Hi. I'm Sarah. I write ads by day and other things by night. I'm currently a Creative Director at McCann, based in London. Nice to meet you.
I was born in Los Angeles and spent half a decade in New York (with a brief stint in Buenos Aires) before landing in the UK. I've hopscotched through jobs in advertising, TV news, documentary film, event production, education policy, and scientific research.
Past responsibilities include:
- dodging dozens of legally protected peacocks whilst driving a pick-up truck with exceptionally bad brakes;
- designing a haunted house experience entirely run by mobile phones;
- chasing teenage girls around with a drone during a hail storm whilst encouraging them to play football;
- getting a seven year old to even MORE entertainingly destroy a cake;
- and amusing guests on a national morning news show between the hours of 4-8AM.
Past responsibilities include:
- dodging dozens of legally protected peacocks whilst driving a pick-up truck with exceptionally bad brakes;
- designing a haunted house experience entirely run by mobile phones;
- chasing teenage girls around with a drone during a hail storm whilst encouraging them to play football;
- getting a seven year old to even MORE entertainingly destroy a cake;
- and amusing guests on a national morning news show between the hours of 4-8AM.
I like to make things that surprise, connect, and make people think “I didn’t know you could do that.” I’m also a big nerd at heart, with some surprisingly tech-y bonafides to prove it. Consequently, I’ve been honored with a number of industry accolades, including the One Club's Next Creative Leaders, Campaign Magazine's 30 Future Creative Leaders, the BIMA Hot 100, several Cannes Lions and D&AD + One Show Pencils - including the inaugural One Club Fusion Pencil - plus some other awards (see below).
Get in touch if you like what you see.
e: slefkowith@gmail.com
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Degrees
MSc (Distinction) in Social Science of the Internet, University of Oxford (2013-2014) - Thesis Published in Fall of 2016
BA in Media, Technology, and Social Action from New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study (2008-2011)
McCann: 2025 - Present
Ogilvy: 2023 - 2025
Creature London: 2021 - 2023
FCB Inferno: 2016 - 2021
VCCP: 2014 - 2016
Previous Experience at MTV Networks, CNN, HBO, The United Way, and more
Juries
D&AD - Integrated Jury
Clios - Film Craft (Music & Sound Design) Jury
DMA - Copywriting Jury
D&AD New Blood - Jury President
D&AD New Blood - Copywriting Judge
One Show: Next Creative Leaders Jury
Shiny Things
Cannes Lions: Silver in Outdoor
Cannes Lions: Bronze in Multi-Platform Social
Cannes Lions: Bronze in Print & Publishing
Cannes Lions: Bronze in Health & Wellness
Cannes Lions: Shortlist in Film
Cannes Lions: Shortlist in Film
Cannes Lions: Shortlist in Integrated
Cannes Lions: Shortlist in Social & Influencer
Cannes Lions: Shortlist in Social & Influencer
Cannes Lions: Shortlist in Outdoor
Cannes Lions: Shortlist in Print and Publishing
Cannes Lions: Shortlist in Health & Wellness
Cannes Lions: Shortlist in Multi-Platform Social
Cannes Lions: Shortlist in Creative Effectiveness
Cannes Lions: Shortlist in Health & Wellness
Cannes Lions: Shortlist in Health & Wellness
D&AD: Wood Pencil
One Show: Fusion Pencil (Inaugural Pencil)
One Show: Next Creative Leaders Winer
One Show Asia: Bronze in Integrated
One Show Asia: Merit in Print
One Show Asia: Merit in PR
Kinsale Sharks: Silver
LIAs: Bronze
C4 Diversity in Adverting: Shortlist (Highly Commended)
C4 Diversity in Advertising: Shortlist
Campaign Magazine & Creative Equals: Future Creative Leader
BIMA Hot 100 - Emerging Talent
The Drum: Best Representation of Diversity and Inclusion in a Campaign
Shorty Awards: Finalist in Most Creative Use of Technology
Creative Circle: Bronze in Film
Campaign Marketing New Thinking: Best in Targeting Excellence
Campaign Marketing New Thinking: Best in Brand Experience
AWARD: Gold in Purpose
AWARD: Silver in Press
AWARD: Bronze in Health
The Drum: Best Integrated Cross-Channel Cross-Media Campaign
The Drum: Winner in Experiential Innovation
& More