In Conversation with Leah Esposito
Tell us about your background:
I’m a seasoned Creative Director and Art Director who’s spent my career shaping brands at the intersection of style, culture, and commerce. My background bridges fashion, beauty, wellness, and lifestyle—with a focus on brand development, campaign creative, eCommerce, and photoshoot direction. I’ve worked inside legacy brands and alongside emerging founders, always bringing a balance of big-picture strategy and refined execution.
I started in editorial—first on the marketing side at Hearst and later leading the creative team at Time Out New York. That early foundation sharpened my instincts for storytelling, trend fluency, and visual nuance, which have carried into every phase of my work since. From there, my career expanded into art direction and brand building for a wide range of clients—Nike, L’Oréal, Target, Amazon, Arbonne, Bloomingdale’s, and Victoria’s Secret, to name a few—alongside newer brands where I could help define and launch something from scratch.
Over the years, I’ve led seasonal campaigns for national retailers, launched eCommerce platforms, built visual identities, and developed full-scale brand systems across wellness, fashion, and lifestyle categories. I’ve partnered with startups to bring their vision to life from the ground up—defining brand voice, developing packaging, and crafting digital presence—and collaborated with in-house teams to evolve and refresh legacy brand platforms. Whether building brand playbooks for wellness clients, concepting culturally relevant social campaigns, or producing high-volume creative for retail launches, I bring both strategic clarity and hands-on creative execution to every phase of the process.
I work best when I’m embedded as a partner—whether that means running a full rebrand, supporting internal teams through high-volume production, or collaborating closely with founders on their vision. While I can lead strategy and big-picture storytelling, I’m also comfortable being scrappy and hands-on when needed.
I thrive in projects where sensitivity, clarity, and visual excellence matter—especially when there’s something being built, evolved, or repositioned. I value long-term thinking, thoughtful design, and smart collaboration.
Right now, I’m reworking my own portfolio to better reflect the kind of work I want more of: purpose-driven creative with real substance, thoughtful design systems, and brand storytelling that resonates.
I’m currently based in Los Angeles and I continue to be energized by projects that blend intuition, strategy, and style. Whether it’s shaping a campaign, developing a visual identity, or helping a founder refine their vision, I bring curiosity, empathy, and decades of lived experience to the table.
What do you wish you’d known when you started out?
That creativity isn’t just talent—it’s resilience, relationships, and navigating ambiguity. And that rest and reflection aren’t luxury—they’re essential to the process and to longevity.
Best career advice you've ever received?
“Show up as yourself—your perspective is your power.” Authenticity builds trust far faster than perfection ever will.
What leadership qualities are important to you?
Empathy, clarity, adaptability, and the ability to foster trust. I value leaders who listen deeply, empower teams, and confidently make decisions without ego.
What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far?
Maintaining visibility and value as an independent creative in an industry that often favors in‑house teams or traditional agencies—while continuously growing and evolving beyond the conventional path.
How do you define success in your career, and how has that definition evolved over time?
It once meant big brands and budgets. Now it means meaningful work with people I respect, life balance, and the freedom to align work with my values.
How has networking contributed to your professional growth and success?
Nearly every opportunity has come through connections—whether collaborators, referrals, or community. Relationships have consistently led to more meaningful work than any portfolio ever could.
What are your top networking tips for building strong connections in your industry?
Be curious, generous, and consistent. Reach out without expectation, keep in touch, and offer value before asking for anything.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-esposito/
Website: leahespodesign.com
Instagram: leahespo
