Meet the 2024 Fellows – Gabriela Montoya

Meet the 2024 Fellows – Gabriela Montoya

Gabriela Montoya currently serves as the Vice President of Partner Marketing at Citi, where she focuses on driving credit card acquisitions through innovative strategies and partnerships. Gabriela’s passion for advertising was sparked during her senior year at Binghamton University when she took a paid media class that included a case competition. The experience revealed her love for developing strategic media plans. Winning the competition not only solidified her interest in the field but also led to her first industry role at Zenith, a Publicis media agency.

At Zenith, Gabriela honed her expertise on the agency side, gaining invaluable insights into consumer engagement and media strategy. Her drive for innovation took her to BlackRock, where she played a pivotal role on the global paid media team, modernizing their approach to align with evolving marketing trends. Today, she leverages her broad experience at Citi, combining analytical prowess and creative vision to acquire new customers for their private label credit cards.

Gabriela’s dedication to advancing her skills extends beyond her role. Inspired by her former manager, an alumna of the Ad Club fellowship, she joined the program to enhance her professional and soft skills while paying it forward by uplifting other women in the industry. She sees the fellowship as a platform to drive meaningful change and foster inclusive growth.

Gabriela’s dedication to transforming the industry is evident in her leadership of a talent committee at a previous role, where she spearheaded initiatives focused on DEI, career growth, and mentorship. Her goal is to inspire confidence, amplify diverse perspectives, and contribute meaningfully to a more inclusive marketing landscape.

Outside of work, she enjoys exploring New York City’s vibrant art scene, finding inspiration in exhibitions and museums. She believes that art, like effective marketing, has the power to tell compelling stories and forge genuine connections—an approach she brings into every campaign she leads.

The 2024-2025 Fellowship bios were written by University of Florida’s Lorena Bacallao ’26, Paulina Navarro ’26, Zoe Punjwani ’26, and Sydney G. Pomeranz ’25.