Payal Gandhi

CREATIVE DIRECTOR | BRAND INNOVATOR | COACH

Award-winning visionary and transformative creative executive with 15+ years of experience shaping global brand narratives, driving multi-million dollar marketing initiatives, and leading high-performing creative teams across Fortune 500 retail, healthcare, and media enterprises. Adept at translating business objectives into compelling storytelling and design solutions that captivate audiences, drive engagement, and deliver measurable business impact. Proven expertise in digital innovation, systems thinking, and cross-functional collaboration, optimizing creative operations while fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.

NOTABLE CLIENTELE

CORE COMPETENCIES:

Creative Leadership & Brand Strategy – Define and execute brand vision, ensuring consistency across global platforms.
Multichannel Marketing & Campaign Development – Lead high-impact creative initiatives across digital, video, experiential, and traditional media.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Team Building – Partner with executive leadership, marketing, and product teams to drive strategic alignment.
Data-Driven Creative Solutions – Leverage audience insights and market trends to craft culturally relevant, performance-driven campaigns.
Consumer Engagement & Brand Positioning – Develop innovative storytelling strategies that resonate with diverse audiences.
Process Optimization & Workflow Management – Streamline creative operations to maximize efficiency and impact.

STRATEGIC IMPACT & LEADERSHIP:

Brand Strategy & Market Positioning – Architect innovative brand strategies that elevate market presence and drive revenue growth.
Creative Innovation & Digital Transformation – Stay at the forefront of emerging trends, integrating AI, UX, and digital storytelling into marketing initiatives.
Luxury & Premium Brand Leadership – Develop and maintain high-touch brand experiences that align with contemporary design and digital trends.
High-Performance Team Development – Foster a culture of creativity, innovation, and strategic execution, leading multidisciplinary creative teams.
Omnichannel Execution & Global Reach – Ensure seamless integration of brand storytelling across all consumer touchpoints.

CREATIVE VISION & EXECUTION:

End-to-End Creative Oversight – Manage the full creative lifecycle, from concept development to execution, ensuring brand cohesion and impact.
Integrated Campaign Leadership – Drive storytelling across digital, print, social media, video, and experiential marketing.
Strategic Advisory Role – Trusted partner to C-suite executives, translating business objectives into high-performing creative strategies.
Agency & Vendor Management – Oversee both in-house teams and external partners to deliver best-in-class creative solutions.

EXPERIENCE

ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR,

Walgreens

Chicago, IL, 09/21–12/24

As Associate Creative Director at Walgreens, I led transformative brand storytelling, strategic creative execution, and multichannel marketing initiatives that elevated consumer engagement and drove business growth. Managing a high-performing multidisciplinary creative team, I spearheaded the 2023 Walgreens rebrand, developing a comprehensive brand illustration strategy, premium photography standards, and experiential retail design across 9,000+ stores and digital platforms.

I directed the award-winning Women’s Wellness campaign, a healthcare-focused initiative that generated $282M in annual conversion opportunities, achieving 8.3% growth over three years through a seamless integration of store signage, product packaging, digital marketing, and social media activations. Additionally, I led seasonal visual merchandising strategies, driving significant foot traffic and revenue growth through data-driven design execution.

Focusing on digital innovation and performance-driven storytelling, I optimized Walgreens’ Bumper Brand Lift initiative, increasing video completion rates (VCR) by 56% and achieving a 3.4% lift in brand consideration through strategic content refinement. I also oversaw end-to-end video production (OLV), from storyboarding to post-production editing, ensuring brand-aligned, high-quality deliverables.

I collaborated with cross-functional partners, including UX, product marketing, SEO, and data analytics teams, to enhance omnichannel engagement and optimize brand storytelling. My leadership extended to agency partnerships and team development, fostering a culture of innovation and efficiency.

A proven executive leader in creative innovation, I continue to push brand evolution, digital-first storytelling, and consumer-driven design strategies that deliver measurable success at scale.

DIGITAL DESIGN MANAGER,

Tribune Publishing Company

Chicago, IL, 09/14–09/21

As Creative Director at Tribune Publishing, I led digital advertising and brand storytelling across 11 major markets, including L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune, and New York Daily News. Partnering with sales, marketing, and product teams, I developed data-driven creative strategies that maximized audience engagement, revenue growth, and brand impact.

I architected the award-winning Chicago Cubs World Series digital campaign, generating $3M in revenue and earning the 2016 Publishers Choice Award for creative excellence. Managing a high-performing in-house and offshore creative team, I optimized workflow management, vendor relationships, and financial oversight, ensuring seamless execution of multimillion-dollar digital campaigns.

My leadership extended to cross-functional collaboration, site acquisitions, and brand governance, overseeing company-wide training, hiring, and creative strategy alignment. Additionally, I implemented trend-driven content solutions and omni-channel strategies, enhancing desktop, mobile, and emerging platform advertising.

A proven leader in digital innovation, I continue to drive high-impact brand storytelling, luxury campaign execution, and user-centered creative solutions that deliver measurable success at scale.

DESIGN PROJECT MANAGER,

KPMG

Chicago, IL , 05/11–09/14

As Design Project Manager at KPMG, I led creative production and team operations for global marketing initiatives, overseeing cross-functional teams of international and domestic designers. I managed the design lifecycle of marketing and sales campaigns, ensuring strategic alignment with KPMG’s business objectives.

I successfully orchestrated 650+ creative campaigns monthly, optimizing workflow processes and enhancing efficiency through KPI-driven performance tracking. My leadership extended to vendor relationship management, resource allocation, and quality control, ensuring seamless execution of high-impact creative projects.

Beyond execution, I designed and implemented leadership training programs to elevate team performance and establish customer service best practices. By collaborating with senior stakeholders, I ensured that all creative deliverables—including proposals, brochures, and digital content—met brand and business standards.

A proven leader in strategic design management, I continue to drive innovation, operational efficiency, and brand storytelling that strengthens market presence and business success.

EDUCATION

The Art Institutes | Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design

INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP & AWARDS

2016 Publishers Choice Award | Chicago Cubs World Series Digital Campaign

AIGA Chicago Board of Education & Mentor