Valerie Graves Bio

Valerie Graves, whom ADVERTISING AGE once named one of “The 100 Best and Brightest”  in the entire ad industry, is Founder, Exec. Producer of AFROGAMES JOHANNESBURG, a sports, music and urban culture experience to enrich the lives of young Africans. She is the former Chief Creative Officer of Vigilante/Leo Burnett agency, The UniWorld Group and legendary Motown Records. Ms. Graves has more than 25 years of experience as a Creative  Director of award-winning campaigns, public service and community relations advertising and  events for Fortune 500 corporations ranging from General Motors and Ford Motor Company to  Bank of America, AT&T, Burger King, Pepsi and many other blue chip brands, speaking to  African American, urban, female and general market audiences. Her memoir, “Pressure Makes  Diamonds…” is an Official Selection of the 2017 PEN World Voices International Festival and  winner of the 2017 African American Literary Award for Biography. 

A recipient of the 2019 PRESIDENT’S AWARD from The Advertising Club of New York and  the 2007 ADCOLOR “LEGEND” AWARD, Ms. Graves currently is ad hoc creative consultant  to The National Basketball Association and provides creative oversight to The Partnership To  End Addiction. Valerie sits on the steering committee of I’mPART, the landmark diversity  initiative of The Advertising Club of New York, where she served on the Board of Directors for  16 years. For more than 15 years, Valerie Graves was a member of the prestigious Campaigns  Review Committee of the Advertising Council of America She has recently been a featured  speaker at The 3% Conference, The IPG Summit on Black Women in Advertising and  Marketing, The Advertising Club of New York Masterclass and the Omnicom Media  International Women’s Day. 

As an advertising CCO, Valerie’s responsibilities included providing overall direction of the  agencies’ award-winning creative product. Valerie holds awards from The Association of  National Advertisers, (2001, 2002, 2003) The Art Directors Club of New York, The Boston Ad  Club, The Maine Ad Club, The Public Service Advertising Awards, and is a 15-time winner of  the famed CEBA (Creative Excellence to Black Audiences) award. As a creative consultant, Ms.  Graves served on the national advertising team of President Bill Clinton’s campaign.  

Ms. Graves attended Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and studied screenwriting,  directing and film production at New York University. She began her advertising career at  multinational agencies such as BBDO and JWT.  

Valerie resides in Harlem, New York City.