Marla Montgomery is a visionary creative executive and brand leader whose career has been defined by her ability to merge creativity, culture, and business strategy into transformative brand experiences. With more than 15 years of professional experience, she has established herself as a driving force behind some of the most culturally relevant and commercially successful brands in fashion, eCommerce, and lifestyle industries. Her work reflects a deep commitment to storytelling, innovation, and building meaningful connections between brands and their audiences.
From the outset of her career, Marla demonstrated a rare ability to translate artistic sensibility into strategic impact. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film, Photography, and Visual Arts from Ithaca College, she developed a strong technical and conceptual foundation that would later inform her leadership style. Early roles in photography, retouching, and studio management allowed her to master the operational and creative mechanics of content production, setting the stage for her evolution into executive leadership.
Marla’s early professional journey included working with renowned photographer Norman Jean Roy, where she contributed to high-profile editorial campaigns for global publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, and GQ. This experience immersed her in the highest standards of visual storytelling and creative execution, sharpening her attention to detail and reinforcing her understanding of brand aesthetics at the luxury level. It also provided her with invaluable exposure to fast-paced, high-stakes creative environments.
Her transition into leadership began at BeachMint, where she played a pivotal role in building and scaling an in-house creative studio supporting multiple celebrity-driven eCommerce brands. There, she not only oversaw high-volume content production but also implemented systems and workflows that enabled efficiency without sacrificing quality. This period marked the beginning of her reputation as a leader who could balance creative excellence with operational rigor.
Marla’s career continued to accelerate as she took on increasingly strategic roles, including Global Creative Lead at Alpinestars, where she helped reposition a legacy performance brand into a lifestyle-driven cultural force. She demonstrated an ability to evolve brand identities while maintaining authenticity, leading campaigns, experiential activations, and content strategies that resonated with new audiences while honoring heritage.
As Creative Director at Wantable, Marla was tasked with a full brand transformation. She rebuilt the company’s creative foundation from the ground up, redefining its identity, developing a cohesive visual language, and aligning creative output with business objectives. Her leadership resulted in measurable improvements in engagement, conversion rates, and customer perception, underscoring her ability to connect creative strategy directly to business performance.
Her tenure at Savage X Fenty marked a defining chapter in her career. As Executive Art Director, Marla led the creative vision and execution across all consumer touchpoints, shaping one of the most disruptive and inclusive brands in the fashion industry. She played a key role in the development of high-profile campaigns and the globally recognized Savage X Fenty Shows, collaborating closely with FENTY Corp. to deliver culturally impactful moments that redefined industry standards.
Most recently, as VP and Creative Director at YITTY, a Fabletics brand co-founded by Lizzo, Marla has been instrumental in building the brand from the ground up. She led the creation of its entire creative ecosystem, from brand identity and storytelling to campaign execution and retail presence. Her partnership with Lizzo exemplifies her ability to translate a founder’s vision into a cohesive and powerful brand narrative that resonates across platforms.
Most recently, Marla has taken on one of her most ambitious creative challenges yet. As Creative Director and AI-Integrated Brand Strategist at JRNYS, she is leading the ground-up development of KINSYN, a new consumer lifestyle wellness brand. In this role she is functioning as a complete creative department, building brand identity, strategy, voice, and visual systems from scratch while deploying a sophisticated AI-integrated workflow across copywriting, design, video, and social content. Using tools including Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, Runway, Veo 3, Figma AI, and custom GPT workflows, Marla is demonstrating what the next generation of executive creative leadership looks like: high-output, strategically driven, and powered by an expert command of emerging technology. It is a live proof of concept for the future of brand building.
A distinguishing element of Marla’s leadership is her forward-thinking approach to innovation, particularly in the integration of artificial intelligence into creative processes. As an early adopter and contributor to her organization’s AI task force, she has helped redefine how technology can enhance creativity, streamline workflows, and unlock new possibilities in brand storytelling. Her perspective positions her at the forefront of the evolving intersection between creativity and technology.
Beyond her professional achievements, Marla is deeply committed to mentorship and team development. She has consistently built and led high-performing, multidisciplinary teams, fostering environments where creativity thrives and individuals are empowered to grow. Her leadership style is grounded in clarity, collaboration, and a genuine investment in the success of others.
Marla’s desire to serve on a board stems from her passion for contributing at a higher strategic level. She is driven by the opportunity to bring her creative expertise into the boardroom, helping organizations navigate change, strengthen their brand presence, and connect more meaningfully with their audiences. She is also motivated to increase female representation in leadership spaces, using her voice and experience to help shape more inclusive and forward-thinking organizations.
At her core, Marla Montgomery is a builder—of brands, teams, and ideas. She thrives in environments that are complex, dynamic, and full of possibility, where she can transform ambiguity into clarity and vision into impact. Her work is guided by a simple yet powerful philosophy: create meaning, lead with intention, and build things that matter.
Character:
Marla demonstrates integrity through her commitment to authentic storytelling and meaningful brand building. She approaches leadership with humility, curiosity, and a strong sense of purpose, consistently prioritizing impact over recognition. Her dedication to empowering others and fostering inclusive environments reflects a deeply rooted value system that guides her decisions and actions.
Knowledge:
She possesses extensive expertise in creative direction, brand strategy, and digital commerce, supported by over 15 years of hands-on experience. She has a comprehensive understanding of both the creative and operational aspects of building and scaling brands. Her early adoption of AI and emerging technologies further highlights her commitment to continuous learning and staying ahead of industry evolution.
Strategic:
Marla excels at connecting creative vision with business objectives, ensuring that every initiative drives measurable impact. She has a proven ability to lead brand transformations, scale creative operations, and position companies for long-term growth. Her strategic mindset allows her to navigate complex challenges while identifying opportunities for innovation and differentiation.
Communication:
A compelling communicator who translates complex ideas into clear, engaging narratives. She effectively collaborates with cross-functional teams, executive leaders, and creative talent to align vision and execution. Her ability to articulate strategy, inspire teams, and build consensus is a key driver of her leadership success.
