Letter From the Executive Director

Dear Muse by Clio Readers,

I hope this letter finds you brimming with creative energy! It is with great excitement that I introduce myself as the new Executive Director of Muse by Clio. Joining this publication is a dream come true, and I am honored to be here, with you, celebrating the most inspiring and groundbreaking content in the world of creativity and marketing. In this role, I'll be covering the intersection of advertising and pop culture, creating engaging video content across our social channels, reporting live from Clio and other industry events, and serving as Muse's on-camera correspondent.

I come to you as a fellow creative: having spent the past two decades of my career telling impactful stories about communities, people, brands and trends as an on-air broadcast contributor, a content + innovation director at WPP, and a marketing lead for brands like Meta. Now, I get to continue doing what I love with one of the best editorial teams in the industry. It isn't lost on me that Muse by Clio stands out as a premier and trusted advertising publication because our team is composed of journalists, writers and editors who are fervent creatives themselves.

For us, this isn't just a site: it's a passion.

With that in mind, I'm excited to share some additions to our coverage. We're rolling out a new Muse by Clio "5 Ads of the Week" video roundup on Instagram; handpicked by Muse staff based on their level of innovation and creativity, potential consumer impact, cultural and brand relevance, storytelling power, and sheer originality. Be sure to stay tuned as we celebrate excellence in advertising week after week!

We're also launching a fun new series on Instagram, "Marketing Made Me…"— where we'll move from influencer to influenced, sampling consumer products, foods, beverages, events, movies and series based on creative so irresistibly compelling that we simply couldn’t resist. Follow along to see which products and experiences we find as captivating as the ads that connect us to them.

You can also look forward to this "Letter from the Executive Director," which will be a monthly fixture on Muse by Clio. I'll use this space to keep you in the loop on our latest campaign reflections, share my own candid insights on trends and happenings, and highlight what we're finding fascinating in every corner of the industry.   

I'll have more to share in the coming months, but right now I am hoping to hear from you, our readers, about how we can continue to earn your time. I'm also looking forward to meeting many of you at the upcoming 2023 Clio Awards Creative Summit on Oct. 16 in Brooklyn, N.Y., which I’ll be emceeing. This event promises to be a fantastic opportunity for us to connect, share ideas and celebrate our shared passion for creativity. Seats are limited, so make sure to secure your tickets early!

And remember, whether you have a groundbreaking idea to pitch or simply want to say "hi," my virtual door is always open. You can reach out to me via email at Charell.Star@clioawards.com or connect with me on Instagram @CharellStar. And make sure you're following our work at Muse by Clio on Instagram @ClioAwards and LinkedIn @TheClioAwards.

Thanks to the many of you who have already welcomed me so warmly. Muse has built something great here, and I'm so excited to be a part of such a creative space.

—Charell Star