Award-winning creative, business leader, brand builder and culturist. Shannon Washington doesn't just shape work – she’s shaping the industry.

As Chief Creative Officer and Managing Partner of 11 Ounces, Shannon is redefining how sports stories get told. The micro-studio works at the intersection of culture, community, and brand strategy, partnering with brands, teams, athletes and legacy agencies to build the next generation of fan experience. Alongside that work, she maintains a focused consulting practice with a select cohort of brands, creators and creative companies across beauty, consumer packaged goods and personal finance.

This independent chapter follows a distinguished run at the top of agency life. As Global Chief Creative Officer at Gotham/McCann Worldgroup, Shannon transformed a legacy beauty powerhouse into a full-service creative force – expanding its category footprint, developing new talent pipelines and earning the agency its first-ever Webby and Clio honours, while moving the needle on some of Maybelline New York’s most iconic and stubborn brand challenges. Before that, as US Chief Creative Officer at R/GA, she guided the agency’s flagship office through one of the most turbulent periods in modern business, earning the trust and loyalty of a creative community spanning two continents and growing the business in process. As a creative, she led the charge on the agency’s most defining work at the time for Turbo Tax, Nike, The AdCouncil/Love Has No Labels, Sephora, Uber and Google. Her leadership style – grounded in transparency, mentorship and cultural clarity – became as defining as the work itself.

This body of work and commitment to the craft has earned her recognition as Ad Age Chief Creative Officer of the Year, a spot on the AdWeek 100, a seat as a Cannes Lions Jury President, 2× ANDY Global Juror, the honour of being named one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business and so much more.

In her spare time, Shannon is a sought-after voice on creative culture, inclusion and the evolving importance of cross-generational leadership.

She is a proud graduate of Howard University and reluctantly resides in the suburbs of her beloved New York City, US.