A lifetime of experience beyond the traditional ad agency creative director path has given me a unique perspective at the intersection of branding and advertising, influencer marketing, social media, earned media/PR, and content creation. (I've been a hyphenate since before that was a thing.) In the advertising and marketing world, I've spent years in leadership helping agencies, start-ups, PR firms and F500 marketers build brands, establish brand identities, create unified campaigns, solidify marketing positioning, and find their voices, by combining cultural and audience insight--and audience respect--with grounded strategic and creative thinking. You can find my portfolio here: https://lgumbinner.dunked.com Most recently, I created and launched Cetaphil’s first global branding campaign in their 75-year history; created the brand for the mission-based charity auction startup Boundless Giving from the ground up; and launched Village Medical with a cohesive campaign that helped surpass new patient goals by 27% and earned Best In Show in the Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards. I've propelled brands to so much success, that my clients cashed out, retired early, and now send me hello texts from exotic locations. I love helping brands connect with people--especially women--and helping people connect with brands in ways that benefit them both equally. I hate calling people "consumers." As co-founder of the popular parenting lifestyle network Cool Mom Picks (sold in early 2024), I have been cited as an original influencer and thought leader by Nielsen, Forbes, The NY Times, LA Times, Washington Post, People, The Daily Beast, CNN. In 2021, The NY Times lauded my site for its "more journalistic" and trusted approach in a world of will-write-for-swag websites. I also host the award-winning Spawned podcast, and author the best-selling Substack, I'm Walking Here, covering media, culture, politics and parenting. I've been a frequent media personality and conference speaker, discussing marketing to women/mothers, parenting culture, social media, technology, and shopping. I've been a recurring TODAY Show guest, and appeared on Nightline, CNN, HLN, The Martha Stewart Show, Meredith Vieira, GMA Live, CBS The Early Show, and local network affiliates. I have bylines in Martha Stewart, Parents, BH&G, HuffPost and more. Most of all, I do my best to live my values through all my work. That can be hard in marketing, but it's important to me. Oh, and sometimes I sleep.