ABOUT ME –
Mark is a strategic, creative thinker with a passion for leveraging technology to drive transformational change. With over 25 years of experience in client service, brand strategy and creative technology, Mark has developed a deep, eclectic skillset that enables him to deliver innovative solutions for a diverse range of clients, from global brands like IKEA, Microsoft, Xbox, L’Oreal, Mastercard, UPS, and General Mills, to small and medium-sized businesses.
Throughout his career, Mark has consistently demonstrated the ability to sell great ideas, lead cross-functional teams and execute change with speed, at scale, in both global agency cultures and start-up environments. His award-winning track record includes executing innovative digital ad and marketing campaigns, websites, and application development that have driven measurable results for clients.
As a strategic consultant and head of the Epic Giving Lab, Mark drove strategies to promote innovative giving mechanisms that maximized social impact, showcasing his ability to leverage technology for purposeful change. This experience, combined with his entrepreneurial background in concepting, launching, and scaling a mobile start-up, has honed his skills in problem-solving, adaptability, and resilience.
BACKGROUND –
WORK –
Fabrica Collective
Co-Founder | New York
Jun 2017 – Jul 2024
Pundit Club
CEO & Co-Founder | New York
Jan 2015 – Jan 2018
Curious NYC
Founder | New York
Jun 2013 – Dec 2015
McCann Erickson
EVP Creative Technology | New York
Oct 2010 – June 2013
McCann Erickson London
Director of Digital | London
May 2006 – Oct 2010
Grey Global
Global Strategy lead | San Francisco
Feb 2001 – Aug 2004
Grey Global
Global Strategy lead | San Francisco
Feb 2001 – Aug 2004
Havas
Group Account Director | London
Feb 1999 – Aug 2001
DDB
Account Director | London
Feb 1995 – Aug 1997
Key Skills:
- Digital Transformation and Innovation Strategy: Develops and executes comprehensive strategies that leverage emerging technologies and data-driven insights to enhance brand presence, improve customer engagement, and generate measurable results.
- Client Relationship Management: Builds and maintains strong relationships with C-suite executives, research teams, and engineering talent to identify opportunities for leveraging AI and other emerging technologies to drive business growth and client success.
- Creative Problem-Solving: Applies lateral thinking and design thinking principles to conceive innovative solutions that address complex client challenges and drive competitive advantage.
- Team Leadership: Builds and leads high-performing, cross-functional teams to develop and execute digital transformation strategies, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Storytelling and Communication: Possesses strong copywriting skills and the ability to craft compelling narratives that resonate with target audiences and effectively communicate brand messag
Qualifications:
BA (Hons) Business and Marketing – Napier University, Edinburgh
professional development:
Mark is committed to staying at the forefront of AI and its applications in business and marketing. As a member of the AI Class at Section School, a selective program for executives and professionals seeking to lead AI-driven transformation, Mark has completed specialized courses in:
- AI for Strategic Decision Making
- Building an AI-First Organization
- Generative AI Business Strategy
- AI For Data Analysis
- AI For Marketers
- Advanced AI Prompt Writing
- AI For Personal Productivity
About me:
I am a curious, driven, and optimistic individual with an unerring belief in the power of serendipity and a commitment to lifelong learning. These qualities have been instrumental in my success as a strategic innovator and creative problem-solver. I approach tough challenges with a fearless attitude, leveraging my diverse skill set and extensive experience to deliver transformative solutions.
My Passion:
My passion for health and wellness extends beyond my personal life and into my professional endeavors. I believe that physical and mental well-being are essential for sustained success, and I strive to integrate this philosophy into my work, fostering a culture of balance, resilience, and continuous growth.
LIFELONG LEARNER
As a lifelong learner, I am always seeking new knowledge and skills to stay at the forefront of my field. My commitment to continuous learning is exemplified by my completion of specialized AI courses at Section school and my active participation in industry events and thought leadership activities, such as hosting “The Impossible Network” podcast.
GLOBAL MINDSET
Having worked across multiple continents and collaborated with diverse teams, I have developed a global mindset and a deep appreciation for cultural diversity. This perspective enables me to approach challenges with empathy, adaptability, and a keen understanding of the complexities of international business.
Questions & Opinions
WHY DID YOU FORM A STARTUP? –
I had been advising entrepreneurs and ex-coworkers on different business ventures: fashion, finance, real estate, and gaming, one of which was Pundit Club. The team at Pundit Club was solid, diverse, and experienced; people with whom I’d worked in the past and trusted. I liked the product, and when they secured a round of investment, I joined.
