ThinkNW Marketing All-Star Profile: Danielle Hawley, Global Executive Creative Director at Uber
We’re pleased to announce our first class of ThinkNW Marketing All-Stars. Chosen by the ThinkNW board and executive team, this program kicks off a tradition of recognizing the unique marketing talent that drives our industry and region forward.
We asked our honorees to share a bit about their work, lives and what the Pacific Northwest means to them.
Here’s what Danielle Hawley, Global Executive Creative Director at Uber, had to say.
How long have you been in your current role?
18 months.
What do you value most in your work in this role, and what do you consider your biggest accomplishment in your current role?
When I was hired at Uber, they asked me to do two things: 1) make marketing history 2) build a world-class team.
I love being at an organization that believes in bravery. Our guiding principles for coms are centered around being bold, being direct and doing it all with a healthy dose of heart. This means we can say things most brands can’t—take risks in our actions—but we need to do it for the right reasons, and with the people we serve at the center. That’s invaluable to me.
My team believes creativity is a culture, not a department. I think that’s been our biggest accomplishment—inspiring the organization to dream and innovate—especially when our business has had to pivot and the world wasn’t moving
What do you like to do outside of your work?
It’s probably not a coincidence that I work for a movement company. From the moment I could walk, I was running. I am definitely built—mind, body and spirit to go! I walk at least 10k steps a day, even if I have to walk around my kitchen island, and I lift heavy things three to four times per week. I love to cook for my friends and family, and I believe you should never eat standing up. Mealtimes are sacred and often when the best moments are shared.
What impact does the Pacific Northwest have on your work?
Seattle is about as far away as you can get. From anything! With that comes a pioneering spirit— a desire to push out where there’s space to innovate and grow. The mountains, the air, the water—it’s a beautiful and inspiring place to live. There’s nothing quite like a purple August sky to remind you that while work is important, there’s so much more to life.
How would you characterize the Pacific Northwest marketing/creative community? In your mind, what makes it unique?
People here are weird (myself included) in the very best way—in the way that provides the freedom necessary to think way outside the box. There’s a carefree state of mind, a renouncement of the status quo that allows our creative community to thrive under our high-flying freak flags.
