John Geletka

🎯 Snapshot

John Geletka is a brand strategist, creative executive, and agency founder with over 20 years of experience shaping meaningful, human-centered brand experiences.
As the Founder & CXO of Geletka+, a creative agency in Chicago’s West Loop, John leads multidisciplinary teams across brand strategy, design, digital, product, and film to help companies tell clearer, stronger, more resonant stories.

With a background in both fine art and business technology, John blends creative intuition with structured strategic thinking — helping brands build identities that not only look good, but stand for something.

🧭 What He Brings to Uptales

• Deep expertise in brand story, narrative positioning, and experience strategy
• Ability to translate abstract vision into clear creative direction and execution
• Hands-on leadership building brand systems, visual identities, and customer journeys
• A collaborative approach rooted in “radical creativity” and honest communication
• Support for founders, storytellers, and creatives looking to define and elevate their voice

🛠️ Background & Experience

• Founder & CXO of Geletka+ — a brand and experience studio based in Chicago
• Former creative leader across global agencies and tech-driven organizations
• BFA studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
• Master’s in Business Information Technology from DePaul University
• Contributor to the Forbes Agency Council and featured in Print Magazine and Authority Magazine
• Known for promoting creativity that is useful, intentional, and human-centered

💡 John’s Creative Philosophy

"The best brands don’t just communicate — they connect.
We make work that’s meaningful, human, and worth someone’s time."

✅ Work With John On

• Clarifying your brand or founder narrative
• Developing a strategic, scalable brand identity
• Designing memorable customer and audience experiences
• Turning your message into a clear, compelling creative system
• Building a brand that feels human — and stands apart