I often hear that I have a calming presence on the team. Given the scale of the brands I’ve had the opportunity to lead, I take that as a huge compliment. As the Global ECD for eBay, I oversee a team of creatives and designers sitting in multiple markets. At any given time, there are upwards of six overlapping workstreams all with their own challenges, timelines and cultural nuances. Being calm takes work.

But to me, ideas thrive on simplicity and clarity. So when things get muddy, my job is to get closer. When things are going smoothly, I stay out of the way. That approach has helped me run massive brands like Verizon, Target and Jim Beam.