On An On- going Evolution

Tracey Owens' vision has remained unwavering from the very beginning: to create a company where exceptional talent chooses to spend the majority oftheir career and where clients continuously opt to collaborate. Throughout the years, she's nurtured the company with a blend of skill, passion, and an unwavering commitment to exceeding client expectations. Tracey's inspiration comes from her early years at Ogilvy and the many great leaders she worked with and, her mother, a small business owner. The consistent theme that resonated throughout was, to focus on relationships, prioritize excellent service, and constantly strive for personal growth. Something Tracey took to heart.

As a founding partner of o2kl, Tracey is equally dedicated to infusing creativity and achieving substantial results for clients. She firmly believes that exceptional service sets o2kl apart. "My mother taught me the golden rule: treat customers right and they'll keep coming back," Tracey explains. "This principle is the foundation of o2kl, and it's what I live by every day." Tracey's journey has been marked by various successes, from her early days at Ogilvy and MRM/McCann, to ultimately establishing her own company with her business partner Jim Lurie. Her guidance is based on hiring exceptional individuals, embracing passion over mere work, empowering her team, learning from mistakes, and advocating for women to take leadership roles…and a seat at the table.

Tracey has experienced various levels of success and she’s proud of them all. “I remember how happy I was when I ran my first major piece of business at Ogilvy. Then I ran the NY office of MRM. And finally created my own company with Jim,” she explains. Each new experience came with a new piece of wisdom like; “hire giants and stand on their shoulders, if it feels like work, it probably isn’t the best career for you, allow your team to take ownership, celebrate your wins, make brilliant mistakes and definitely don’t repeat them!”

Founded in 2004, o2kl is an advertising agency that thrives by delivering exceptional work, service, and results. This potent combination fosters client loyalty. The core team at o2kl offers not only expertise but also a driving spirit that matches the competitiveness of their clients. By continuously expanding their team of experts across creative, strategy, research, performance media, and analytics, o2kl maintains its competitive edge. Tracey envisions a company striving for excellence: "Our mission is to be the best. It might sound ambitious, but that's what I expect from everyone here – including myself. We need to prioritize self-care and give our best effort every day."

“After being in business for two decades, it can be difficult for a company to reassess itself and project a clear image of who they are and where they want to go,” says Tracey. “We came up with Play 2 Win as a statement we believe is bold, powerful, and totally part of our DNA. Sometimes you need someone from the outside to hold up a mirror so you can take fresh look at yourself. And that’s exactly what we did. It was an extensive and exhausting process but completely satisfying in the end. I want what we created to live on way beyond me and I think we are on to doing just that.” Tracey believes in nurturing the mind, body, and soul and emphasizes that women have unique strengths to offer. Reflecting on the company's two-decade journey, Tracey considers their recent rebranding as a remarkable achievement. The "Play 2 Win" ethos, deeply ingrained in their culture, symbolizes strength and determination. With a rejuvenated image, o2kl is primed for the future, according to Tracey. She envisions a legacy beyond her time, propelled by the bold vision they've created.