I am honored to be given this Creative Award and the opportunity to speak as a copywriter.

I’ve always known I wanted to be a storyteller. My first major career move was working with PBS in Washington DC. Though, after the 2016 election and its slew of alternative facts, I pivoted from journalism to an industry where I can explore my passion for storytelling across a range of media: advertising.

I’ve always been an artistic kid and was blessed to have parents who gave me the freedom to explore my craft at a young age.

Growing up, I started to see and understand the state of the world and wanted to make a difference in a unique way.

Copywriting has given me the opportunity to leave a positive and factual imprint on the world in a creative and emotional way.

I’m a copywriter and screenwriter working in advertising. In the office, my work is very clever and sassy, yet my screenwriting is bold and daring. It’s a delicate balance.

Creativity means using all of your senses, experiences, and resources to make a story unforgettable.

For example, my favorite campaign is Dove's “Real Beauty Sketches” ad. It’s so easy to forget just how beautiful and unique you truly are, and I think this campaign beautifully illuminates how we take our natural beauty for granted.

Personally, it’s not just about the “ah- hah” moment but the warmth of my teammates smiles when inspired by a good idea.

When my team shares a mutual understanding as well as excitement about an idea, the creative process flows better, and the product is more cohesive in the end.

First things first, make a google doc. Creating and organizing the doc helps me and my team stay focused and always prepared. It’s an easier way to reflect on the brief and gather all of our research. When collaborating, we make sure to write down every crazy idea so it’s easy to remember and build over time.

My favorite part of the creative process is the research. I get really excited to dig deep into the brief and explore different options for a campaign.

I tend to have different styles depending on the brief.

America has always persevered no matter the obstacle. It’s an optimistic culture and the confident attitude has inspired me to continue doing my research, keep my spirits high and never accept defeat until I am satisfied with the campaign.

I’m honored but I couldn’t do it without my team. It means a lot to put in work into a campaign and be recognized for it.

Creating this campaign was a lot of fun and we wanted to share it with the world, including MUSE.

#Saltynotsorry is a campaign encouraging people to be honest and have fun, no matter the situation. We noticed that this idea was very catchy and could easily be developed for a variety of media.

Time. We definitely wanted to make sure the campaign was perfect before submitting.

It has definitely given me a confidence boost and reassured me that my crazy ideas are award winning.

How a campaign can influence thoughts, feelings, and opinions in a matter of seconds.

It’s never a boring day in the office because you’re challenged to be creative.

Thank Heaven there’s no dress code.

America has been known as the land of opportunity and innovation. Historically, people have overcome societal and physical limitations to share their craft.

Ads will become more personal rather than to sell a product.

All ideas start small but have the potential to become movements if built correctly. Therefore, research and build strategically.

Find ways to truly enjoy your assignments. Regardless of your career field, nothing feels like work unless you’re having fun.

I much rather read/listen to a horror story than watch a horror film. What can I say? I much rather use my imagination.

I’ve always been inspired by women of color. No matter the task, women of color always get it done.

Work hard and have fun. Be open to silly ideas even if they’re not realistic. Some silly ideas can be truly creative if not downright brilliant.