LESLEY PINCKNEY

Lesley Pinckney is the powerhouse behind The Big Idea Catalyst, a venture built on 20+ years of turning bold visions into brand and business success. Her career spans the full spectrum — from agency trenches and digital disruption to corporate strategy rooms — where she's made an impact at every level. A digital-native CMO, Lesley has deep omnichannel experience and was an early adopter of AI integration into marketing ecosystems.

She's led go-to-market and commercialization for Intel's cutting-edge vision-based AI robotics, transformed Essence.com into Time Inc's most profitable digital platform per visitor, and helped scale initiatives for giants like Target, Nissan, and Visa.

A sought-after speaker, Lesley shares insights on strategy, innovation, and inclusive leadership. She's also architected "AI FOR ALL," a unique AI workshop built to maximize employee education and adoption while aligning on governance and use cases.

For CO/STUDIOS, Lesley is a strategic collaborator in the space of AI, bringing her point of view into our development process.

In her community, she teaches LEGO Robotics at her daughter's school and serves on the school board. Off the clock, she can be found at music shows of all genres and exploring Chicago's food scene with her wife and daughter, always on the hunt for the next artists or big flavors.