ABOUT
Mariclare Lawson
Executive coach for creative, media, and brand leaders who are ready to lead with more influence, visibility, and confidence.
my story
From Creative Leader to Coach
I started my career in the script department of Saturday Night Live as a production assistant and receptionist. I saw how big thinkers changed the room (and the world) with their presence and their words. That early experience taught me that ideas matter, but so does the courage and clarity with which you bring them into the room.
From there, I worked my way up through creative services for television networks across New York, learning how to write, produce, and edit marketing content for series and films. I studied how stories are shaped, how audiences are moved, and how leaders use language and vision to align teams, win buy-in, and launch work into the world.
Over more than two decades, I produced creative, editorial, and brand work at companies including Paramount, Disney, NBCUniversal, A+E Global Media, BBC America, and SundanceTV, winning awards along the way. I’ve launched global brands, reorganized teams, managed complex stakeholders, and delivered high-stakes work under pressure. As VP of Creative and Strategy at Paramount, I led major brand transformations and guided creative strategy at an executive level.
An essay I wrote for The New York Times was optioned by Amazon Prime Video and turned into an episode of their global streaming series Modern Love. That experience, seeing a personal story travel from page to global screen, deepened my belief in the power of narrative: the stories we tell about our work, our leadership, and our careers shape what becomes possible.
I know what it’s like to be the person who makes everything work behind the scenes while wondering when your leadership will be truly seen. I’ve sat in rooms where my ideas were overlooked until someone else repeated them. I’ve shouldered extra work to keep things moving, then struggled to articulate my value in performance reviews. I’ve watched less experienced colleagues move ahead while I questioned what I was missing.
Over time, I realized that my challenge wasn’t capability. It was visibility, communication, and the way I showed up as a leader. Once I began to lead with more clarity, intention, and strategic presence, everything changed: my impact, my opportunities, and my sense of agency in my career.
That shift inspired my transition into coaching. I wanted to help other high-performing creative and media leaders make the same move: from being valued for their output to being trusted as strategic leaders in the room.
How I Coach
My coaching blends real-world creative leadership experience with ICF-aligned coaching training. I don’t offer generic advice or one-size-fits-all frameworks. Instead, we build a clear plan together and put it into practice in your actual working life.
In our work, you can expect:
A confidential, judgment-free space to think strategically about your leadership and career
Honest, direct feedback that is supportive and grounded in what actually works in senior rooms
Practical tools for communication, stakeholder management, executive presence, and career strategy
Real-world application, using your current challenges as the laboratory for growth
Accountability with care, so insight turns into visible change, not just good intentions
I coach the whole person, not just the résumé. That means we look at your strengths, values, and leadership identity alongside the political and organizational realities you navigate every day.
Who I Work With
I work with high-performing creative, media, and brand leaders who are ready to lead at their next level. My clients include:
Creative directors, heads of content, and executive producers
Brand, marketing, and design leaders in media, entertainment, and beyond
Senior directors and newly promoted VPs stepping into larger leadership roles
Accomplished creative professionals navigating a career transition or repositioning
Common themes my clients bring to coaching include:
Wanting to be seen as more strategic, not just highly capable
Preparing for promotion, expanded scope, or a senior-level move
Leading former peers, managing senior stakeholders, or building credibility with a new team
Navigating complex relationships, conflict, or difficult conversations
Rebuilding confidence and direction after burnout, restructuring, or career disruption
Strengthening executive presence without becoming performative or inauthentic
If you’re ready to turn strong work into visible leadership, this is the right place.
Background & Training
Before coaching, I built my career leading creative and brand teams inside major media organizations. My work has spanned:
Global brand launches and rebrands
Creative strategy, editorial leadership, and content development
Cross-functional team leadership and stakeholder management
Executive-facing presentations and decision-making
As a coach, I have completed ICF-aligned coaching training and continue to invest in ongoing professional development to serve my clients at a high level. My approach is informed by both the realities of senior creative leadership and evidence-based coaching practices.
ICF-accredited coach training program, Academy of Creative Coaching, 2021
Group Dynamics, Introduction to Psychology, Connecticut State Community College, 2023
CLIENT FEEDBACK
What It’s Like to Work With Me
Clients describe working with me as:
Clear, grounded, and direct—without being harsh
Insightful and practical, not just reflective
Focused on real change in real working conditions
Supportive, but not indulgent; I will challenge you kindly
Sessions are virtual, via Google Meet, and structured around your current leadership challenges and goals. Between sessions, you’ll have opportunities to apply what we’ve discussed, reflect on what you’re learning, and bring real results back into our work.
Confidentiality and trust are non-negotiable. You can speak openly about your ambitions, frustrations, doubts, and workplace dynamics knowing that what we discuss stays between us, within the boundaries outlined in your coaching agreement.
coaching
Why I Do This Work
I coach because I’ve seen how much talent and potential goes under-recognized in creative and media organizations. Too many brilliant people are held back not by lack of ability, but by unclear narratives, invisible impact, and leadership habits formed in survival mode.
I believe creative leaders deserve to be seen, heard, and rewarded for the full value they bring. I also believe that better leadership in creative industries means better work, healthier teams, and more humane cultures.
This work is my way of helping talented people step into the leadership they’re already capable of, so they can shape better roles, better teams, and better industries.
If This Resonates
If you’re a creative or media leader ready to become more visible, influential, and confident at the next level, I’d be glad to talk.
