Nick Goard

About

About

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Nick’s approach to creative leadership, systems thinking, and building brands designed to endure.

I’m a creative leader with over 15 years of experience working across brand, product, and growth. My work lives in the space where strategy becomes execution, especially as organizations scale.

My background spans both agency and in-house environments across multiple industry verticals. This experience has helped shape my practical, execution-minded approach to building brands—one rooted in real constraints, evolving teams, and long-term outcomes.

I approach marketing from the inside out. I develop operating systems and creative structures that support team execution and protect creative integrity as brands grow. Strategy, for me, is about creating direction that carries cleanly through execution and continues to hold up over time.

Today, I work directly with founders and executive teams using a creative systems-first mindset. I bring clarity to complex brand environments while maintaining a high bar for taste and detail. Intentionality guides my work. Every touchpoint is designed to feel connected and purposeful as the organization evolves.

I build marketing and brand systems that scale organizations.

Experience

Dates: May 2024 – Present

Summary

Founded and built a creative platform focused on scalable systems, artist tooling, and modern digital licensing.

Key Contributions

  • Designed brand identity, UX/UI, and technical architecture from the ground up.
  • Built modular systems supporting artist onboarding, submissions, and licensing.
  • Leveraged AI-assisted development, APIs, and automation workflows.
  • Developed 30+ open-source plugins supporting dashboards, licensing, and creative tooling.


Outcome

  • Established a scalable, systems-driven creative platform.
  • Created a foundation for long-term growth and community participation.

Dates: Sep 2025 – Feb 2026

Summary

Operated as creative director and marketing leader within a scaling health technology organization.

Key Contributions

  • Led brand strategy, creative governance, and marketing systems across digital, CRM, and paid channels.
  • Partnered closely with executive leadership on growth initiatives and GTM planning.
  • Established marketing operating systems, documentation, and workflows.
  • Oversaw creative execution while aligning product, growth, and brand priorities.


Outcome

  • Improved clarity and alignment across marketing and creative functions.
  • Strengthened brand consistency and execution velocity during a critical growth phase.

Dates: Nov 2022 – Apr 2024

Summary

Led marketing, brand, and creative strategy for a B2B organization, expanding into executive-level ownership and revenue responsibility.

Key Contributions

  • Directed all creative and marketing strategy across digital and print services.
  • Led offshore teams and internal workflows.
  • Spearheaded corporate rebrand and new service launches.
  • Developed brand systems for major commercial real estate clients.
  • Led strategic pitches and presentations.


Outcome

  • Secured over $250K in new contracts.
  • Strengthened brand positioning and service credibility across key clients.

Date: Aug 2022 – Oct 2022

Summary

Led creative execution for a national SMB-focused financial campaign.

Key Contributions

  • Directed creative for VISA’s “She’s Next” initiative.
  • Managed static and motion assets across digital and social channels.
  • Supported targeting, copy alignment, and paid media execution.
  • Created brand guidelines, pitch decks, and supporting collateral.


Outcome

  • Delivered cohesive campaign assets aligned with VISA SMB brand standards.
  • Supported national rollout across multiple channels.

Date: May 2022 – Jul 2022

Summary

Led creative and UX strategy for a large-scale public education initiative.

Key Contributions

  • Directed UX and creative strategy for the “Rain Ready Ottawa” interactive e-learning platform.
  • Built and deployed three custom learning modules using Articulate.
  • Oversaw testing, debugging, and public launch.
  • Developed PSAs, digital ads, and supporting materials.


Outcome

  • Platform reached over one million Ottawa residents.
  • Delivered a stable, scalable public education experience.

Dates: Nov 2021 – Apr 2022

Summary

Led digital design and UX strategy for a global wellness platform operating across multiple markets.

Key Contributions

  • Directed UX/UI and digital branding for the Wellness Coach platform across mobile and desktop.
  • Designed and executed advertising across social, Slack, Zoom, and App Store placements.
  • Produced explainer videos and motion content for web, social, and in-app use.
  • Collaborated with distributed global teams.


Outcome

  • Improved platform usability and clarity across touch points.
  • Supported multi-channel growth initiatives with consistent brand execution.

Dates: Apr 2018 – Oct 2021

Summary

Partnered closely with the founder to expand a growing agency’s service offerings through systems, platforms, and execution leadership.

Key Contributions

  • Directed brand systems and creative execution across cannabis, real estate, retail, food & beverage, and consumer sectors.
  • Led UX/UI, web, print, app, and experiential design projects including kiosks and in-store installations.
  • Built a full-service platform and hosting model that created new revenue streams.
  • Introduced scalable creative and marketing frameworks to support agency growth.


Outcome

  • Expanded agency capabilities and service offerings.
  • Supported approximately 15% annual growth through new platforms and retained clients.

Dates: Aug 2015 – Mar 2018

Summary

Joined a newly formed strategy division focused on applying emerging technology and systems thinking to enterprise and B2B-driven brands.

Key Contributions

  • Developed scalable creative strategies for clients including Adidas, McCormick, Wrigley, and General Mills.
  • Led digital, OOH, PPC, and integrated campaign execution across multiple markets.
  • Applied systems-first thinking to improve consistency and adaptability across campaign formats.
  • Supported both B2B and DTC-oriented initiatives.


