Traci Shepherd has a passion for the happiness, growth, and nurturing of talent. With the ability to be an effective strategic business partner, she has consistently served as a trusted partner, advisor, leader, and as an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion.
The rapid evolution of creative technology has continually demanded the adaptation in how teams are built, talent is managed, and workflow is approached. Traci’s superpower is the ability to identify critical areas in need of improvement and to provide the vision and expertise to develop and implement successful company action plans.
Traci has worked with some of the most creative companies in the world to ultimately increase efficiency, profitability, and performance while curating an environment that promotes accountability and creativity. She has built her career on finding the connective tissue that builds successful dynamic teams and excellence in workflow and systems in support of creative output, operational efficiencies, talent and client needs.
Career Highlights
Provide business transformation, operational process improvement, talent acquisition and development, and creative operations direction for agencies and their clients.
Operations & Talent Consultant | 2019-
Media Futures Group
Vice President, Creative Operations Current--
EightBar Collective
Managing Director, Global Operations 2019-2022
Oversaw a complex initiative to assess and improve operational performance and talent for this specialized WPP agency supporting the global IBM account. Counsel executives and management on strategies for increasing efficiency, talent development, profitability, and creative output. Supervise program management and delivery teams, direct general operations, set goals, and manage training. Monitor budget spend. Perform monthly financial reviews of revenue, margin, and project burn. Led a global team in rebranding, creating new global transcreation process, and to create efficiencies in programmatic advertising.
Johannes Leonardo
Creative Operations Consultant 2019-2020
Brought on to lead a complete reorganization of the operational infrastructure to support the agency’s rapid growth, with emphasis on talent acquisition and development, creative output, profitability, and staff retention. Additionally responsible for onboarding a major account in partnership with 2 other agencies and established an integrated agency model. Oversaw the Project Management team, supervised creative resources, and directed the finance team in how do redefine resource scoping and minimize burn.
Ferdinando Verderi Studio
Creative Operations Consultant 2020
Charged with guiding this freelance studio’s startup operations, including sourcing and acquiring talent, setting project budgets, developing operational procedures, and developing employee contracts. Directed vendor relations and agreements and assisted with back office and human resource functions.
Led, managed, and coordinated organization wide cross-functional teams to optimize business processes and execute strategic initiatives. Achieved key performance metrics, including revenue growth, cost reduction, and operational efficiency.
Publicis Groupe | 2022-2023
BBH USA
EVP, Executive Director Talent & Operations
Responsible for leading the company’s organizational and talent strategies, culture, and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Rebuilt the foundation of this one-time top agency that lost its way, both financially and creatively, to define and achieve a new level of greatness in the future. This foundation included creating an environment for employees to thrive, learn, and grow while supporting and growing client business and managing client loss and severe budget deficits. Rebuilding the morale along the way.
PXP North America
EVP, Executive Director Talent & Operations
As member of the Global Executive Leadership Team, responsible for the company’s talent acquisition and contingent workforce strategy, talent management, resource management, and workforce operations. Responsible for aligning the company workforce, talent operations, and culture with business strategy and financial objectives. Ensured that all appropriate resources were brought to bear in building an organizational structure and work environment that fueled culture and creativity, was diverse and inclusive, drove growth, and supported expansion initiatives.
During the helm of one of the most influential and awarded agencies in the advertising industry, was instrumental in growing the creative and design department from 60 to over 200 employees, as well as designing and implementing processes to support new agency capabilities. Co-authored and implemented DE&I recruiting guidelines and D5in10 Academy, a free 10-week program that introduces individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to the essential features of advertising.
Droga5 | 2014-2019
Promoted to manage all creative and non-creative hiring. Designed and ran the agency’s first recruitment, succession planning, talent pipelining, employee assessment, and team-building strategies and processes. Administered program and project budgets. Coordinated candidate travel, visa program, and recruitment events. Led executive search and recruitment activities. Developed standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Executive Director Recruitment Operations
Director of Creative Operations
Built and oversaw a 200+ person Creative Department, including project management, talent acquisition and management, agency workflows, strategy, budgets, analytics, art & copy, design, user experience, content strategy, and technology, for multiple business units. Performed career assessments and performance evaluations, determined compensation, and monitored accounts. Carried out process improvement and benchmarking. Managed external partnerships, contracts, and reporting. Participated in new business pitches. Member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Agency Leadership Team, Creative Council, and Women’s Mentorship Leadership Team. Responsible for project scope of work, vendor relations, and forecasting. Created SOPs.
Director of Creative Operations, 180LA Senior Vice President/Creative Services, Deutsch LA Creative Services Director, Cutwater Director of Project Manager, Global iPhone, Apple, inc. Vice President/Director of Project Mgmt, PUBLICIS Senior Project Manager, Kirshenbaum, Bond & Partners Senior Traffic Manager, Cline, Davis, & Mann
Previously Held Roles | 1999-2014
Key Competencies
Operations Governance | Thought Leadership | Organizational Design Talent Operations | Talent Development Recruiting | Human Resources Leadership | Process Improvement | Budget/Financial Management Program Management | Creative Problem Solving | Innovation Collaboration | Policy and Procedure Design | Adaptability Cross-Functional Team Leadership | Change Management | Emotional Intelligence
FAQs
Where did you go to school?
1997 Lynchburg College BA Communications & Fine Art
Any other education?
2021 Usui Reiki Ryoho Third Degree Reiki Master
2024 Rhode Island School of Design, AD in Design & Painting
Have you recently received any shout-outs?
2023 Business Insider Magazine, Top Ad Industry Recruiters
2023 Official Selection, Greenwich Art Society Juried Exhibit, Curator David Max Horowitz, Asst. Curator, Guggenheim Museum, NYC
Do you volunteer?
2023 Board Member, OPUS for Person-to-Person
What are some of your hobbies?
Pie Baking Interior Design Gardening
Let’s work together.
Shoot me an email and I’ll get back to you soon!