Alyssa Gauger is creative director at Jack Morton Worldwide. She's based in Chicago. A quote from her nomination: "Alyssa is well known at Jack Morton as being the 'MVP of everything.' She’s willing to jump in, design, art direct, and provide direction on anything and everything to make work extraordinary."
How she spends her days: "No two days are the same in experiential marketing, and, honestly, that is why I love it so much. One day I could be mentoring younger creatives and helping them push their designs, leading brainstorms, or presenting concepts to clients. The next day, I could be watching our concepts come to life by overseeing a custom build on site at a convention center, directing a video shoot, capturing content for our social channels at an event, or making sure stage lighting cues and music are just right for that perfect opening moment."
Impact she wants to have on the industry: "I want to create inclusive environments, immersive activations, interactive installations, visually striking displays, and engaging experiences that capture the attention of consumers and evoke emotion within them. I want consumers to leave an experience I created and talk about it for years to come."
Career goals: "My biggest career goal is to inspire and empower the next generation of creatives, specifically women of color. When I was first starting out in the industry, I didn’t see many women, let alone women of color, in leadership roles. It was hard to find mentors to help me navigate the creative world. It is important to me that agencies be diverse so that entry-level employees can see themselves growing their careers in the field.
My five-year goal is to continue a career in the experiential space. I want to continue to lead creative teams to produce complex and dynamic live events that have never been done before, and I want to work with companies that align with my personal passions of beauty, fashion, music, and travel."
Advice for her peers: “'The squeaky wheel gets the oil.' If you have an idea, throw it out there. If there are too many projects on your plate, raise your hand for help. If you feel like you deserve a raise or promotion, have that conversation with your manager. So often in our careers, especially at a younger age, we go with the flow because we think it is 'normal,' but if you don’t speak up, nothing will change. This piece of advice was handed down to me by an old co-worker, and I live by those words every day!"
How she spends her free time: "I like to get away from my computer and experience things IRL. I love going to concerts, checking out the newest bar/restaurant in the city, or traveling to a new country and being fully immersed in a culture that is different from my own. It’s these times when I get outside that I am truly inspired."