Working at an early-stage startup exposed me to develop a series of valuable skills. I helped write the investment decks, had exposure to the conversations. Created a research strategy to get user feedback from the app. From the initial conception of the app to going live and adapting it based on feedback, I experienced the process from start to end.
WHY FABRICA? –
My passion for solving unique problems and helping others have access to great design solutions ultimately led to creating Fabrica.
After being approached to develop a prototype to train the national youth soccer team of Sweden that gamified their learning techniques developed during training sessions, I formed Fabrica with two partners.
Since then, we have developed brand strategies, e-commerce sites, marketing websites, fixed broken apps, and developed additional prototypes.
FAVORITE APP? –
Grammarly, I think this is a great way to apply artificial intelligence towards a common good. It empowerss users to expand their vocabulary and express themselves correctly.
I hope they develop other languages.
I hope they develop other languages.
ON COLLABORATION –
Most of my work involves working with people with different skill sets to create a solution.
I consider collaboration to be fundamental to delivering effective solutions. Embracing diversity of thought and opinion requires an environment that encourages active listening where all voices are heard.
As an empath my leadership style is grounded in a desire to embrace different perspectives from all members of my team. This sometimes involves encourages those shy members of the team to make their voices heard.
ON LEADERSHIP –
I consider a strong leader one who sets their team up for success.
I am a doer, and I lead by example, but I also let my team members explore and come up with their own solutions. I believe people will outperform when being motivated and have the freedom to have their voice heard in a trustful environment. That’s what I look for myself and for the people I manage or mentor.
There is a delicate balance between giving guidance and letting others explore their style. It depends on their experience level and how comfortable they are at a given task. One person might be experienced on design but more junior on research initiatives.
STRONGEST SKILL –
My work ethic and gritty determination, passion, and perseverance to address user needs meet business goals, and get the job done.
This usually requires me to be adaptable and comfortable with change, constantly evolving my knowledge, tools and skills.
Elaine is an experienced product designer, a problem solver with a strong passion for simplifying complexity.
An empathetic, active listener, strategic thinker, and collaborative team player.
BACKGROUND –
Elaine has a background in architecture to which she attributes her rigorous thought process and structured way of thinking.
After discovering a passion for computers, she decided to switch her work focus to the digital realm and pursued a master’s in Design and Technology at Parsons School of Design.
She has worked in consulting companies, technology firms, advertising agencies, and startup environments; each was considered a top company in its category.
Through this broad range of experience, she developed a distinctive ability to balance business requirements and user needs.
Her leadership role at Fabrica required her to build trusted relationships with founder/owners and business decision-makers. Understanding their core business priorities requires her to combine her consulting experience with her product design skills to exceed the clients’ expectations and business targets.
ABOUT ME –
Elaine simplifies complexity. Putting the user at the heart of her work, she layers her design experiences with communication, storytelling, and accessibility.
She is a solutions-focused, critical thinker, that applies empathetic design principles, driven by a love for typography and classic design.
Elaine developed her experience while working between creative agencies, consulting companies, global enterprise tech, and startup environments.
She understands how to build flexible products at a global scale, by delivering design solutions with a simplicity that addresses the business requirements and meets the user needs.
RECENT INITIATIVES –
For the past year, I have been working with two partners on a design for social innovation project – called Back the Neighborhood. A social experiment to understand how to knit back the frayed fabric of New York’s West Village neighborhood. Years of rising rents closed local businesses, restaurants, and mom-and-pop stores. When Covid hit, over 300k people left Manhattan, and the shuttered storefront spread like the virus.
Through interviews ( qual and quant) the project sets out to identify the systemic issues and challenges that need to be overcome to knit back the neighborhood’s fabric. We are now forming partnerships with other organizations committed to the same goal and lobbying legislators and policymakers to enact changes to support residents, restauranteurs, and retailers.
WORK –
Fabrica Collective
Co-Founder Experience Design | New York
Jun 2017 – Present
Pundit Club
Head of Experience Design | New York
Jan 2016 – Jan 2019
Alphabet Inc.
Interaction Designer Level IV | New York
Jun 2014 – Dec 2015
McCann
Experience Design Lead | New York
May 2012 – Jun 2014
Adobe Inc.
Senior User Experience Designer | New York
Aug 2010 – May 2012
Sapient Corp.
Manager Information Architect | New York
Feb 2007 – Aug 2010
R/GA
Interaction Designer | New York
Aug 2003 – May 2005
by Elaine Keller