Outcome

  • Helped modernize creative delivery models for large, complex client organizations.
  • Established repeatable frameworks for scalable campaign execution.

Dates: Nov 2012 – Jul 2015

Summary

Played a key role in the early development and governance of Paw Patrol as a global entertainment and consumer brand.

Key Contributions

  • Supported brand strategy, creative direction, and governance for Paw Patrol across physical products, digital platforms, and broadcast media.
  • Developed brand kits, visual standards, color systems, and digital guidelines.
  • Contributed to early website design, digital advertising, and broadcast brand oversight.
  • Ensured consistency across retail, television, OOH, and theatrical advertising.


Outcome

  • Helped support the launch and growth of one of Spin Master’s highest-performing brands.
  • Paw Patrol became a cornerstone revenue driver, contributing to multi-million-dollar growth during the period.

Dates: Feb 2011 – Oct 2012

Summary

Transitioned into strategic creative work inside a large agency environment, focusing on systems, models, and behavioral insight rather than isolated campaign execution.

Key Contributions

  • Joined OgilvyRED, a strategy-led internal group bridging creative execution with business and behavioral strategy.
  • Contributed to the development of adaptable visual language models applicable across clients and categories.
  • Worked on major brand initiatives including the Nixon Watches rebrand and digital design system.
  • Supported the evolution of internal strategy frameworks such as “The Big IdeaL” and “Socialize the Enterprise.”
  • Integrated behavioral science concepts into creative strategy development.


Outcome

  • Built a deep foundation in creative systems, brand governance, and large-scale agency operations.
  • Contributed to successful rebrand and strategy initiatives that influenced broader Ogilvy methodologies.

Dates: Aug 2010 – Jan 2011

Summary

Led creative execution and brand governance for a major North American film release across digital, print, and out-of-home channels.

Key Contributions

  • Served as lead art director for the omni-channel promotion of Burlesque starring Christina Aguilera and Cher.
  • Directed creative across posters, digital ads, PPC, OOH placements, print, and broadcast extensions.
  • Ensured narrative and visual consistency across all channels and markets.
  • Collaborated with media, strategy, and analytics teams to track demographic engagement.


Outcome

  • Supported a successful North American theatrical launch.
  • Contributed to an opening weekend gross of over $11M.
  • Campaign data demonstrated increased engagement among women aged 18–35 within the first 48 hours of release.

Dates: May 2010 – Jul 2010

Summary

Brought in to stabilize and execute a high-profile bilingual broadcast campaign under tight timelines and budget constraints.

Key Contributions

  • Coordinated production for a national Skate Canada / CBC television commercial in English and French.
  • Supported cast, crew, and post-production workflows to ensure brand alignment and delivery quality.
  • Oversaw animation sequencing, transitions, titling, and final output across languages.
  • Identified and proposed additional value opportunities using remaining budget.


Outcome

  • Delivered a 30-second national broadcast spot on time and under budget.
  • Produced two additional 15-second radio spots for CBC Radio One in both English and French.
  • Maintained full alignment with Skate Canada brand guidelines across all deliverables.

Dates: Mar 2008 – Apr 2010

Summary

Expanded beyond digital design into product incubation and business model exploration. Helped evolve a traditional media services company into digital and interactive offerings.

Key Contributions

  • Led redesign and redevelopment of the company website, introducing interactive and dynamic features.
  • Conceived and built “DigitalPOP,” a digital point-of-sale platform combining touchscreen hardware and web-based content delivery.
  • Collaborated on partnership pitches with Samsung, leading to acquisition of the DigitalPOP technology.
  • Pioneered early commercial uses of QR codes for analytics, geo-targeting, and interactive advertising.
  • Supported broadcast and commercial media projects while extending the company’s service offerings through digital strategy and design.


Outcome

  • DigitalPOP technology acquired by Samsung.
  • Expanded the company’s client offering beyond duplication services into digital, interactive, and experiential media.
  • Positioned the business for higher-value engagements through technology-led services.

Dates: Jun 2006 – Feb 2008

Summary

Joined as a digital designer and quickly expanded into interactive system design and early product thinking. Contributed to revenue-generating technology initiatives beyond core advertising output.

Key Contributions

  • Designed and produced static and Flash-based motion ads for a proprietary ad delivery platform.
  • Contributed to the development of an interactive “Virtual Secretary” system combining Flash UI & motion-triggered displays.
  • Participated in the design and pitch of an in-cab interactive media platform for Kingsboro Cab.
  • Supported early user testing, interaction tracking, and heatmap analysis across a 25-cab pilot program.
  • Developed a modular layout system for ad production, increasing monthly creative output by approximately 30% without sacrificing quality.
  • Built early client relationships with nightclub operators and supported website development for the core platform.


Outcome

  • Virtual Secretary technology was sold to a third party, generating new revenue for the business.
  • Kingsboro Cab interface was licensed for a one-year term.
  • Improved production efficiency and creative consistency across a growing client roster including AXE, Sauza, Grolsch, Trojan, and Labatt.

Education

Certificates
Formal
  • University of Guelph, Certificate in Leadership
    2008
  • University of Guelph, BA, HCI
    2006
  • Humber College, Multimedia Design
    2002

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