A little about me

Creative by nature.
Strategic by experience.
Human by choice.

I'm Valentina Gomez Bravo, an award-winning executive brand, marketing and creative leader with more than 20 years of experience building brands, leading creative organizations and helping businesses and institutions connect with the people they serve.

My career has crossed industries, cultures and continents. From internationally recognized advertising agencies and global consumer brands to entrepreneurship, multinational enterprise and higher education, I've had the opportunity to work with ambitious organizations, talented teams and leaders navigating change, growth and transformation.

Through it all, I've learned that the most meaningful creative work happens when strategy, people and purpose come together.

Building brands. Leading people.
Creating change.

Today, I serve as Executive Creative Director at the University of Washington, where I lead a multidisciplinary creative organization spanning brand, design, content, editorial, photography, video and creative operations.

My work extends beyond creative direction. I partner with executive leadership on enterprise brand strategy, institutional storytelling and integrated marketing while helping modernize creative operations, strengthen governance, develop talent and build the systems that support exceptional work at scale.

Previously, I led global brand marketing and creative initiatives at Vibrantz Technologies, supporting the integration of multiple established companies into a unified global brand. Working with teams across North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America reinforced my belief that successful brand leadership requires strategic alignment, cultural understanding and collaboration across boundaries.

I also founded Bunker +58, an independent branding and creative studio. Over 12 years, I built brands, developed client relationships and led distributed creative teams across industries and markets. Entrepreneurship shaped how I approach leadership today—with ownership, resourcefulness, curiosity and an understanding of how creative decisions connect to business outcomes.

My career began in advertising, working with internationally recognized agencies including BBDO and TBWA, and contributing to creative work for global brands such as Pepsi and Red Bull, among others.

Those formative years gave me a foundation in consumer marketing, brand storytelling, advertising and creative execution. They also shaped my understanding of how powerful ideas are developed, how creative excellence is achieved and how brands connect with audiences across markets and cultures.

That experience continues to influence how I lead today—bringing together the strategic discipline of brand building, the creative ambition of advertising and the collaborative mindset needed to deliver exceptional work.

creativity without borders

My multicultural background has shaped both my personal identity and my professional perspective.

Working across languages, markets and cultures has taught me to approach challenges with curiosity, listen to different perspectives and recognize the importance of authentic connections.

I believe strong brands are built through understanding people—not simply communicating at them.

The people behind the work matter.

I've always believed that leadership is about creating the conditions for others to succeed.

That means developing talent, building trust, encouraging collaboration, providing clarity and giving teams the support and confidence to do their best work. It's also about balancing creative ambition with operational discipline, making thoughtful decisions and creating space for experimentation and innovation.

Beyond my professional work.

I'm passionate about strengthening the creative community and creating opportunities for others.

As President of AAF Seattle, I've helped revitalize the organization and build a stronger community for advertising, marketing and creative professionals.

I'm also an educator, speaker, mentor and entrepreneur who believes in sharing knowledge, supporting emerging talent and continuing to learn.

My interests extend beyond any one title or industry. I'm driven by curiosity, human connection and the possibility of building something meaningful.