Bio

Biography

Serenity Thompson is an accomplished digital product and marketing executive with a 20-year track record of successfully achieving objectives and key results within rapid innovation environments. Working with executive teams, thought leaders, data stewards, analysts, media, experience designers, content creators, product development teams, and software engineers, she excels at unlocking growth opportunities and bringing them to life through value-driven digital services and omnichannel experiences built with modern and emerging technologies.

Serenity has led global marketing and digital experience design for some of the world’s most progressive brands, helping them to design strategies, new product launches, and multi-channel campaigns for growth, market share, engagement, retention and reputation. She has deep experience working with diverse innovation methodologies, adopting new digital tactics and emerging technologies to create market firsts.

Serenity is fluent and highly skilled in digital marketing, social media and the mobile mindset, pioneering cutting edge approaches such as gamification, experiential marketing and user-generated content for tech, e-commerce and SaaS companies. Her entrepreneurial spirit, ability to translate complex problems into actionable opportunities and passion for building inspired, productive teams are key to Serenity's reputation for consistently delivering strategic solutions that meaningfully contribute to profitability. Serenity's marketing leadership has supported five funding events and several acquisitions.

Beyond business, Serenity is a lover of travel, art and pizza.

Education

Serenity earned her Masters in Business Administration in Marketing with Honors from the University of San Francisco (USF), where she founded and co-chaired the Entrepreneurship Club. Serenity continues her affiliation with USF as a Mentor to undergraduate and graduate business students in the USF Alumni Mentor program, and supports the USF Women in Leadership and Philanthropy program. Serenity holds several expert-level marketing certifications including SEO, SEM, ABM and social media advertising. She holds multiple advanced certifications in Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, and User Experience Design, and is also a certified Scrum Master. Serenity studied with the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School and Conservatory in New York, City, and earned her Bachelor of the Arts in Performing Arts from the University of California at Santa Cruz.

Civic Involvement

• Porter Foundation Board of Directors (2016 - present)

• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Notable Speaking Engagements

• January 2024, “Making Digital Services More Accessible,” GovLoop. Washington, DC.

• August 2023, “Making Digital Services More Accessible,” GovLoop. Washington, DC.

• May 2023, “Broadband For All,” Essential Services, Civic Engagement and Accessibility Outcome Area Working Group. Sacramento, CA.

• March 2023, “Citizen Buy-In: How Public Sector Leaders Can Navigate Digital Transformation to Ensure Public Confidence,” Government Innovation California hosted by Public Sector Network. Sacramento, CA.

• June 2022, “The Future of Digital Transformation in California,” Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. San Francisco, CA.

• June 2022, “Digital Transformation and Technology,” American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators Region 4 Symposium. Salt Lake City, UT.

• May 2022, “Enabling Remote Work with the DMV Virtual Office,” American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators Region 2 Symposium. Virtual.

• June 2020: Panelist, “Surviving and Thriving: Entrepreneurship During a Crisis,” USF Women in Leadership & Philanthropy Virtual Symposium. Virtual.

• December 2019: Moderator, “Relationships, Reputation and Relevance in the Age of Authenticity,” 2019 Women in Travel Tech Conference hosted by A23 Advisors. Park City, UT.

• October 2019: Panelist, “Resilience in the Age of Digital Nomads: Curating Virtual Practices, Projects and Personal Experience to Transform Career Pathways at All Stages of Life,” Northeastern University Organizational Learning and Systems Thinking Program. Boston, MA.

• August 2019: Panel Moderator, “Taking Professional Risks,” Young Women’s Professional Summit | PBWC and Bank of the West. San Ramon, CA.

• August 2019: MC, “Beyond All Limits,” Young Women’s Professional Summit | PBWC and Bank of the West. San Ramon, CA.

• May 2019: Guest, “Controversy to Conversation,” Dare to Differentiate Podcast. San Francisco, CA.

