The 30 brand visionaries of 2023: US edition

Founder, Liquid Death

Former art-director-turned-copywriter/creative director for agencies — like Crispin Porter & Bogusky and VaynerMedia — Mike Cessario founded Liquid Death, a beverage company selling natural mountain water in infinitely recyclable cans.

Group Director, Creative Strategy Coca-Cola

Starting in the studio on Arnold’s Volkswagen Drivers Wanted campaign Luke Perkins has had many creative roles from Art Director, ECD, commercial director, photographer, and VP of Brand and Creative at Vacasa. Luke is now proudly at Coca-Cola leading creative strategy for hydration and tea brands such as smartwater, vitaminwater, Gold Peak, and Topo-Chico.

Founder/Designer, &Walsh

Named as one of Forbes 30 Under 30 and one of ADC Young Guns, Jessica Walsh’s work has received countless awards from major design competitions and numerous distinctions. She founded &Walsh, a creative agency specializing in brand strategy and advertising based in New York.

Chief Marketing & Communications Officer and President Mastercard

Raja Rajamannar is widely known for his contribution to marketing research as the author of the Wall Street Journal Bestseller Quantum Marketing. As a key brand leader in the industry, he has focused strongly on inclusion and sensory branding. Today, he’s the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer and President at Mastercard.

VP/GM Nike Virtual Studios, Nike

Ron Faris is the VP/GM Nike Virtual Studios, Nike’s first digital product, design, marketing, and tech studio. He’s also the founder of Virgin Mega, a venture-backed company dedicated to pushing the boundaries of social and mobile commerce, which Nike acquired in 2016.

Designer

Sophia Yeshi is an illustrator and designer with a huge platform. She uses her work to shine a light on Black women, women of color, and folks in the LGBTQIA+ community that are bold, dynamic, and demand attention. Sophia has worked with brands like UPS, Adobe, Netflix, and Spotify to create culturally relevant work centered on topics she’s passionate about.

CEO/Co-founder, Good American, SKIMS

Emma Grede is an entrepreneur, fashion designer, and founder of multiple brands. Emma is the CEO and co-founder of Good American, described as the first fully inclusive fashion brand that celebrates all dimensions of female power. She co-founded Safely, the plant-powered cleaning company, and is the Chief Product Officer and founding partner of SKIMS, which creates the next generation of underwear, loungewear, and shapewear.

Head of Brand and Business Impact, Patagonia

Aileen Ottenweller is the Head of Brand and Business Impact at Patagonia and is responsible for the global vision, strategy, and shape of Patagonia’s marketing organization. She focuses on environmental activism, connection to nature through sport, and responsible shopping practices.

Founders, PortoRocha

Leo Porto and Felipe Rocha founded PortoRocha, a New York-based design and branding agency developing creative and strategic work that engages deeply with our world. They have worked with some of the world’s largest global brands, including Airbnb, Apple, and Netflix. Together, their work provokes meaningful change, from large-scale projects that reach significant audiences to socially and culturally motivated initiatives.

Designer, PepsiCo

David Schwen is a creative director currently working as Design Lead at PepsiCo, where he manages the Pepsi brand for North America. He has led creative teams to do award-winning work across multiple mediums and was most recently named one of the 2022 GDUSA People to Watch.

Global Social Media Manager, Duolingo

Zaria Parvez is one of the most influential voices in corporate social media. Under her direction, the language learning app Duolingo has become well-known for its irreverent presence. In Ad Age’s 2022 Creativity Awards, Duolingo was named Social Marketer of the Year.

Executive Creative Director Americas, DesignStudio

Eric Ng is the Executive Creative Director for the Americas at DesignStudio and a professor at Section, a business upskilling platform. He has worked with major brands, including Tommy Jeans, HelloFresh, Pitch, Google, UEFA Champions League, and Virgin Media.

VP Design, Airbnb

Teo Connor is the current VP of Design at Airbnb and trustee at the Geraldine Connor Foundation, an organization bringing people together through arts and culture. Previously, she co-founded W Project, a series of exhibitions and events celebrating women in the creative industries, and worked as a Design Manager of Human Interface Design at Apple.

Podcast host

Named “one of the most creative people in business” by Fast Company and “one of the most influential designers working today” by Graphic Design USA, Debbie Millman is a writer, designer, educator, artist, brand consultant, and host of the popular podcast Design Matters. She co-founded the world’s first graduate program in branding at the School of Visual Arts in New York.