Building Teams at Scale
How I built, scaled, and evolved high-performing teams across agency and startup environments — driving capability growth, career success, and business outcomes.
The most rewarding part of my career hasn’t just been launching platforms or hitting performance goals — it’s been building the teams that made it all possible.
From running cross-functional teams for Coca-Cola at UM, to building and restructuring agency capabilities at Ogilvy, to leading a globally distributed team as CEO at Evidnt, I’ve developed a proven playbook for building dynamic, accountable, and resilient teams — designed for impact.
Ogilvy: Scaling Capability Through Strategic Decentralization
At Ogilvy, I was tasked with creating the agency’s first in-house programmatic and paid social team. Starting with five specialists, I built the team to over 25 direct reports, eventually scaling it to 60+ across nationwide offices and international centers of excellence.
But it wasn’t just about headcount — it was about architecture.
As demand grew, I recognized the need to decentralize our structure and align capabilities closer to client needs and market demand. I led a reorg that expanded our footprint, evolved how we collaborated across teams, and ultimately enhanced our ability to deliver both faster and smarter.
That team went on to power growth across multiple clients and serve as a model for other WPP agencies.
UM: Leading Performance for Coca-Cola and Beyond
At Universal McCann (IPG), I was brought in to run audience, data, and programmatic media for Coca-Cola’s 20+ brand portfolio. Over time, I expanded my remit to take on performance and insights, integrating what had previously been siloed teams.
I drove the vision to unify these functions under one strategic group, creating stronger alignment between planning, activation, and analytics. It was a team built for agility and accountability, and it showed up in the work.
Evidnt: Building Through Adversity
As CEO of Evidnt, I led a globally distributed product, engineering, and analytics team — many of whom were based in Ukraine during wartime. I learned to lead through uncertainty, prioritize clarity, and keep momentum when nothing around us was stable.
We stayed focused, shipped product, and grew.
What Sets My Leadership Apart
I’ve built and led large teams (60+) and lean startup crews
I’m not afraid to get hands-on — but I also know when to step back and empower
I emphasize clarity, accountability, and adaptability in every org design
I’ve worked within highly matrixed environments — from holding companies to platform partnerships
I believe in growing people, not just roles
Some of my former team members now hold leadership positions at Adobe, Amazon, WPP, Dentsu, Google, and more — which is the KPI I’m most proud of.
The Impact
Built from scratch and scaled award-winning teams at Ogilvy and UM
Grew multiple team members into industry leaders across platforms and holding companies
Adapted org design to match client needs, business shifts, and geographic complexity
Proven ability to scale, restructure, and evolve team models without losing trust or momentum
Why It Matters
Tools change. Budgets shift. But the way you build and lead people — that’s what determines whether your organization can keep moving forward.
I build teams that are clear in their roles, committed to results, and equipped to grow.
