Mary Adam
Senior Copywriter, Leo Chicago
Bloody good: Few campaigns start with “let’s make everyone eat blood.” But when your client is the Field Museum of Chicago looking to promote its Bloodsuckers exhibit all about creatures like bats and mosquitos? That’s “Blood Appetit.” During Chicago Restaurant Week, Leo Chicago’s Adam and her team partnered with Michelin-rated restaurants to create dishes made with blood. Her work swept at the Effies, winning the Grand, Gold, and Silver prizes.
Doing the Elmo-st: When the U.S. House cut public media funding, Adam rapidly spun up “Elmo Open to Work” to try to save it in the Senate. A LinkedIn profile with job history and skills for the furry red monster was picked up by Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and more. Her completely organic post gained 5 billion impressions with nothing behind it other than Adam’s passion for public media—and may have helped the Sesame Street gang secure their new gig with Netflix.
Maryah Greene
Senior Influencer Manager & Social Strategist, Droga5
Still growing: Maryah Greene has had several careers before landing at Droga5, among them becoming a plant-fluencer known as New York City’s “Plant Doctor,” with appearances on network morning shows and brand deals with Dove, Uniqlo, and New Balance.
On the other side: In 2025, she shaped EA’s “RomantaSim” campaign, encouraging gamers to write the final chapter of a Sims romantasy novel, and steered social strategy for Bosch’s “Justaguy” Fieri Super Bowl ad.
Elementary, my dear: Greene’s fresh-out-of-college work as an elementary school teacher continues to inspire her. “[My students] weren’t afraid to be messy first and refine later. They understood instinctively that great ideas don’t start polished—they start chaotic, curious, and fluid.”
