Blake Renee Bakanoff is a purpose-driven leader with over 20 years of experience in creative strategy, integrated marketing, and brand development – specializing in leading organizations through transformative growth. Her career spans diverse roles across global markets; partnering with Brands such as Nike, Netflix, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Verizon, Chipotle, and eBay; where she has consistently delivered provacative strategies that inspire teams to think, make and move with curiosity and confidence. Blake is known for her ability to build and empower high-performing teams, who will punch above their weight; aligning creativity with strategy to drive award winning results for organizations across oceans and screens.
“I develop people and teams until they no longer need me, and still inspired to partner with me.” – Blake Bakanoff
Currently serving as the Vice President of Creative and Operations at Sur La Table, Blake leads multi-disciplinary teams in delivering inspired commerce experiences through growth enablement, brand narration, marketing performance, and visual merchandising. Her leadership at Sur La Table exemplifies her commitment to combining operational efficiency with creative ingenuity, ensuring customer satisfaction, brand equity and business scalability.
Previously, as the Vice President of Global Brand & Creative at Redbubble, Blake directed teams in brand strategy, media strategy, content creation, and marketing operations. Under her leadership, Redbubble successfully launched a global brand initiative and implemented performance-optimized omni-channel strategies that dramatically surpassed all KPIs, including the creation of an agile content studio. Her innovative approach positioned the company as a new up-and-coming leader in the the U.S. marketplace space.
Blake’s tenure as Chief Creative Officer at eBay marked a significant chapter in her career. At the intersection of product experience, AI, and performance marketing, she spearheaded the “Fill Your Cart With Color” brand platform, a groundbreaking initiative that celebrated diversity and helped reshape consumerism. Her leadership in campaign creation and automation technology not only empowered buyers and sellers but also achieved the largest Q4 sales results in eBay’s history.
At Publicis Groupe’s Moxie, Blake served as SVP Executive Creative Director, where she transformed traditional marketing approaches into modern, consumer-centric strategies. She developed the conception of the Design Technology group and Future X lab, creating innovative pathways to connect brands with evolving consumer needs. Her groundbreaking work with clients like Nike and Verizon, showcased her ability to harness technology at the spped of human progress.
Blake’s expertise extends to her role as Executive Creative Director at Draft FCB, where she cultivated brand relationships through accountable media and technology solutions. Her contributions included launching AT&T’s Integrated Voice & Data management tool and creating digital sales tools for Carnival, setting new standards in customer engagement and operational efficiency.
Her foundational years at Taytum Agency and Advertising Concepts in Seattle laid the groundwork for her illustrious career. As a Creative Director and Art Director, Blake developed integrated campaigns, community activiations and fostered innovative solutions that brought value to clients in hospitality, healthcare, and technology.
Blake’s educational background in Visual Communications from the Academy of Art in San Francisco and the Art Institute of Seattle provided her with the technical skills and creative vision to excel in her field. She has also been honored with prestigious awards such as Addys, Effies, and Webbys, recognizing her excellence across all screens and campaigns.
Her philosophy of a visionary leadership is rooted in empowering others to succeed. Blake believes in surrounding herself with diverse talent with different strengths than her own; fostering a culture of mutual trust, imagination and an “always learning” mindset. Her commitment to pushing boundaries and embracing human progress as the measure of brand success is evident in every role she undertakes.
Beyond her professional achievements, Blake is an accomplished mentor, and career coach. Her passion for storytelling, consumer behavior, and emerging technologies continues to inspire those around her, making her a sought-after speaker at global conferences like Cannes Festival and the 3% Conference.
Character:
Demonstrates unwavering integrity, passion, and a strong commitment to empowering teams, fostering a culture of competance and confidence. Her dedication to innovation and progress highlights her visionary leadership approach.
Knowledge:
With a robust foundation in creative strategy, marketing, and brand development, she combines technical expertise with real-world experience to deliver impactful solutions. Her marketing experience with agencies as well as brands, makes her a rare bird, and able to bring a wealth of knowledge well beyond her scope.
Strategic:
Blake is pre-wired for strategy; with the unique ability to drive transformative results for global organizations, while both feet firmly planted in immediate business perfromance. Her thought leadership combined with her ability to inspire, enables a high adoption rate for new strategies – leading her teams to zig, where others are zagging, positioning her organizations to be at the forefront of their industries.
Communication:
Blake communicates with transparency and verve; exceling in articulating complex ideas in ways that resonate with diverse audiences, ultimately generating shared ownership of success. Her storytelling skills and public speaking engagements have inspired and informed professionals worldwide.
