Our Creative Warrior program recognizes colleagues who demonstrate creative bravery beyond their everyday roles.
“AW Creative Warriors push our agency forward by expanding what creativity looks like in practice and challenging how we solve problems,” said Eva LaMere, president of Austin Williams. “They bring fresh thinking to their work, find new ways to turn challenges into opportunities, and continuously elevate the standard of everything we do.”
Most recently, senior director of strategy and insights Katie Stinson was named AW’s latest Creative Warrior, earning her ownership of a warrior-like shield emblazoned with words that embody the spirit of creativity, a dinner for two, AW-branded sneakers, and much more.
Nominated by her colleagues, Katie was recognized for her strategic brilliance, incredible work ethic, and infectious energy. Here’s what they had to say:
“Where the rest of us see rows and columns, Katie sees patterns, opportunities, and stories waiting to be told. She doesn’t just tell clients what happened—she tells them why, what it means, and what to do next.
That’s what happened when one client needed to manage an intricate network of brands. Katie built an entirely new strategic framework from the ground up that will shape their marketing for years to come. Katie is the real deal: authentic, brilliant, creative, dependable, and the person everyone wants on their team.”
Whether she’s leading research initiatives, running analytics for nearly 30 clients, or pitching new business, Katie makes the extraordinarily complex look effortless. Her strategic expertise has also transformed the agency’s offerings. Major research work that was previously outsourced is now handled entirely in-house, giving clients greater access to sophisticated insights and strengthening AW’s capabilities overall.
Her impact is felt just as strongly by her colleagues. Described as “wildly intelligent, relentlessly organized, and inherently fun,” Katie is as respected for her leadership as she is loved for her personality. From cleaning up slide decks and dominating the agency fantasy football league to stepping up to help a teammate in need, Katie inspires AW’s teams to ask smart questions, embrace tough challenges, and bring joy to their work.
We’re proud to celebrate Katie as AW’s latest Creative Warrior. Our Creative Warrior program regularly recognizes those who push boundaries and inspire innovation. Check back soon to meet the next outstanding honoree. In the meantime, meet our other Creative Warriors.
About Austin Williams
Austin Williams is a full-service advertising and digital marketing agency that creates ideas that inspire action for clients in the financial, healthcare, higher education, nonprofit, and professional services industries.
Certified as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) by the State of New York, the Long Island-based firm was founded in 1992 and was named one of the 100 fastest-growing agencies in the nation. In 2025, it was recognized as the Best Advertising Agency by Long Island Business News in their Reader Ranking Awards for the third year in a row, and recently, it was named a Newsday Top Place to Work. Learn more about AW.