Olive Garden

Keeping a social account active means always finding something worth sharing. Big campaigns and menu launches are the highlights, but the days in between are just as important. Those quieter times still need fresh ideas, a clear perspective, and real attention to how the work gets done.

I shaped the creative direction around that rhythm by listening to what the client wanted to share, setting clear standards for the team, and making room for ideas that brought the brand into daily conversations. My leadership style was hands-on and practical. I encouraged open brainstorming, checked in with each team member to hear their thoughts, and made sure everyone’s contributions were recognized. By building trust and focusing on collaboration, I helped the team bring forward bold ideas while staying true to Olive Garden’s voice.

We worked closely with Olive Garden’s internal social lead to coordinate the editorial schedule. The client shared their priorities and topics. We brought a calendar of ideas and found ways to make those subjects matter to people.

The calendar and menu worked together to highlight ideas people would actually enjoy, like a heart made from grated cheese, a seasonal dessert with a playful touch, a cocktail using Italian ingredients, or catering that fit an office lunch. We planned copy, channels, timing, and imagery as a team, always looking for the best way to feature guest contributions.

For video, we focused on how people really experience social content. We aimed to catch attention quickly, make the idea clear right away, and ensure it worked even without sound. This approach guided our choices about pace, framing, and captions.

Every new dish or menu change meant we needed new photos. The challenge was clear: create original, high-quality food photography on a tight budget and a short timeline. We solved this by working with an Olive Garden restaurant in Chicago, using their space and staff outside of busy hours to keep costs down. Careful planning and efficient shoots helped us build a catalog of modern food photography without sacrificing quality.

The idea always guided the shoot. Our briefs asked for specific arrangements, gestures, and moments, like seasonal drinks in someone’s hands, two slices of cheesecake forming a heart, or a meal built around a new menu item. We made these needs part of our regular production process, bringing in chefs and other contributors when needed. This gave the team a practical way to keep the work fresh.

I stepped into creative direction for the account just as Breadstick Nation was moving into execution. The campaign linked a new menu item with food trucks, sampling, digital content, and the real enthusiasm people had for Olive Garden’s breadsticks. My work during that time was part of a larger, collaborative campaign. It was also the start of my ongoing leadership on the account, making sure the brand’s voice stayed recognizable in both the big activations and the everyday content around them.

As we developed Breadstick Nation 2.0, our creative reviews focused on the details that could change how an idea felt. We questioned anything that seemed too edgy, looked for warmer language about our relationship with guests, and clarified how bringing foods together told the story. Brand authenticity had to hold up in both the small choices and the big idea.

Breadstick Stadium was another major activation for the account. Our team handled the shoot and editing from start to finish.

For me, those bigger productions needed the same leadership as the everyday work. I focused on understanding the idea, giving the team clear direction, and organizing what it took to make it real.

The work brought together an ongoing editorial calendar, a growing library of imagery, regular social content, and larger campaign productions. Each piece had its own demands and shaped how the brand showed up for people.

My job was to keep the creative direction clear and consistent, even as the menu, calendar, and production needs changed. That meant knowing when to use what we had, when a new idea needed a fresh shoot, and how to help the team create work that always felt like Olive Garden.