VACEOs is pleased to welcome Kristen Cavallo, former Global CEO of MullenLowe Group and former CEO of The Martin Agency, for an intimate fireside chat on leadership, creativity, and impact.
In this candid conversation, Kristen will reflect on the decisions, values, and moments that shaped her leadership philosophy, what it takes to lead with conviction at scale, and how she thinks about the role of communication in driving trust, unity, and progress. She’ll also share perspective on her next chapter, having recently transitioned into the nonprofit sector as Executive Director of The Branch Museum of Design.
Kristen will be joined by Kelly O’Keefe, longtime VACEOs member and founding partner of Brand Federation. A nationally respected brand strategist, former chair of the VCU Brandcenter, and Virginia Communications Hall of Fame inductee, Kelly will guide a thoughtful discussion exploring leadership, legacy, and the power of ideas.
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Kristen never set out to be a CEO. She envisioned a life filled with curiosity, adventure, and meaningful experiences — from taking her children on international journeys across all seven continents to walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain, a transformative pilgrimage that helped her gain clarity about what comes next. It was on this journey that she realized that while she was ready to leave advertising, she wasn’t ready to leave creativity, ultimately leading her to her current role at The Branch Museum of Design.
Along the way, she also said yes to leadership, resulting in a remarkable 30-year career at the highest levels of global branding and advertising. Under Kristen’s leadership, The Martin Agency grew by more than 50 percent in five years and earned some of the industry’s highest honors, including Adweek’s U.S. Agency of the Year (2021–2022) and Ad Age’s Agency of the Year (2023). Martin was also named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list in 2023 and 2024. Kristen was personally recognized as Virginia Businessperson of the Year for her leadership across creative, culture, talent, and growth.
At the same time, Kristen served as Global CEO of MullenLowe Group, uniting a 55-office global network through a bold rebrand that strengthened culture, clarity, and collaboration across markets. That work earned three Cannes Lions in 2024, including a Gold for Best Agency Rebrand, and multiple Agency of the Year honors across international markets.
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