If you don’t know Beth O’Brien yet, you’re about to fall in love. South Island-raised, Aotearoa-made, self-described shower ideator, Jurassic Park obsessed, politics nerd – and a proudly neurodivergent Creative Director with a brain that works in the most brilliant ways.

Beth started as a Colenso intern, learned the craft from the ground up, then took her unique way of thinking global through Droga5 and R/GA in New York and Sydney. She’s helped make seriously culture-shifting work and collected a suite of awards along the way – including New Zealand’s first D&AD Black Pencil and a Cannes Titanium Grand Prix.

While in New York she also created Role Models for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, which was hailed by The New York Times as "a masterpiece of political advertising"

All of that experience has led her to build something of her own. This year she co-founded Princess alongside three of her great mates, Jonny Berger, Cameron Bell and Sam Dickson, helping brands become a category of one – and unlocking hard-to-find growth through creativity.

This chat gets into Beth’s story, from growing up in a small town and figuring out how to fit in, to the art teacher who clocked her creative problem-solving brilliance early on, and those Colenso years where her style of thinking was celebrated as a gift. We also talk carving your own path when the expected one doesn’t fit, moving through creative block, and finding your rhythm as a neurodivergent creative.

The 2024 Never Not Creative Mentally-Healthy survey found 10.3% of the ad industry report a diagnosed neurodivergence, rising to 17% in creative and design roles. Beth is living proof of what’s possible when we build better systems and environments for different brains to thrive.

What I love most about Beth is her steady sense of self and how humble she is about everything she’s achieved. She knows who she is and celebrates it, she’s worked incredibly hard to get where she is and she’s just as determined to help carve that path for other women too. 

The future of our industry feels bright with Princesses like Beth running the show – and I can’t wait to see more of what they create.

LINKS

Princess A Creative Company

https://www.princess-acc.com/

Linked In

https://www.linkedin.com/company/princess-a-creative-company/posts/?feedView=all

Connect with Beth

https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-o-brien-220a375a/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/princess_acreativecompany

Hilary Clinton Role Models Campaign

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrX3Ql31URA

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