Mariota Essery is a highly awarded Executive Creative Director with over 20 years of global experience. She has lived and worked in 4 global cities - starting her career in Cape Town, London, Amsterdam and currently Los Angeles, where she now resides with her husband and two children.
Over the past four years, Mariota has been instrumental in developing the DoorDash brand and establishing Superette, the Creative Studio at DoorDash. She expanded the team by hiring an additional 25 people. Mariota also oversees the management and leadership of the entire agency ecosystem that supports the DoorDash brand. She works closely in partnership with all the various agency partners.
In the time that Mariota has been at the helm, DoorDash has been recognized at all the major award shows including winning 2 Cannes Grand Prix’s in 2 consecutive years. This year Superette was ranked number 2 in-house agency by the One Club for Creativit and in the top 20 World Creative Rankings by The Drum. DoorDash was recognized as one of the top 50 hottest brands with Us Weekly and Influential, and Number 10 in the brand category of the Cannes Industry rankings.
Mariota has been invited to speak at numerous events including Cannes, The One Club, and the ANA’s. She has been invited to judge awards at The One Show, Effies, The Gerety’s and AICP. Mariota has been listed as one of Business Insiders top 36 women in advertising.
Prior to DoorDash, Mariota worked at global agencies such as Ogilvy South Africa and London, Tribal DDB Amsterdam, TBWA Chiat Day, Sid Lee and 72andSunny. She has led and worked on a multitude of global clients on award winning campaigns, including Philips, Adidas Football World Cup, The North Face, Google, and Gatorade.
Coming from a background in art direction, Mariota prides herself in well crafted pieces, with a focus on emotional storytelling no matter what discipline.
Mariota brings a philosophy that she grew up with in South Africa to the way she leads. This philosophy, uBUNTU (which means humanity or I am because we are), fosters an inclusive, nurturing environment and a one team mentality that has led to her great success in building a creative culture and best in class creative in her teams.
AWARDS
DOORDASH: DOORDASH-ALL-THE-ADS
Cannes Lions: 1 x Titanium Grand Prix
Cannes Lions: 2 x Gold
Cannes Lions: 4 x Silver
Cannes Lions: 1 x Bronze
Cannes Lions: 6 x Shortlist
D&AD: 1 x Yellow Pencil
D&AD: 2 x Graphite Pencil
D&AD: 1 x Shortlist
One Show: 2 x Best of Discipline
One Show: 7 x Gold
One Show: 2 x Silver
One Show: 3 x Bronze
One Show: 3 x Merit
DOORDASH: SELF LOVE BOUQUET
Cannes Lions: 1 Grand Prix
Warc: 1 x Grand Prix
One Show: 4 x Merit
Effie: 1 x Gold
Effie: 1 x Bronze
DoorDash: Secret Menu
D&AD: 3 x Wood Pencil
One Show: 1 x Merit
ADC: 2 x Merit
DOORDASH: BOUQUETS FOR LIVING MEN
Cannes Lions: 2 x Bronze
Cannes Lions: 1 x Shortlist
DOORDASH: KIDS CURRENCY
Warc: 1 x Gold
DoorDash: EatCute
One Show: 1 x Merit
DOORDASH: “THE PICKY CLAW”
ADC: 1 x Merit
DOORDASH: BEYOND THE DASH “ALIEN”
One Show: 1 x Merit
ADC: 1 x Merit
DoorDash: “You wish” music video
One Show: 1 x Merit
DOORDASH “WELCOME TO THE FLAVOURHOOD”
D&AD: 1 x Wood Pencil
One Show: 1 x Gold
ADIDAS “BRAZUCAM”
Clio Sports Awards: 1 x Gold
thinkLA Awards: Best Experiential Campaign
Cannes Lions: 2 x Shortlist
ADIDAS WORLD CUP
D&AD: 1 x wood pencil
AICP Award: Sound Design
PHILIPS “CAROUSEL”
Cannes Lions: Film Lions / Grand Prix
Cannes Lions: 1 x silver
ADCN: 2 x Gold
BIMA: 1 x Grand Prix
BIMA: 2 x Gold
BTAA: 2 x Gold
Epica: 2 x Silver
Eurobest: 1 x Grand Prix
Eurobest: 1 x Gold
Euro Effie: 1 x Silver
Internationalist Award: 1 x Gold
Pinnacle Awards: 1 x Gold
SpinAwards: 1 x Silver
Webby Awards: Online Commercial
Webby Awards: Consumer Electronics
Andy Award: 1 x Bronze
PHILIPS “MADE TO MOVE”
One Show: 1 x Merit Award
Cannes: 1 x Shortlist
PHILIPS “MAKE ME A MORNING PERSON”
Cannes Lions: 4 x Shortlist
One Show: 1 x Merit
AME: 1 x Silver
ADC: 1 x Bronze
ADCN: Shortlist
ADCN: 2 x Silver
ANDY Awards: Online campaign/interactive
Eurobest: 1 x Silver
Eurobest: 1 x Bronze
Eurobest: 1 x Short list
Lovie Awards: 2 x Gold
Lovie Awards: 1 x Silver
Lovie Awards: 2 x Shortlisted
SpinAwards: 1 x Gold
The One Show: 1 x Merit award
The One Show: 1 x Bronze
Webby Awards: Best writing
Webby Awards: Website Features and Design, Animation or Motion Graphics
GATORADE “KEEP HER IN THE GAME”
Effie Award: 1 x Silver
Effie Award: 1 x Bronze
American Express "The VIP room"
EPICA: 1 x Bronze