Tracy Brosnan

I was raised by a carpenter in Upstate New York, where I learned to get my hands dirty and make things both memorable and beautiful. That sensibility has shaped my work on beauty giants like Olay, L’Oréal, Maybelline, and Suave, and in finding the magic in a $9 sneaker or a $5 towel. A favorite personal project is a large-format photo series on the demolition of Bethlehem Steel—proof, as my father says, that I find beauty in everything.

At 18, I turned down a business school scholarship to study Japanese culture in Toyama. With no language skills, my camera became my international handshake as I biked Kosugi, hitchhiked to Kyoto, and ate my first sushi in a fisherman’s home. Back in the U.S., I studied design and advertising at the University of Florida and the School of Visual Arts.

My career began at Young & Rubicam where my first spot ran on the Super Bowl, followed by eight years at Saatchi & Saatchi, where I helped transform Olay into a multi-billion-dollar brand. At The Martin Agency, I positioned Walmart as a beauty destination. At Grey, I brought a design-driven edge to pharma and wellness work for Pfizer and GSK. At DeVries Global, I reshaped the agency’s creative offering, relaunched Aussie, produced Pantene content in the first 30 days, and fueled award wins and revenue growth. Most recently, at The Hut Group, I re-ignited Dermstore leading to its most successful Cyber Week ever.

I live outside NYC with my husband, two kids, and our dog Murphy. My current obsession is my drone which I’ve managed not to crash… yet.