My Passion
Creative Operations is where my talents and passions collide. I'm innately a project manager. I've been creating and designing since I could hold a paintbrush. I have that balanced right/left brain that lets me switch between working on an automated script, or planning a complex project strategy, to doing hands-on design, or providing creative direction to a team.
Long before the creative ops industry had a label, I was building the processes that helped the firms I worked for earn higher profits and the teams I worked with produce more efficiently. I find the greatest satisfaction in building the systems and processes that minimize chaos and create a foundation of organization so creativity can flourish. The best part of all is working with amazing, talented people who also geek out on the same thrill.
Joleen O'Brien
My roots are in graphic design — I've come a long way since then.
I bring more than 25 years of hands-on experience. I've owned my own design and project management business, led creative teams, and managed design, product development, production, and operations across a range of industries — primarily print publishing and licensing, with additional experience in ecommerce, marketing, branding, digital asset management, and online platforms.
My core expertise was forged in the demanding production environment of magazine and calendar publishing, where unforgiving, fast-paced schedules leave no room for error. That experience extends into the licensing industry and the complex timelines of retail distribution, where precision and adaptability are essential.
Across every industry I've worked in, I've built customized workflows and guided teams through ever-changing technology, developing proprietary project management interfaces and digital asset management systems tailored to each organization's needs.
I thrive on building new ventures, and I'm always looking for ways to improve — leveraging the latest technology and the talents of a team. I'm driven to see results, and I bring that same commitment to every client project. With decades of executive leadership combined with deep creative and operational expertise, I'm uniquely equipped to bridge high-level strategy with the essential day-to-day details.
Let's Collaborate!
Years of working with in-office, hybrid, and remote teams across many time zones have sharpened my problem-solving mindset and high-level communication skills. I take what could be overwhelming for many and break it down into a clear, step-by-step process — so that no matter where team members are working from, they can participate fully as part of the team.