
Tom Gilmartin
Creative Director
Leadership
Executive
Instructor
Marketing
I’ve always known I was meant to be in the creative industry. As a kid, I was obsessed with fashion—constantly sketching, styling, and imagining designs. Life’s twists and turns led me to study PR and Advertising, which opened the door to a career in the advertising world. But my entrepreneurial spirit wouldn’t stay quiet for long. Founding my own shoe brand was a game-changer—it pushed my creativity beyond limits and shaped my professional identity in ways I never imagined. Today, blending my two greatest passions—advertising and fashion—fuels me. It keeps me learning, evolving, and innovating every single day.
My education didn’t just prepare me—it ignited an insatiable hunger to keep learning, push boundaries, and constantly evolve. It taught me to embrace the unknown, challenge my own limits, and cultivate a mindset of continuous growth.
Now, I’m diving deep into AI-driven solutions, not just to help brands evolve but to future-proof creativity itself. My goal is to master the art of selling AI-powered strategies that unlock new dimensions of brand engagement while empowering my teams to break creative barriers and redefine what’s possible in digital marketing. Because in this industry, standing still is never an option.
Listening is my superpower. I don’t just hear what clients say—I immerse myself in their world, researching their brand, market, and audience to truly understand their challenges and aspirations.
My approach is collaborative and strategic—I work closely with clients to shape solutions that align with their business objectives while elevating their creative vision. Beyond strategy, I focus on curating the right talent, bringing together teams that don’t just execute but push boundaries, ensuring every project delivers impact, innovation, and results that exceed expectations.
Inspiration comes from everywhere—culture, trends, human behavior, and even the unexpected moments in everyday life. But for me, the real magic happens when strategy and creativity collide.
I start by immersing myself in the brand’s world, analyzing their market, audience, and challenges. Then, I look beyond—exploring art, fashion, music, technology, and cultural movements to find fresh perspectives. Collaborating with diverse teams, challenging conventional thinking, and staying curious and fearless fuels my creative process. The best ideas aren’t just original; they’re the ones that resonate, inspire, and drive real impact.
Working with brands like Uber, Netflix, ViX, Sephora and Dole has been an incredible journey—each one offering a unique perspective on the new economy, digital behavior, and evolving consumer expectations.
From scaling hyper-growth platforms to crafting premium lifestyle experiences, I’ve learned how to adapt strategies to different industries, audiences, and business models. Whether it’s navigating the fast-paced world of tech and entertainment, redefining beauty and retail engagement, or creating culturally resonant campaigns in food & beverage, the common thread is understanding how people interact with brands in an ever-changing digital landscape—and translating those insights into meaningful, high-impact creative solutions.
Working with Monks has been nothing short of transformative. Beyond being a powerhouse for global, first-class brands, it’s a place that has truly nurtured my entrepreneurial mindset, allowing me to take ownership, innovate, and push creative and strategic boundaries.
What makes it even more special is the people—the level of talent, collaboration, and shared ambition is unparalleled. Every project is an opportunity to work with some of the best creative and strategic minds in the industry, constantly learning, evolving, and delivering work that sets new standards. It’s been an incredible journey, and I thrive in the dynamic, fast-paced environment that Monks fosters.
One of the most exciting projects I’ve ever worked on was Luis Miguel Season 3: The Last Goodbye. I had the incredible opportunity to produce a high-profile YouTube Live event featuring Diego Boneta and the main cast, where they shared their experiences filming the final season. The challenge? Recreating an iconic Oscars scenario on a tight budget, pushing our creativity and production skills to the limit. Collaborating with top-tier talent from Monks and our production vendors, we delivered a seamless and visually stunning experience. The result? Over 100K live viewers in the first five minutes—exceeding the client’s goals.
Beyond the live event, I also led the production of 'El Mensaje del Sol', an interactive web app where users could literally engage with the Sun to unlock the season’s trailer. Working closely with the Monks Platforms team, we developed a TensorFlow-powered model capable of recognizing the Sun, making this a truly immersive and innovative experience. The project was recognized with an IAB 2022 award in the Data Storytelling category, proving how technology and creativity can come together to build unforgettable brand moments.
Bringing these experiences to life—balancing storytelling, innovation, and production challenges—is what excites me the most about what I do.
One of the most challenging projects I’ve worked on was with Sephora, two years ago. The brand had lost its #1 top-of-mind position among Gen Z to Urban Decay, and our challenge was to reclaim that leadership. Beyond the strategic goal, we faced an additional hurdle—this was the first time the brand was working with a social agency, and their internal team was skeptical and resistant to our approach.
Building trust became just as crucial as delivering results. I took the lead in fostering strong relationships with the client, ensuring they felt heard, valued, and confident in our expertise. As a team, we proved our ability to drive impact, convincing them not only to extend the initial 6-month contract but to renew for multiple extensions—and they remain our client today.
The success of this collaboration was further validated when we became Effie US finalists in the Social Media – Product category, a recognition of the powerful, results-driven work we created for Sephora. This project reinforced for me that the key to overcoming challenges isn’t just about great strategy—it’s about earning trust, building partnerships, and proving value through exceptional execution.
I’ve had the privilege of leading high-impact projects for some of the most recognized brands, each with unique challenges and opportunities that pushed the boundaries of social-first storytelling, digital engagement, and brand transformation.
One of my most exciting and innovative projects was Luis Miguel Season 3: The Last Goodbye. I led the production of a YouTube Live event featuring Diego Boneta and the main cast, recreating an Oscars-style setting on a tight budget. The event drew over 100K live viewers in the first five minutes, surpassing client expectations. Additionally, I spearheaded 'El Mensaje del Sol', an interactive web app that used TensorFlow-powered AI to recognize the Sun, unlocking the show’s trailer. This campaign was recognized with an IAB 2022 award in the Data Storytelling category, setting a new benchmark for interactive, tech-driven entertainment marketing.
Another game-changing project was with Sephora, where we were tasked with reclaiming the brand’s #1 top-of-mind position among Gen Z after losing ground to Urban Decay. It was the brand’s first time working with a social agency, and we had to overcome internal skepticism while proving the power of digital and social strategies. Through strategic content and audience-driven storytelling, we not only secured multiple contract extensions but also became Effie US finalists in the Social Media – Product category, proving the measurable impact of our approach.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked with Uber, Netflix, ViX, Sephora and Dole, gaining deep insights into the new economy and human digital behavior. Each project has reinforced my belief that great marketing is a mix of creativity, cultural relevance, and strategic execution, always pushing brands to evolve and connect in ways that resonate, inspire, and drive real-world impact.