“This company can’t be any better or bigger than the growth of the people in it.”
There’s not one type of person who works at Leo Burnett. We’re all different and bring something unique to the table.
But you’ll know a Burnetter when you meet one.
Because we all aspire to carry on Leo’s legacy of being courageous, staying humble and having absolute belief in creative solutions that create change for the better.
The values we value.
As an agency and as individuals, we have four key principles that we aim to bring to our work every day. We call them the 4 Cs.
Eyes of a Child
Chooses to believe. Emanates joy. Knows that sincerity and curiosity are the ingredients for true transformation.
Heart of a Champion
Acts bravely. Protects ideas. Defends the interest of the people and leads with principle.
Hand of a Craftsman
Sees what no one else notices, but everyone will feel. Asks how can I make this better? But also knows when to stop.
Soul of a Citizen
Respects the work and one another. Always says thank you. Is tough but constructive. Draws people in, never pushes them away.
Building a workplace that reflects the world we live in.
It’s not enough to be a diverse workplace. Our people need to fearlessly bring their unique points of view to the table. It’s the only way our work can ever reach its fullest potential. We’re committed at all levels of our agency to growing a more inclusive Leo Burnett. Together with our parent company, Publicis Groupe, we’ve made a $50 million commitment to attract and grow Black talent, as we continue to nurture a culture of belonging in which our people feel empowered to bring their whole selves every day.
We support eight employee-created resource groups, representing different populations and helping to build a greater sense of belonging throughout the agency.
Our peer-reviewed Inclusivity Product Council challenges stereotypes in our work at all stages of the creative process.
Marcel, our AI-enabled platform, provides all employees with ongoing, anti-bias and cultural sensitivity training, along with live workshops, 30,000-plus online courses and conversations with industry change-makers.
We’re unwavering in our commitment to providing the Black community and people of color with more opportunity in creative fields through scholarships, mentorships and education-focused relationships.
We’ve formed an alliance with Free the Work, a talent-discovery platform for underrepresented creators, and are committed to awarding at least 25% of outsourced production to minority partners.
Our work will never be finished, but we’re proud of the recognition that our efforts have earned.
Our Leadership
Kate Jeffers
Chief Executive Officer
Kate recently joined us as CEO to—in her own words—help “seize our existing momentum and amplify our advantages.” She comes to Leo Burnett with an impressive track record of building agency cultures that inspire creativity, nurture innovation and deliver for today’s brands. Kate spent the past 20 years at Venables Bell & Partners, where, in her most recent role as president and partner, she did it all: She brought in new business and diversified the agency’s offerings to include capabilities in experience design, integrated production, retail and advocacy marketing. Kate was also pivotal to the agency’s early adoption of AI, leading the launch of its AI consultancy, Braive, as well as multiple equity investments in AI start-ups.
Katie Ogarek
Financial Officer
Katie has worked across our entire finance discipline for more than 20 years and now leads a department dedicated to delivering our clients’ needs while driving the agency’s financial strategy and operations. The keys to Katie’s success and longevity: understanding every aspect of our business and considering her fellow Burnetters as family. Throughout Katie’s career, she has helped strengthen financial and internal controls; navigated the demands of complex, often highly regulated categories; led client and new-business finance teams; and helped manage various acquisitions and integrations. Prior to leading Leo Burnett’s finance department, Katie oversaw finance for Arc, the Leo Burnett Group agency specializing in commerce and shopper marketing.
Britt Nolan
Co-President & Chief Creative Officer
Britt Nolan is Co-President and Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett Chicago. He first joined the agency in 2009 as a copywriter with a passion for doing work that real people care about. At every step along the way, Britt has helped iconic brands form emotional connections that grow their businesses. He introduced the world to “Mayhem” for Allstate, launched #DoWhatYouCant for Samsung with the help of a flying ostrich, invited America to “Drive a Firestone,” brought Coors Light some much-needed “Chill,” helped Country Time Lemonade win hearts and change laws, and put van Gogh’s bedroom on Airbnb. Britt’s work has earned 50+ Cannes Lions, along with awards from the Effies, D&AD, ADC, One Show, Clios, London International and more. In 2019, Britt himself was inducted into AAF’s Hall of Achievement. He also sits on the board of Marwen, a school that provides free visual arts education and college and career programming for Chicago’s young people.
Billie Smith
Chief Talent Officer
Billie is hardly a rule follower, but she does live by a few simple rules at work and in life: Treat people fairly and with respect. Give them opportunities. And always support them, especially when they try something new and fail. As our chief talent officer and, before that, our director of talent management, Billie has helped hundreds, if not thousands, of Burnetters grow, serving as their facilitator and their champion. “I didn’t sit back and wait for my career to happen, and that’s what I encourage in others,” she says. Billie also helps lead our ongoing efforts to hold ourselves accountable as an agency in which inclusion and representation are fundamental to our culture, our product and how we behave in the world. “For me,” she says, “DE&I work is fundamentally internal change. My goal is to give people the tools, the space and the support to confidently embark on this journey together.”
Samantha Cescau
Head of Strategy
Samantha is passionate about using fearless creativity and purposeful strategy to grow brands and businesses. She has delivered disruptive solutions across categories. Recently Samantha led the launch of bubly bounce, which became the No. 1 caffeinated sparkling beverage. She also led Vaseline’s global repositioning, which helped reverse 25 periods of market share and earned a silver Effie, and led 25+ brands under Newell Rubbermaid, helping the company to earn $500M in added revenue as well as winning gold and silver Effies. Samantha has an MBA from Columbia University.
Make something great with us.
Interested in helping our team develop creative solutions that earn distinction, grow our clients’ businesses and help people? Then check out our open career opportunities.
Waiting for the perfect role but not ready to apply just yet? Keep in touch by joining our talent community.