Creative Strategist | Visual Storyteller
chicago, illinois, united states
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Claim your profileI am a creative leader and strategist with 15+ years of experience in visual storytelling, cultural advocacy, and content production. My work spans globally recognized organizations such as The Wall Street Journal, Getty Images, and ESPN, alongside founding Black Women Directors, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of Black women and nonbinary filmmakers.As a photo editor and curator, I specialize in creating content that resonates deeply with diverse audiences, driving engagement and fostering meaningful connections. At The Wall Street Journal, I collaborated with reporters, editors, and designers on projects that increased subscriber reach by 44% during the 2024 election cycle, while managing a $100K+ annual visuals budget.I’m equally passionate about my work outside the newsroom. As the founder of Black Women Directors, I grew web traffic by 20% YoY through a site redesign and strategic content development. I also organized the Chicago Film Symposium, partnering with Black Film Club Chicago, Sisters in Cinema, and Yvonne Welbon to host an event attended by 100+ participants and covered by WBEZ and Block Club Chicago.Whether managing multimedia production workflows, programming film festivals, or mentoring emerging creatives, I bring a collaborative, innovative, results-driven approach to every project. Recognized for empowering teams and building innovative platforms, I am committed to fostering inclusive storytelling and driving cultural impact.Let’s connect to create strategies that amplify voices, engage audiences, and deliver meaningful change. Explore my portfolio and work at daniellescruggs.com.Key Strengths:Creative production & project managementAudience engagement & cultural strategyFilm programming & visual curationLeadership, mentorship & collaboration






Bachelor Of Arts, Journalism at Howard UniversityGraduated: 2006