Who we are?

Green room [noun [ C ] /ˈgriːn ˌruːm/] a surfing term for riding inside the barrel of a wave.

The Green Room Collective works strategically with you to create conditions that generate clarity of thought in innovation, where creative ideas come alive through insights and lead to action.

We are a collective of like-minded professionals with diverse backgrounds, skills and experiences who strive for that pinnacle when all conditions come together in a moment of Zen–like clarity and euphoria in the heart of that proverbial, perfect wave.

Our Guiding Principles

  • Humanize

    • Empathize with consumer/customer and stakeholders
    • Create an environment conducive to unleashing the collective genius

  • Freshness

    • Look for where other’s won’t
    • Embrace driversity

  • Purposeful

    • Always bring it back to the business

Guliz Kavuncuoglu

A whole brain thinker who makes creativity more accessible by disrupting the processes and routines of our everyday lives.

Having worked with some of the world’s most reputable brands, she has built on her breadth of experience from consumer and shopper marketing to new business and innovation commercialization. Guliz is comfortable in the expansionist world of ideas and creative thinking, as well as in the thick of business and analytics. Always asking the right question at the right time, she instinctively suggests new approaches while strategically navigate complex business systems – because she’s been there.

“…often I see people who are great at getting work done but who struggle with innovative thinking.”

“I’ve been working in the field of innovation and creativity for over 15 years now, and too often I see people who are great at getting work done but who struggle with innovative thinking. As someone who strongly believes in the benefits of regular exercise, I decided to look at ways to overcome the creative road blocks in our lives and work out our minds the same way we do our bodies.”

Guliz offers simple ways to boost creativity each day.

John Van Vleck

A master at balancing human perspective and business acumen to ignite actionable solutions.

Prior to becoming one of the founders of The Green Room Collective, John spent several years [i.e. developing creative campaigns that drove sales for leading global brands] in the advertising world, and another 15 years as the Global Director of Innovation Ignitor at The Coca-Cola Company. This extensive experience on both sides of the aisle enabled him to show his magic in 35 markets, with a proven record of producing innovative business solutions in his work with top global brands and partners like Coca-Cola, Unilever and McDonald’s.

“With a little resourcefulness…you can go a long way in bringing ideas to life, connecting people’s heads with their hearts…”

“With a little resourcefulness and the ingenuity to use what you have at your disposal, you can go a long way in bringing ideas to life, connecting people’s heads with their hearts, and giving your ideas the best chance to succeed.”

John imparts valuable insights about innovation inspired by his daughter’s fifth-grade lesson.