Sara Bafundo-Smith

Sara Bafundo-Smith has over 10 years of diverse work experience in the fields of marketing, design, and customer experience. Sara is currently serving as the VP, Group Director Engagement Strategy at DDB Health since March 2022. Prior to this, they worked at Velocity Commerce Group as a CX Lead from January 2019 to March 2022. At TPN, they held the role of CX Director from November 2015 to March 2022, where they developed the framework for their CX discipline. Sara also served as an Advisory Board Member and Marketing Chair at Embolden & Co. from January 2020 to October 2021, promoting connections between professional women. Sara gained experience as a Product Designer at Liquidus Marketing in 2015, where they designed web-based marketing tools. Earlier in their career, Sara worked as an Art Director at Anthem Worldwide from April 2011 to February 2015 and as a UX Teaching Assistant at The Starter League for a brief period in 2013. Sara began their career with internships at Dean Media Group and Lind-Waldock, where they developed skills in online advertising and design. Throughout their career, Sara has demonstrated a strong ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and create seamless omnichannel experiences for clients and consumers.

Sara Bafundo-Smith's education history includes several notable achievements. In 2004, they enrolled at the University of Illinois Chicago, where they studied Graphic Design. Sara successfully completed their Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in 2008. In 2012, Sara attended The Starter League, focusing on User Experience (UX) without pursuing a specific degree. Most recently, from 2021 to 2022, they attended Cornell University, where they earned a Master's Certificate in Marketing Strategy.