• April 2019:  Guest Speaker, “Living Your Dream,” ABC7 Stage at PBWC “Unstoppable” Conference. San Francisco, CA.

• April 2019:  Guest, “Developing the Leaders of Generation Z,” ABC7 News. San Francisco, CA.

• December 2018: Guest Speaker, “Bringing Design Thinking to the C-Suite.” Women in Travel Tech Conference. Park City, UT.

• September 2018:  Workshop Leader, "The Landlord's Guide to Digital Marketing." East Bay Rental Housing Association. Oakland, CA.

• May 2017:  Guest Lecturer, "Strategies for Industry Innovation." Organizational Learning and Systems Thinking. Northeastern University. Boston, MA.

• January 2014:  Guest Lecturer, “What Consumers Really Want from Travel Brands.” Mega Event 2014. New Orleans, LA.

• Quoted and/or featured in various publications and websites including yet not limited to: Adweek, Ad Age, Paper Magazine, New York Times and New York Observer.

Awards and Achievements  

• 2023: Gartner Eye on Innovation Provincial, State or Regional Award for Open Source Mobile Wallet for Decentralized Digital Credentials for California DMV. This application allows Californians to get their driver’s license or identification card on their smart phone for use at TSA airport security checkpoints and for age verification purposes.

• 2023: GOV X Government Experience Awards for Service Advisor for California DMV. The DMV Service Advisor is an online self-service solution to support California residents on their terms.

• 2019: Most Innovative Trailblazer in Travel Tech (Finalist, Pinnacle Awards by GBTA)

• 2019: Achievement in Promotion of a Women-related Corporate Social Responsibility Project (Finalist, WiNiT Awards by GBTA)

• 2019: Company of the Year - Hospitality, Travel, Recreation, and Leisure (Golden Bridge Awards, A23 Advisors)

• 2019: Most Innovative Company of the Year (Women World Awards, A23 Advisors)

• 2019: Diversity & Inclusion Campaign of the Year (Finalist, Platinum PR Awards)

• 2019: Integrated Communications Campaign of the Year (Finalist, Platinum PR Awards)

• 2019: Winner, Most Dynamic in E-Commerce and Hospitality Services (Global Business Insight Awards, A23 Advisors)

• 2019: Winner, Startup of the Year (Stevie Awards, Bonwi.com)

• 2019: Official Judge, PR World Awards

• 2018: Winner, Woman of the Year, Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations (Stevie Awards for Women in Business, A23 Advisors)

• 2018: Winner, Executive of the Year (Stevie Awards for Women in Business, A23 Advisors)

• 2018: Short List, Best Travel Deals Site (Travolution Awards by Travel Weekly, Bonwi.com)

• 2018: Short List, Best Technology Product (Travolution Awards by Travel Weekly, TripTuner)

• 2018: Winner, Most Dynamic in E-Commerce and Hospitality Services (Global Business Insight Awards, A23 Advisors)

• 2017: Winner, Most Innovative Company of the Year (Stevie Awards for Women in Business, A23 Advisors)

• 2011: Creator, The Social IT Game

• 2006 - 2008: Board Member, University of San Francisco Graduate School of Business and Management

• 2002-2004: President, Entrepreneurship Club, University of San Francisco

• 2002 - 2004: Dean's List, University of San Francisco

• 1998: Director, The Wild Party by Joseph Moncure March (Off-Off Broadway, New York, NY)

Affiliations

• Women in Travel Technology - Founding Member and Co-Producer (2017 - present)

• Women in Innovation - Community Member (2019 - present)

• Girlboss - Community Member (2018 - present)

• Create + Cultivate - Community Member (2017 - present)

• Dean Street Society - Community Member (2016 - present)

• Beta Gamma Sigma - Lifelong Honoree (2004 - present)

• Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) - Member (1999 - present)

• Forbes Agency Council - Official Member (2019 - 2021)

• Professional BusinessWomen of California - Board Member (2016 - 2019)

• USF Graduate Business School Board of Directors - Board Member (2006 - 2009)