Veteran strategist to lead a new model of “upstream” problem-solving, bridging the gap between management consultancy and creative execution.
Humanise Collective has named Shari Walczak as the first President of Humanise Toronto, marking a major strategic expansion for the Collective and responding to clients seeking an alternative to the increasing consolidation of traditional holding companies.
Walczak, a celebrated strategist with more than 25 years of experience, will lead Humanise Toronto with a mandate to elevate its profile and deepen its problem-solving capabilities. She will continue to serve as Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of The Garden, which joined the Collective in 2024.
A Vision for “Human Intelligence” in an AI World
Walczak’s appointment comes at a time of massive industry disruption, defined by rapid AI adoption and the merger of global agency giants. Her vision for Humanise Toronto is to offer a distinct “third lane” for clients—positioned between the operational rigour of management consultancies and the execution power of creative agencies.
“We are entering an era where AI can handle the probable, but business growth requires the possible,” says Walczak. “As technology accelerates, the premium on original, lateral human thinking only increases. Clients today don’t just need a campaign; they need partners who can enter the process upstream—using strategic sensemaking, cultural foresight and problem architecture to decode complexity before a brief is even written.”
This upstream approach is strengthened by Humanise’s ability to bring senior talent and entrepreneurial business owners together from across the Collective, giving CEOs the strategic clarity of a multi-disciplinary consultancy paired with the creative agility and problem-solving acumen of leaders who run their own companies.
Founder-Led Expertise Meets The Science of Creativity
Walczak holds a Master of Science in Creativity and Change Leadership, grounding her approach to transforming organizations from the inside out. Combined with the Collective’s founder-led model, it gives clients direct access to business owners who understand the pressures of leadership firsthand.
“Shari is a transformative strategist with a deep understanding of how creativity and business performance connect,” says Jean-Sébastien Monty, Co-Founder and COO, Humanise Collective. “Her leadership strengthens our Toronto presence at a moment when clients are looking for partners who can apply creativity to the pressing challenges of today, not just deliver campaigns.”
The Collective Model
Humanise Toronto is comprised of specialized, founder-led independent companies, including:
The Garden: brand strategy, design and creative; known for upstream strategy, emotionally resonant ideas, and transformation work
Glassroom: media strategy and planning; experts in audience insight and media effectiveness, ensuring every dollar counts
GSM Project: experience strategy and spatial design; specialists in translating complex ideas into immersive, human-centred environments for museums, brands and cultural institutions
BrandBourg: brand strategy, identity and packaging design; CPG specialists blending marketing and design to help consumer brands win on shelf
L’Institut Idée: strategic consulting and facilitation; creators of a proprietary connected intelligence and Structural Mapping approach to clarify complex business and brand challenges
A strategic partnership with Nascent, a digital product studio specializing in product strategy, design and engineering, extends the Collective’s upstream problem-solving into digital environments, with Nascent contributing deep expertise while remaining fully independent.
“Toronto has always been a place where creative thinking and entrepreneurial energy meet,” adds Walczak. “While the industry trends toward massive, siloed holding companies, we are betting on the agility of specialized experts. We are building a destination for clients who want to cut through complexity with the right blend of intelligence, creativity, and strategic rigour.”
More About Shari Walczak
Under Walczak’s strategic leadership, The Garden is celebrating its 10th anniversary as one of Canada’s top independent agencies. Her portfolio includes the viral “Tell America It’s Great” campaign—described by The Washington Post as “the most inspiring message” of the 2016 U.S. election. The work received global media attention, and its cultural significance led to its inclusion in the U.S. Library of Congress’s digital archives.
Prior to founding The Garden, Walczak spent two decades at Leo Burnett, Cossette, John st. and Zulu Alpha Kilo, leading brand and creative strategy for global brands including Coca-Cola, Astrazeneca, Audi, Samsung, and Kraft. At Zulu Alpha Kilo, she established the agency’s first strategy practice and guided major rebrands for Interac, Cineplex, Corona, and ParticipACTION.
Beyond agency leadership, Walczak is a values-driven mentor and educator. She has served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Western University, acted as an early Activator for SheEO, chaired the founding committee for Equinox Holistic Alternative School, and contributed thought leadership to publications including business bestseller, The Collective Wisdom of High Performing Women (2019), and Eat Your Beets (APG, 2024).
About The Humanise Collective
Humanise is a unique collective of eight locally-owned independent companies. With 275 specialists across Montreal, Toronto, Paris, Dubai, and Singapore, Humanise places humans at the heart of the creative process and the economic equation. To learn more, visit humanise.world.
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