Marleena Garris has been selected as one of the youngest speakers for the 2025 Rising Leaders Academy, a program led by The Creative Ladder, a nonprofit co-founded by Ryan Reynolds and run by CEO Dionna Dorsey. The academy supports early-career creatives in marketing, advertising, and media. Marleena’s upcoming session will focus on how to pitch bold ideas to teams with clarity, confidence, and creative structure.

Marleena Garris was recently recognized as one of the top creative copywriters on Contra, a commission-free platform founded by Ben Huffman and Gajus Kuizinas. Contra empowers modern freelancers to showcase their work, connect directly with clients, and keep 100% of what they earn—no fees, no middlemen. Marleena’s storytelling-first approach continues to stand out in a space built to elevate independent creatives.