Creative Direction and Immersive Experiences

Resume

MARY WILLIAMS-BARBER

Experience & Creative Leader

Chicago, IL | 512-567-4356 | marykatwilliams@gmail.com
Portfolio: mwbarber.com PW: Engage | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mkw33

Experience and creative leader with 15+ years designing immersive, narrative-driven environments that translate complex ideas into engaging, interactive audience experiences. Proven track record leading large-scale experience ecosystems across exhibitions, live events, and integrated platforms—driving cultural relevance, audience growth and measurable business impact.

Career highlights include:

  • $500M+ in Fortune 500 new business through executive storytelling and strategy

  • 2B+ earned media impressions generated through culturally resonant, audience-first platforms

  • Global experiential events reaching 85K+ attendees from 200+ countries

  • National media coverage including CNN, MSNBC Morning Joe, and Time

CORE LEADERSHIP AREAS

Experience Strategy | Exhibition & Environment Design | Audience Engagement
Narrative Systems & Storytelling | Cross-Functional Leadership | Change Management
Public-Facing Experience Design | Cultural Programming | Partnership Development
Data-Informed Audience Insights | Budget & Program Leadership

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE PLATFORMS

Google Engage 2026 — Global AI Experience Ecosystem

Directed a multi-day, 10,000-person immersive experience translating AI innovation into participatory storytelling environments.

  • Led creative for a 120,000 sq ft experience spanning environments, interactive installations, and design

  • Oversaw $12M+ budget across large-scale environments and audience activations

  • Designed real-time, participatory experiences leveraging AI technologies (VEO, Lyria)

  • Created a cohesive narrative system across physical spaces, content, merchandise and audience interaction

Future of Food Museum — Immersive Innovation Experience

Created a multi-zone, interactive environment translating data-based projections for global food systems into accessible, educational storytelling.

  • Led the creation of a museum inside Accenture Tower combining physical installations, projection mapping and interactive content

  • Created pathways for audience exploration, discovery and hands-on engagement

  • Integrated educational storytelling with real-world data and future-focused insights

Coca-Cola | Arctic Home — Global Environmental Platform

Built a large-scale storytelling ecosystem combining digital, social and interactive experiences.

  • Generated 1.2B+ earned impressions

  • Increased brand favorability by 10%

  • Enabled real-time audience engagement through interactive environmental storytelling

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Creative Director (Contract) | GPJ (George P. Johnson) | 2025 – Mar 2026|

Directed cross-functional teams to design and deliver large-scale immersive environments translating emerging technology into audience-first experiences.

  • Led development of a festival-scale, 120,000 sq ft experience ecosystem

  • Managed $12M+ budget, aligning creative vision with operational execution

  • Partnered with executive stakeholders to translate complex AI innovation into accessible, participatory environments

  • Directed multidisciplinary teams across concept, design and production

Group Creative Director / North American Storytelling Lead | Accenture | 2018–2025

Led experience strategy, narrative systems and immersive environments across global brand, event and executive communications initiatives.

  • Directed large-scale experience platforms, including global environments serving 85,000+ attendees across 200+ countries

  • Designed narrative-driven environments translating complex systems (AI, sustainability, infrastructure) into audience engagement

  • Partnered with C-suite leadership to align narrative strategy with organizational goals

  • Contributed to $500M+ in new business wins through strategic storytelling and executive presentations

  • Led and mentored 20+ creatives, building high-performing cross-disciplinary teams

  • Guided cross-functional alignment across strategy, design and story teams globally

Creative Director | Frequency 540 | 2014–2018

Led integrated experience and storytelling platforms across digital, social and experiential environments.

  • Developed culturally resonant, billion-impression platform for Allstate Purple Purse–including an immersive storytelling activation that translated complex social issues into accessible public engagement

  • Delivered national media coverage across CNN, MSNBC Morning Joe, and Time

Associate Creative Director | Leo Burnett | 2012–2014

  • Led integrated campaigns combining digital, social and experiential storytelling

  • Delivered 1.2B impressions and increased brand favorability by 10% for Coca-Cola

  • Directed large-scale content production across global campaigns

 

Education

MA in Communications; University of Texas, Austin

BA in Advertising/Journalism; University of Arkansas

Extra Credit

Shortlisted for Cannes Lion

One Club Gold

Effie Bronze

iO Improv Graduate

Second City Writing Graduate

Chicago Reel Film Festival

I am a storyteller.