A woman with short blonde hair smiling in a cafe with warm lighting and wooden decor.

I turn ideas into work that people pay attention to.

I'm an award-winning creative director, speaker, and writer.

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A white mug with an inspirational quote that says 'WRITE WITHOUT FEAR. EDIT WITHOUT MERCY'. A small potted succulent plant with spiky green leaves is partially visible in the foreground.

You hire me when the moment matters and you can't afford for it to land flat.

Most creative people are good at one thing. Writing. Or presenting. Or running a room.

I do all three, and I've been doing them, at a high level, for more than more than fifteen years.

I'm a working writer with an essay in the New York Times and an Emmy on my shelf.

I'm a creative director who has helmed award winning campaigns, experiential installations, and high-stakes pitches for some of the most recognized brands in the world.

I'm a speaker who has spent her entire career, from her first production at performing arts summer camp to being interviewed on the New York Times Modern Love podcast to a global product launch event in Budapest, figuring out what makes an audience lean in.

Creative Direction

Experiential events and installations. Campaign pitches and product launches. Executive presentations.

You bring the brief. I bring the vision, the narrative architecture, and the creative leadership to execute it from concept through curtain call. I work with your team, your production partners, and your stakeholders — and I stay until it's right.

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Keynote Speaking

Two current talks, built from real experience and told without a safety net.

The Long Way Around, on creativity and nonlinear careers, and Love As A Coping Mechanism, on depression, caregiving, and mental health. Beyond keynotes, I’m available for panels and select podcast appearances. All of it is delivered with the same unguarded honesty that runs through my writing and creative direction.

See Me In Action

Writing

My writing explores what it means to be a high-functioning woman who finally stops performing fine.

Working Without a Net, a blog of personal essays for Gen X women navigating mental health, marriage, motherhood, and grief. Rom-Com Rehab, a serialized novel on Substack set in late-90s New York about heartbreak and redemption.

Read My Writing
Clapperboard with handwritten notes, tape, marker, and some small clips on a countertop

People tend to tell me things. I've stopped questioning it.

I grew up in New York. I started in theater. I landed at MTV Networks in the nineties, which was exactly as chaotic and exciting as it sounds. I've been a creative director in advertising for more than fifteen years, working across entertainment, healthcare, and experiential—which makes perfect sense when you realize it all comes down to the same thing: making an audience feel something on purpose.

I won an Emmy for my work on the TV Land Awards. I was the creative director for an art installation on the High Line that stopped people mid-walk. I've written everything from song lyrics to global launch campaigns to a Modern Love essay in the New York Times.

I believe in radical empathy, radical candor, and forgiveness as an act of rebellion. I think the best creative work tells the truth and makes you feel less alone. Musicals are my love language.

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What People Are Saying

  • "Stef is magnetic, a natural leader, a visionary creative, an enthralling storyteller, and the person you want in the room with you when the work feels impossible. With Stef by your side, you know you'll be able to crack the problem together."

    ~ Janeen Ritson

  • "Her wit, wisdom, acumen, and compassion make any creative endeavor better for her presence. She commands a room, weaves an amazing story, builds a strong relationship with her clients, and fearlessly champions truly good creative ideas."

    ~ Heather Linnell

  • “From her impeccable work ethic to her wicked sense of humor, Stefanie has a lot to offer. She is a decisive leader, a fair judge of work and character, and a skilled magician to the clients. Stefanie is also a lovely human being who understands, listens, and knows how to make everything better, smoother, and kinder for her team.”

    ~ Yana Hunt

  • "Stef doesn't need much to make something beautiful—she listens with a honed ear and picks up on the subtlest prompts to make work that's sharp and smart."

    ~ Sarah Dick

  • "It's rare to find someone as motivated, thoughtful, and kind."

    ~ Ben Waldman

  • “Stefanie is the kind of leader I aspire to be: collaborative, yet powerful. Loyal, yet flexible. Empathetic, yet direct. A keen love of craft, with incredible insight and intuition. She has the uncanny ability to find the most salient kernel of truth in an idea to make it great and also give her team the room to play. She creates a safe space for everyone who is lucky enough to work with her and can navigate the trickiest situations with grace and humor.”

    ~ Erica Boynton

Ready to work together?

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