As Senior Creative Director, Head of Global Brand Design at Audible, Abby McInerney leads the team that establishes and continually refines our brand identity, helping customers recognize us wherever we are, from phone screens to computer screens to airports and billboards in cities around the world. Find out more about her work with us. 

How would you describe your role at Audible?

I lead the team that shapes how the Audible brand looks and feels through the identity design systems we create, including the typography, colors, graphics and imagery that define how the brand expresses itself. For customers, it’s about recognition and connection. A consistent identity signals what the brand stands for, helps people resonate with it and allows the content to shine, building trust and creating a more cohesive, enjoyable experience.

What is life like at the hub you are aligned to?

I’ve been lucky to spend time in a few of our hubs, Newark, Cambridge, Los Angeles and Berlin, and each one really reflects its local culture. I’ve appreciated experiencing them in person, but also working day-to-day with teammates across the globe such as São Paulo, London, Tokyo, Sydney, and Mexico City. 

What was your first Audible listen? What inspired you to check it out? 

Amy Poehler’s Yes Please. Memoirs narrated by the author are such a good gateway into audiobooks. It’s a different kind of experience to hear people’s stories in their own voices.

Can you share an example of a time when you received customer feedback that was meaningful to you?

Over the years I’ve sat in many focus groups and research sessions, and one thing I hear over and over is how proud people are to be listeners, how it helps them feel accomplished, and has, in many cases, genuinely changed their life. I try to carry that into the work by making sure we’re expressing the emotional value of what Audible brings, not just the functional.

Can you share about a time you had a leader at Audible empower you to take on a challenge or explore a new area? What was the result?

One of the most impactful experiences I’ve had took me out of my day-to-day: I spent a year on a customer experience innovation project with a cross-functional team of leaders, and we were championed by Audible’s founder, Don Katz. I learned so much about how different parts of the business operate, and together we were able to develop new product features while also shaping a new creative direction for the brand.

Can you describe any community impact activities you’ve participated in? What do those experiences bring to you, personally?

I’ve had the chance to participate in a few efforts in Newark, from building furniture in a school to clearing brush for the Brick City Rowing Club. It’s meaningful to have a real connection to the community, to understand who we’re working alongside and give back. It’s always an energy boost and a fun way to connect with colleagues whom you may not interact with on a regular basis.

Other than the people, what do you love most about the culture here?

There’s something about being surrounded and immersed by so many stories and ideas. It makes you feel connected to world.

What’s one quality that people interested in working on the Brand Creative team need to be successful here?

Someone who really listens (pun not intended) — to what’s happening in culture, to stakeholders, to customers — and connects it all to the work in a way that matters. That’s where the magic happens.

What advice would you have for a candidate considering Audible?

Audible has an entrepreneurial spirit but is also a larger, matrixed organization. There’s loads of opportunity for people who bring a point of view and can balance that with flexibility. 

What made you choose to work at Audible, what makes you want to stay? 

Audible felt like a natural next step after working on the enterprise brand at a major media company. I wanted to stay connected to storytelling and was intrigued by its strong tech roots. I was also eager to make the move to be closer to the consumer experience and found it exciting to get to work on the visual expression of an audio-first brand. I’ve been here for nine years, and there always seems to be something new to take on.

Lightning Round!

Favorite genre? Don’t make me choose! Fully on the romance bandwagon these days.

Listening from a speaker or headphones? Headphones (see latest genre).

Favorite activity while listening? Walking or folding laundry.

Morning person or night owl? Night owl.

Favorite snack? Rice cakes with peanut butter.

What are you listening to currently?

I just started Margo’s Got Money Troubles on the recommendation of one of my trusted coworkers (a perk of the job: there’s always a good recommendation going around). Elle Fanning’s narration is great, and I’m loving the mix of humor and lightness paired with heavier storylines all through an unexpected perspective with sharp observations on things like identity, money and relationships. It also helped me power through getting my house back in order after the holiday weekend. I wanted to listen before the book to screen adaptation that is coming out soon.

See open Brand & Marketing roles at Audible