Manola Blanco

Manola Blanco

Chief Creative Officer at Mostro Agency
Guatemala, Guatemala

About me

36 years old, Guatemalan with 18 years of experience in Advertising. One of only 2 DGC'S in Guatemala.

Bachelor of Communication Sciences, self-taught in design with my early career years as a graphic designer, junior, senior, and later creative director with mass consumer brands such as AMBEV REGIONAL, MALHER, SHELL, COCACOLA.

I found the path of creativity in the process of being a graphic artist, leading me to change disciplines and become a creative for brands such as LICORES DE GUATEMALA, G&T, POLLO CAMPERO, SPECTRUM, PALETA, among others, seeking growth and leading me to the creative direction of MOSTRO where I currently lead brands such as TACO BELL, BANTRAB, PEDIDOS YA, CUBATA, RON ZACAPA CENTENARIO, etc.

Creativity led me to see the world by winning the Young Lions contest 3 times, representing Guatemala in France as the best creative in the country 3 times in a row. A fan of awards that celebrate good creativity, participation in festivals as a judge, FDA - FEPI - YOUNG LIONS. A teacher by choice rather than vocation, lover of finding ways to hack creativity from the data side and continuing my professional growth in strategy and brand building.

Positions

Chief Creative Officer
Mostro Agency
Guatemala
May 2019 - Present (5 years 7 months)
- Leader of multidisciplinary teams, fostering a collaborative and productive environment, promoting the creation of a strong and cohesive team.

- Guided the process of building brands from scratch, identifying brand personality and territory using conceptual maps and archetypes, resulting in the establishment of a solid brand leader.

- Conceptualized and developed platforms with a focus on growth and strategic goal attainment, enabling brands to successfully achieve their objectives.

- Led strategic workshops in collaboration with clients to identify and achieve key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring alignment of objectives and strategies.

- Utilized industry-leading research tools such as WGSN, KANTAR, and KARMA to conduct in-depth analyses and gain relevant insights into various categories.

- Specialized in understanding the roles of each social media platform, optimizing brand messaging according to the target audience and specific platform.

- Generated segmented messages based on target audience data, maximizing efficiency in lead generation and management.

- Collaborated with renowned brands such as Taco Bell, Bantrab, Tecniscan, Licores de Guatemala, among others, successfully achieving established objectives at both creative and managerial levels.

- Actively participated in trainings conducted by industry leaders such as Cannes Lions, focusing on relevant topics such as storytelling and the use of emotions in marketing, also leveraging years of experience to teach my team and enhance their creative and strategic capabilities.

- Worked closely with leaders of other teams to achieve comprehensive objective fulfillment.
Chief Creative
Ogilvy Guatemala
Guatemala
January 2017 - April 2019 (2 years 3 months)
Throughout my tenure at Ogilvy, I had the privilege of participating in campaigns that have made a significant mark in the advertising industry. Notable among these is my contribution to the launch of RICONTODO by Malher, a campaign that became a benchmark in the industry. Additionally, I had the honor of being part of Ogilvy Worldwide's HOT HOUSE, a platform that brings together creatives from across the region to explore new ideas and territories in the advertising world.

Another career highlight with Ogilvy was spearheading the commemorative campaign for the 80th anniversary of the iconic SHELL gas station, where we executed world-class productions that left a lasting impression on the audience. Furthermore, I actively participated in the process of localizing Coca-Cola materials for our country, adapting the message of one of the most recognized brands to the local reality.

Having the privilege of leading creative and graphic teams, I was able to put into practice my leadership skills and passion for inspiring others towards excellence.

BRANDS:

Coca-Cola
Shell
MALHER
Pio Lindo
Kingo Energy
Guatemala.com
Chamber of Industry of Guatemala
FUNDESA
Kelloggs
Panamerican University
TEDx
Art director
Guatemala City, Guatemala
January 2014 - November 2016 (2 years 10 months)
Throughout my tenure as the team leader for AMBEV Regional, I had the privilege of overseeing renowned brands such as BRAHVA, CERVEZA MODELO, CORONA, BUSH LIGHT, STELLA ARTOIS, among others. My role involved guiding these brands towards achieving their objectives in each country where they operated.

In my constant pursuit of professional growth, I have always sought to expand my capabilities beyond the graphic realm, also focusing on creative and strategic development.

This dedication has allowed me to become a well-rounded professional, capable of addressing market challenges effectively and with strategic vision.
Creative
Sia Interactive
Guatemala
January 2012 - December 2012 (11 months)
In my professional journey at Sia Interactive, a prominent company based in Argentina specialized in consumer experience through technology, I faced one of the greatest challenges of my career. Leading a small team, we efficiently maximized a budget of 5 million quetzales to carry out an unprecedented project.

Over the course of three days, we provided all Guatemalans with the opportunity to experience the excitement of the World Cup up close. From batucada shows to three main stages, along with interactive digital experiences, we coordinated every logistical detail to set up the event in one of the largest halls at the Parque de la Industria.

Additionally, we handled the warm welcome and organization at the airport for the World Cup team, as well as an exclusive dinner with Guatemalan opinion leaders at the National Palace of the Republic. We worked closely with FIFA to ensure the proper accommodations and security for the most prestigious trophy in football, as well as in creating 3D spaces for FIFA and Coca-Cola approval.

This collective effort resulted in one of the most successful and innovative Trophy Tours in the region, thus solidifying our commitment to excellence and creativity in every project we undertake.
Creative
Guatemala City, Guatemala
January 2009 - January 2011 (2 years)
Creative
DDB
Guatemala
January 2007 - September 2009 (2 years 8 months)

Education

Bachelor of Science in Communication and Advertising

January 2006 - November 2010 (4 years 10 months)

Other professional activities

Marketers

Teaching
January 2022 - December 2023 (1 year 11 months)

PHNX 2024

Awards Jury Member

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