Her Story
About Caroline
Caroline Steiner is a creative director, writer, and fundraiser who has spent more than three decades shaping work for some of the world's best-known nonprofit and advertising clients. Over a career that spans roughly thirty years in digital marketing and nine years focused specifically on fundraising, she has built a reputation as a maker, collaborator, and mentor — someone equally comfortable leading a brainstorm, sharpening a piece of copy, or developing the talent around her. Her path has taken her from early interactive work in San Francisco through a long run at Digitas, where she helped pioneer audience-driven digital concepts, to her current post as Creative Director at Moore, where she continues to lead cross-channel creative for organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the USO, the Wounded Warrior Project, and Make-A-Wish.
Steiner's creative instincts have earned recognition throughout her career, including a Cannes Lion for her work on a 2013 Super Bowl campaign, an INMA award for the Boston Globe's "Big Help" campaign, and a Best of Show honor at the DMA Awards. She traces her professional foundation back to the writing program at UC Irvine, where she earned her bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature, and credits that training with giving her the confidence to write professionally throughout her career. Beyond the awards, she describes herself as a channel-agnostic persuasionist — someone who believes creative work can be both beautiful and revenue-driving, and who approaches every project with the goal of earning genuine attention rather than simply filling space.
Outside of her client work, Steiner is a lifetime member of the Sierra Club and brings the same values she prizes professionally — compassion, civility, and a commitment to learning from others — into how she leads her teams. She's candid about what has driven her success: a refusal to fail, hard work, and a fair amount of being in the right place at the right time. That same candor shapes the advice she offers to women coming up in the industry, whom she urges to trust their instincts, speak up when something isn't right, and handle disagreements thoughtfully and privately rather than in the heat of the moment. It's a philosophy that reflects the balance she's struck throughout her career: sharp creative instincts paired with genuine care for the people she works alongside.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Caroline
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a refusal to fail and a relentless work ethic. I've also been fortunate to be in the right place at the right time, and advertising has proven to be the perfect outlet for my energy and drive.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received is to shoulder blame and share credit.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to keep calling out behavior that isn't right when they see it. Trust your gut. And when you have a difference of opinion with someone, don't confront them publicly — circle back and address it privately instead.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I see real opportunity for Gen X multitaskers — creatives who can move fluidly between making videos, writing, coding, and animating are especially well positioned right now.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Compassion and understanding come first for me, both at work and in life. I believe in learning from everyone around me and collaborating with respect, and I hold civility in the workplace as essential.
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