About Joan Colletta
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![A woman feeding multiple young rhinoceroses through metal bars at a zoo or wildlife sanctuary.]()
Feeding an orphaned rhino
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![Presentation slide displaying the McDonald's Feel-Good Marketing program with five key areas: Capability Building, Feel-Good Marketing Foundation, Global Campaigns, Culturally Relevant Bravery, Sharing and Scaling, and Feel-Good Marketing Awards, with a woman speaking at the presentation.]()
At the ANA, CMO Growth Council
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![A woman standing next to a large elephant in a dry, grassy area with trees in the background.]()
Making friends with a rescued semi wild elephant
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![Quote from Joan Colletta about McDonald's 'Feel-Good Marketing' strategy on a presentation slide with a small black-and-white headshot of her in the bottom right corner. The slide references a white paper on building a culture of creative effectiveness.]()
Building a Culture of Creative Effectiveness, WARC
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![A woman with dark hair and a wide smile taking a selfie with her dog, a happy white and black dog with closed eyes, wearing a blue collar.]()
Chicago Animal Care and Control “Doggy Day Out”
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![Two women feeding baby elephants through a metal fence.]()
Bottle feeding a baby rhino
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![A woman in a patterned cream and blue dress standing next to an advisory sign at a conference, pointing towards the sign with a smile.]()
Quoted at Cannes
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![Panel discussion at a conference, with two speakers seated on stage, and a large screen behind them displaying information about the event, including photos and names of three speakers, the conference schedule, and the title: 'What Does It Take To Build a Culture of Creative Effectiveness?']()
Sharing the Stage with Greatness, Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity
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![A woman in a red dress standing next to a person in a clown costume with a McDonald's logo on the table, in front of a large yellow background with the words 'FEEL GOOD MARKETING' in 3D letters.]()
(Co)-Hosting McDonald’s Feel-Good Marketing Awards
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![Group of seven diverse women and one man standing in a modern bar or restaurant with a black-and-white tiled floor, a large bar area behind them, and a digital screen displaying a presentation titled 'Chicago Advertising Federation.' They are dressed in business casual and formal attire, smiling at the camera.]()
In the "Hot Seat" for the CAF Board
Joan Colletta is a distinguished marketing leader with a proven track record of driving transformative growth for some of the world’s most iconic brands. With a unique blend of experience across brand-side, creative, and media domains, she is celebrated for her influential leadership, strategic prowess, role as a change agent and creative catalyst.
She is widely known for leading McDonald’s global creative program, which fueled a brand and creative renaissance for the Golden Arches. This led to unprecedented business results and consistent, multi-year recognition as the Most Effective Global Brand by both WARC and Effie’s. In 2024, Joan founded The Creative Conservancy to help other brands and agencies drive growth by accelerating Cultures of Creative Effectiveness.
Prior to McDonald’s, Joan was Managing Partner and communications planning lead for Mindshare North America, and held leadership positions at Miller Brewing Company, Cramer-Krasselt, and Leo Burnett. Her diverse experience spans nearly every category, with a track record of revitalizing iconic brands such as setting Corona on a 10-year growth trajectory through the development of the enduring “Find Your Beach” platform.
A regular contributor to the creative industry, Joan has been a speaker at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Brand Innovators, the ANA, and 4A’s conferences, and a Finalist Juror for many top global creative award shows. She also serves on the Executive Board of the Chicago Advertising Federation. Outside of work, Joan's deep passion for animals and their wellbeing shines through her in appointment as a City Commissioner for Chicago Animal Care and Control and her global “Animal Quest” travels, while most recently volunteering for Rhino Conservation in South Africa.
Brand Experience
Leading with heart. Backed by results. Trusted by icons throughout her career.
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