environmental.
• Working across B2C and B2B, beginning the process of modernizing the brand tone of voice
• Collaborating with internal teams (Live Event Production, Tech, etc.) to ensure ideas are feasible within time and budget and as powerful in reality as they are in a presentation
• Promoting and supporting appropriate ideas from every agency discipline; recognizing the best solutions without regard for where the idea originated 


• Leading a new business pitch working in conjunction with senior management and external IPG agency partners
• Actively participating in both the Senior Leadership Team and inter-agency partner meetings
• Contributing strategic insights and press-worthy ideas to the relaunch of the brand
• Forging reciprocal relationships and building credibility with 15+ clients
• Won a Gold Clio for American Express Air Tennis
Group Creative Director
New York, United States
May 2014 - June 2015 (1 year 1 month)
Creative Lead for the agency's largest client, Humana
• Creating a new, 360 brand platform, which not only tells the brand’s story, but also differentiates Humana from the competition
• Shooting over 100 hours of footage, plus extensive photography of real people, in a reportage, documentary style to demonstrate proof of the brand’s actions
• Assisting in designing a content strategy and framework (for both social and traditional
media) based on clear objectives and KPIs
• Supported the creation of a comprehensive competitive analysis including of industry forecasts, and digital trend data from Sparks & Honey.
• Assisted in the implementation of a client strategy summit, resulting in new programs and
experiences for the brand
• Directing all creative for internal experiences at annual stakeholder’s meetings
• Forward-planning for the company’s success with the Senior Leadership Team—including operational issues, staffing, and profitability as it relates to the account overall and the creative team 

• Conducting off-site, idea generation events for the brand’s social causes
Creative Director
New York, United States
2013 - 2014 (1 year)
Co-lead on Hasbro Global Girls Toys
Overseeing the work of 2-6 teams of creatives across 6 brands of Hasbro Toys
Creating copious TV spots and integrated campaigns
Working into the wee hours of the night to achieve the perfect pony hair flip

Trade Organizations

Cannes Media Lions

Jury - Young Lions
2014 (1 year)

The One Club, New York

Jury

Other professional activities

The One Club, New York

Awards Jury Member

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THE GOOD COMPANY

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