Jill Applebaum - CCO North America
About
Jill is Chief Creative Officer, North America, with deep experience across packaged goods, luxury goods, advertising, creative leadership, team building, and brand storytelling.
Her work has been recognized at the highest levels of the industry. She has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, won a Cannes Titanium Grand Prix, and her work on Oreo Daily Twist became a marketing case study at Harvard Business School.
Jill has built a career helping shape memorable creative work, lead teams, mentor talent, and guide people through the realities of agency life and creative growth. She is especially helpful for people looking for honest, thoughtful guidance on getting started, getting promoted, creative direction, leadership, imposter syndrome, hybrid work, and navigating the creative industry with more confidence.
And, in her own words, if she weren’t in advertising, she’d probably be a therapist — so she is also a great person to talk to when you just need smart, generous, “mother hen” career advice from someone who has seen a lot.
Website
jillapplebaum.com
Password available by request.
Interests
Reading in coffee shops
Coffee
Podcasts
Hanging with her kids
Board games
Dark comedy
Doom scrolling
The Knicks
Can Help With
Portfolio reviews
Creative direction
Copywriting
Career development
Breaking into the industry
Leadership
Interview preparation
Résumé and portfolio feedback
Advertising agencies
Nonprofit work
Managing teams
Hiring
Mentoring
Building culture
Creative operations
Best Person to Talk to About
Getting started in advertising
Getting promoted
Creative direction
Creative leadership
Imposter syndrome
Building confidence as a creative
Navigating agency life
Managing and mentoring creative teams
Making hybrid work feel less remote
Preparing for interviews
Getting feedback on your résumé, portfolio, or professional story
General career advice from a senior creative leader
Best Fit For
Early career professionals
Mid-career and senior professionals
Executives
Creatives navigating leadership
People feeling stuck, unsure, or in need of perspective
Fun Fact
Jill loved the Knicks before it was cool.
Background
Jill grew up in New Jersey. She studied Journalism at the University of Maryland and later took classes at SVA to build her advertising portfolio.
Her path into advertising combined writing, storytelling, creative curiosity, and a willingness to keep building her work — eventually leading her into some of the most recognized creative leadership roles in the industry.