Our mission is to change the face and voice of the marketing industry.
Our vision is of an industry that thrives with the insights and creativity of all.
Contact Us Give TodayWe are driven by our values for exposure, access, opportunity, and equity.
Exposure: You can’t ask for a job if you don’t know it exists. That’s why The BrandLab meets high school and college students in the classroom. Through an innovative, experiential curriculum, students try on the idea of a creative career.
Access: Our paid internship program is about getting into the workplace, growing 21st century skills, and developing that first professional network. Students receive intensive training and coaching led by industry professionals to support and guide their career path.
Opportunity: Taking away barriers and building a bridge to that first job is critical. That’s why our Connect program provides thousands of dollars in college scholarships, ongoing mentorship and training sessions, and advanced internships for young talent hungry for more experience as they approach full time employment.
Equity: In order to thrive, our rising stars need to enter workplaces free from bias and exclusion. Through our Fearless programs–a combination of workshops, events, podcast, and consulting–we work with our partners to ensure that both the workplace and work being produced are culturally competent and equitable.
We believe that creativity is an equal opportunity employer.
76
virtual interns hired across the Twin Cities, Kansas City, and Chicago in 2020
636
students attended our Spark Workshops last year
8
jobs landed in the industry in 2020 by TBL alumni
102
Fearless Workshops held since 2018
We are powered by a talented team of educators, designers, and innovators.
Maggie McCracken
Chief Executive Officer
Sonja Simpson
Sr. Program + Impact Director
Jamila Joiner
Fearless Program Manager
Michaela Clubb
LabFellows Program Manager
Taylor Gaudion
Marketing Coordinator
Victoria Menchaca
Development Coordinator
Kirsten Brown-Persley
Executive Director, Kansas City
Amy Brown
Program Manager, Kansas City
Akiyaa Hagen-Depusoir
Program Coordinator, Kansas City
Thomas Toley
Executive Director, Twin Cities
Koisey Hiama
College and Beyond Program Manager, Twin Cities
Shalisa Wilson
High School Program Director, Twin Cities
Kweku TeAngelo Cargile Jr.
Executive Director, Milwaukee
Mariela Fonseca Ruiz
Program Coordinator
Imani Ray
Program Coordinator, Milwaukee
Our Board of Directors
Mike Caguin, Chair
Chief Creative Officer, Colle McVoy
Mary Beth George, Treasurer
Vice President, Store Experience Marketing, Target
Karen Deutsch, Secretary
Senior Vice President, Head of Consumer Marketing, U.S. Bank
Frank Crowson
Chief Marketing Officer, Best Buy
Lorenz Esguerra
General Manager, Brand Practice, US Heartland and Southwest, Edelman
Taylor Harris
Senior Sales Executive of CPG Partnerships, SXM Media
Thomas "TJ" Jefferson
Vice President and Head of Human Resources, Renewal by Andersen Windows
Melanie Jones
President, Sysco Corporation
Jeff King
Chief Executive Officer, Barkley
Milena Oliveira
Chief Marketing Officer, 3M
Julie Schiefe
Managing Partner, Mayfly Design
Kathy McCuskey
Chief Executive Officer, Yamamoto
Travon Sellers
Senior Designer, KNOCK
Our Advisory Board
Mark Addicks
Advisory Board Member and Chief Executive Officer, Manova Summit
Kevin DiLorenzo
Advisory Board Member and President and Chief Executive Officer, Rise and Shine and Partners
Eric Erickson
Advisory Board Member and Marketing Consultant
Christine Fruechte
Advisory Board Member and Chief Executive Officer, Colle McVoy
Barry Wolfish
Advisory Board Member and Strategic Consultant
Our State of the Industry progress is slow but steady
We vision a marketing and advertising community that reflects the rapidly changing national demographics. Our biannual State of the Industry study tracks our collective change, and we need your involvement.
View ReportWe are a nonprofit supported by donors like you
Thanks to our individual and industry supporters, The BrandLab is able to inspire the next generation of creative problem solvers and change the face and voice of the marketing industry.