It took Leyla Touma Dailey fewer than 18 months after her arrival at Doe-Anderson as chief creative officer to ascend to the presidency of the Louisville, Kentucky-based independent.

In doing so, she rose to become the agency’s first female president, first female chief creative officer and first person of color in either role. But Touma Dailey has done much more than just influence the agency’s work: “She’s reshaped the way the agency engages with our industry, audience and colleagues,” said CEO John Birnsteel.

A veteran of agencies including Digitas, Leo Burnett and Young & Rubicam, Touma Dailey has overseen a rebranding of Doe-Anderson, more than doubled diversity at the shop and is credited by the agency with achieving a 28% rise in organic revenue. Under her watch, the agency, which also has an office in Columbus, Ohio, raked in new business from Georgia Aquarium, Roto-Rooter, EvoShield, Condado Tacos and Sullivan University. It’s also won local accounts that the agency said in its entry “have long eluded” it, including Louisville Tourism and business utilities provider LG&E and KU Energy.

In an interview earlier this year with Muse by Clio, Touma Dailey was asked to describe her creative strength. “My ability to identify potential,” she said. “I love nothing more than plucking an idea out of the rubble, helping nurture it and watching it become something spectacular.”