As a hybrid Creative Director and Brand Strategist, I develop creative strategies that move hearts—and the needle. In my 13 years as a marketing leader, I’ve built brands, developed award-winning creative, and planned ad campaigns for businesses of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Passionate about the intersection of strategy and design, I distill complex business objectives into meaningful brand experiences that drive results.

Before switching to the agency world, I’d spent my career leading marketing efforts and creating memorable brands for high-growth startups. Now on the agency side, I combine human-centered design with data-driven insights to lead businesses through the labyrinth of the digital world.

I have a proven track record leading global teams while fostering inclusive and collaborative cultures. I’m passionate about making the industry a more inclusive, equitable workplace for the next generation of creatives. I advocated for creating my agency’s DEI department and served as a committee member during its formation. I’m also a mentor for Google D&AD Shift, a night-school program of self-made creatives to challenge recruitment assumptions and diversify the talent pool, and a founding member of JunoHouse, a Barcelona-based club by and for women.

Experience

Leadership

Design Operations
Team Management
Mentorship
Client Relations & New Business Pitches

Design

Branding
Art Direction
E-commerce Design
UX & Digital Products

Marketing Strategy

360 Campaign Planning
Research & Analysis
Digital Marketing
Creative Strategy

Select Clients

Testimonials

You want Rachel Leake leading your dynamic, inquisitive, modern creative team. Because she is all those things and much more. I’ve watched her author deep, cross-discipline creative strategies for big marketing clients and present them with success. She’s led teams to design exquisitely engaging and effective web sites, online media, social, and everything else digital.
If you haven’t figured out yet, here it is in simple English: Rachel is a strategic thinker who brings big creative solutions to tough business challenges. I recommend you get in touch with her if you need these skills on your team (and who doesn’t?).
David Fiore
David Fiore
Executive Creative Director
Great insight and perspective, Rachel Leake! You are a superior talent and a critical driver of our culture at PureRed. Team members like you are what helps take us from good to great, everyday.
(In response to Rachel Leake of PureRED On How to Lead a Successful Marketing Management Team)
Brian Cohen
Brian Cohen
CEO
Rachel is an extraordinary Creative Director and Designer. Coming across creatives who are able to effectively balance design, strategy, business, management, and clients, while nurturing and building a design team and processes, is like finding a unicorn. Rachel is a unicorn.
Christine Matthews
Christine Matthews
Associate Creative Director
Rachel is one of the most ambitious, passionate and meticulous creative individuals I’ve ever worked with. Her ability to manage and impeccably execute any given assignment is only overshadowed by her extraordinary work ethic. Her strong sense for art direction and design solidifies her role as an integral piece to any creative organization.
Darren Hoffman
Darren Hoffman
Creative Director
Rachel was a pleasure to work with, she has a great understanding of both design and development, a great sense of reasoning behind her artwork, and extremely dedicated. Rachel is a great team player, honest and focused on the benefit of the company she works for. I would be happy to work with her in the future.
Bobak Zahedi
Bobak Zahedi
Head of Product
Rachel came into Simplexity with a willingness and eagerness to succeed that I had not seen on my team in quite some time… Through diligence and a passion for learning she quickly surpassed seasoned designers on the team. Rachel is an organized professional that showed up on time ready to work and help her team anyway possible. I wish she was still with us and she will be an asset on any team anywhere.
Rob Wooten
Rob Wooten
Creative Director
Rachel’s fastidious nature and desire to go the extra mile has helped to transform Wirefly’s promotional merchandising creative this year. She was the lead designer for several of the most successful campaigns in Q1… Time and time again, we hear how easy it is to work with Rachel.
Andy Zeinfield
Andy Zeinfield
CEO
Rachel is an extremely talented designer with a love for sports. Which could be the reason she’s such a good team player. Her ability to draw from elements of psychology, visual design, and communication made her a valuable member on our creative team at Simplexity. Creativity, problem-solving, passion and attention to detail, she’s got it all. It’d be a pleasure to be able to work with her again in the future and any team would be lucky to have her.
Daniel Chan
Daniel Chan
UX Director

Community Involvement

Mentor
Google D&AD Shift

This program, funded by Google, empowers self-taught creatives to break into the advertising industry. This night school initiative challenges traditional recruitment practices, fostering a more diverse and representative creative landscape.

Member
Juno House

This vibrant community of creative and entrepreneurial women is dedicated to supporting women-led businesses and driving innovation, ultimately promoting a new era of female leadership.

Member
Design Leadership Forum 

Design Leadership Forum is a community advancing design leadership by bringing together global leaders to share knowledge and learn from each other, fostering growth and innovation in the field.

Ambassador
Adobe Insider

This community of leaders share expertise and best practices through workshops and presentations. They empower teams and local communities with valuable insights and skills related to Adobe’s creative tools.

News & Press

Rachel Leake of PureRED On How to Lead a Successful Marketing Management Team

by Authority Magazine

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Insights on Building Successful Brands and Marketing with Empathy with Rachel Leake

by Marketer Interview

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Web Summit 2022: A Talk About the Future of Tech with Rachel Leake and Benoit Dutrevis

by Haddad & Partners

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