Awarding-winning creative leader dedicated to sharing knowledge and experience with young and not so young creatives navigating the advertising industry.
About me.
AD OG. Where Old School meets New.
“My mission is to share knowledge and experiences to help mentor young or not so young creatives navigate the ad space. I see this as a two-way street. One of the reasons I’ve been successful in my career is that I adapt and learn from those who have come before me and listen to those that will be coming after.” -Lewis Williams
Lewis has enjoyed successful careers at iconic agencies Leo Burnett, Burrell Communications Group and most recently Weber Shandwick where he held the position of EVP Head of Brand Impact. Having over 3 decades of Total Market and Multicultural consumer marketing and earned experience, he’s partnered with CMO’s of some of the world’s best-known brands to create award-winning creative and drive strategic and emotional connections to their customers.
Lewis understands the importance of mentorship and is an advocate for significant representation for diversity in creative in the communications industry. As part of his commitment to diversity and mentorship, he is an instructor for The One School for African American students, sponsored by The One Club for Creativity. He also was selected as an inaugural fellow for the Visiting Industry Professionals Fellowship at DePaul University College of Communications.
Lewis is available for full time employment, projects, speaking engagements and just plain advice. In the meantime scroll below to check out a few interviews and podcast.
Conversation with Giants.
In this series, brought to you by Epsilon Agency, award-winning creative leader John Immesoete interviews top executives in advertising, entertainment, marketing, and media. Learn how to build and sustain a career in a creative field of business with advice about how to get started, career development, how to reinvent yourself, how to turn fear into motivation, and how to remain a success through cultural and economic shifts.
Creative Ladder Bootcamp
The Creative Ladder® hosts day-long, in-person workshops called Leadership Bootcamps in different regions of the United States in order to connect our local creative community through networking opportunities. Attendees are able to hone their leadership skills through sessions facilitated by innovative creative industry leaders.
Ad Club Inspiration Series.
The inspiration of ad legend Tom Burrell, founder of Burrell Communications.
The series was created and produced by Rick Boyko, former Chief Creative Officer Ogilvy North America /former Director of the VCU Brandcenter in partnership with the ADVERTISING Club of New York / International ANDY Awards.
Tom Burrell video can be seen here. https://www.andyawards.com/tom-burrell/
Michigan State “Eyes Wide Open” Lecture
Chief Creative Officer Lewis Williams shares his path from a small town kid from Macon, Georgia to the Windy City of Chicago as a guess lecturer and instructor for the “Eyes Wide Open” Advertising Summer Program at Michigan State University.
More Than a Title Podcast.
Join hosts Jarrett and Chadeo on this insightful episode of "More Than A Title" as they engage in a compelling conversation with Lewis Williams, EVP Head of Brand Impact at Weber Shandwick. With a distinguished career in creative advertising, Lewis has planned and executed groundbreaking campaigns across TV, digital, and social platforms for leading firms, successfully bridging multicultural and general markets. A Cannes Lions Juror and award-winning creative leader, Lewis has shaped transformative strategies for global brands like McDonald’s, Google, American Airlines, Toyota and Coca-Cola. Discover the secrets behind his success, his perspective on consumer behavior, and his experience developing Super Bowl ads. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a master of creative strategy and mentorship.
Invisible Soldiers Podcast.
This episode features EVP Head of Impact at Weber-Shandwick, Lewis Williams. He discusses his humble upbringings in the Jim Crow South, his college days at Kent St. after a national tragedy and becoming the Chief Creative Officer at Burrell Communications. Over his storied career, Lewis maintains a commitment to preserving culture, bringing new creatives into the game and sharing O.G. lessons to anyone willing to accept them. Enjoy this in depth interview about how this advertising trailblazer went from invisible, to quite visible.
Black, Gold & Brave.
A conversation with Olympic Gold Medalist Tommie Smith and his motivation behind he and John Carlos’s black gloved raised fist moment of bravery at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City that some have called the greatest image in sports history