BABarney Abramson
Co-Founder + Creative Director @ Thriving Creatively
About
I’m a creative director, team builder, and mentor with 20+ years of experience building brands, leading multidisciplinary teams, and helping creative professionals grow. My approach is honest, thoughtful, and practical. I help people recognize their strengths, make clearer career decisions, grow as leaders, and build careers they can sustain.
How I can help
I help creatives navigate career pivots, portfolios, résumés, personal positioning, interviews, leadership transitions, team management, stakeholder relationships, and difficult workplace dynamics. Whether you feel stuck, overlooked, burned out, or ready for something new, we can clarify what’s happening and identify a practical path forward.
Ask me about
Not the right mentor for: My focus isn’t software instruction, coding, highly technical UX or product-design guidance, or completing portfolio and résumé work for you. I’m most helpful when you want honest feedback, strategic
A hard problem I've navigated
When I first moved from individual contributor to manager, I thought leadership meant having the answers and protecting the quality of the work. I learned that the harder and more important job was creating clarity, giving useful feedback, advocating for people, and making room for others to grow. That shift changed how I lead and how I mentor today.
Frequently asked
Can you help me navigate a career transition?
Yes. Whether you’re moving from individual contributor to manager, agency to in-house, returning after a break, or reconsidering your direction entirely, we’ll clarify what you want next, identify the strengths you already carry, and create practical steps for moving forward.
Can you help with imposter syndrome?
Yes. We’ll explore what is fueling the self-doubt, separate real development needs from distorted expectations, and identify evidence of your abilities. The goal isn’t to eliminate every doubt. It’s to help you move forward without allowing doubt to make your decisions.
Can you help if I’m feeling burned out?
Yes. We’ll look beyond surface-level productivity advice to understand what is draining your energy, what may need to change, and what is within your control. You’ll leave with greater clarity and practical next steps. Mentoring can offer support and perspective, but it is not a substitute for therapy or medical care.
Expertise
Experience
Creative Manager · Butler/Till
2024 - Present
I lead multidisciplinary creative teams at Butler/Till, overseeing brand, digital, social, video, and high-volume content programs. I set creative direction, develop talent, improve workflows, and partner across disciplines to deliver strategic, scalable work without sacrificing quality.
Creative Director · Southwest Gas
2020 - 2024
I led creative strategy and brand execution for a regulated utility serving 2.5 million customers across three states. I directed multidisciplinary teams and partners, developed integrated campaigns, and led the rollout and governance of refreshed enterprise brand standards.
Art Director · IGT
2010 - 2020
I progressed from Brand Designer and Content Producer to Art Direction Manager, leading a global creative team delivering 500+ projects annually. I partnered across product, sales, marketing, and research to translate complex gaming technology into clear brand stories and integrated campaigns.
