Photo of Dawn Mercado, copy manager and brand voice leader

Twenty-plus years in, I've found two beliefs keep proving themselves. Copy moves people when it's authentic, strategic, and on brand. Teams do their best work when they feel trusted, challenged, and heard. They still shape how I create and lead today.

My career spans agency and in-house work from B2B to B2C, digital to print, product copy to brand campaigns. I've led teams across multiple time zones and through reorgs, pandemics, and the kind of organizational uncertainty that pushes teams to their limits. Mine don't just endure. They thrive.

What I bring is the ability to write and edit at a high level while seeing the strategic picture. I build trust with creative directors, cross-functional partners, project managers, designers, and copywriters, often all at once. I know when to push back on a brief or just make it work and how to find win-win solutions. I’m a servant leader who evolves brand voices, concepts winning campaigns, brings standards to craft, and delivers copy that moves people.

If that's what you're looking for, let's talk.

I’m a copy leader with 20+ years crafting stories, shaping brand voice, and directing high-performing teams for Fortune #1 and global brands — Walmart, eBay, Shutterfly, and Balsam Hill.

Connect with me on Linkedin.

  • "Dawn consistently brought warmth, positivity, and a thoughtful copy eye to every project she touched."

    — Hilary White, Creative Director, Walmart

  • "You never have to worry about Dawn. You just know she'll get it right."

    — Jamie McGinley, President & Creative Director, 3AM

  • "Dawn is a thoughtful, emotionally tuned-in creative who generates an environment people can thrive in."

    — Adam Tillinghast, Copywriter, Walmart

  • "Dawn improved how I approach marketing content, how I work with creative teams, and how to deliver more impactful marketing campaigns."

    — Rishi Mahalaha, Lifecycle Marketing, eBay