Editors Note: Reel Chicago’s The Reel Black List isn’t just about February—it’s about honoring the Black creatives, leaders, and visionaries who shape Chicago’s film, TV, advertising, music, and media industries year-round. At a time when DEI initiatives face increasing challenges, it’s more important than ever to acknowledge and amplify the voices making an impact. For the next 29 days, we’ll celebrate the incredible contributions of Black professionals across the city. But let’s be clear—Black excellence isn’t just a moment. It’s a movement. It’s 365. Today, meet DDB Chicago Strategist, Kahlil Ellis.
Kahlil is a Strategist at DDB Chicago. He has worked on brands like Skittles, Uniqlo, Brita, Clorox, Coors Banquet, Sam’s Club, Glad and more. An advertising professional during the day, Kahlil also enjoys poetry, songwriting, sports, and exploring the vibrant food and creative scenes Chicago has to offer.
Let’s meet Kahlil!
What’s your Origin Story?
Origin story, I Iike that. Well, I am originally from Connecticut. Growing up, I lived in Hartford and the surrounding suburbs. I made my way to the sensible Midwest by way of college, having attended Northwestern up in Evanston. From there, I moved to Chicago. But, if we want to go a layer deeper with origin stories, my family origin is the Caribbean. My father is from Kingston, Jamaica, and my mother’s side of the family is from Cuba. So, I like say that I am a Jamaicubano.
What did you want to be as a kid?
I wanted to be a sportscaster, like the late great Stuart Scott.
How did you choose your career path?
Midway through college, I decided that rather than serving the general public with sports news I was more interested in helping brands tell their stories and position them to serve communities with greatest need, interest, or personal alignment.
What’s your creative process like?
I’m one of those people who does strategic and cultural research by opening as many tabs on my browser as possible before mining through articles, surveys, reports, and social artifacts for interesting bits. From there, I take a walk to process everything I’ve taken in, have a couple of interesting conversations, and then sit back down to come up with the story, insight, and strategic way in.
Who inspires you?
My relentless family, my extremely talented colleagues and friends, and, currently, Sterling K. Brown. The man is a living legend.
The most unconventional risk you’ve taken in your career?
I left an agency where I had a great team and a lot of personal comfort for new challenges and opportunities to grow.
When faced with setbacks, what keeps you going?
Examining the lesson learned from the setback, acknowledging how far I have come, a good workout, and a night of sleep to reset.
Your favorite Chicago Dive.
Ricochet’s in Lincoln Square — it was around the corner from my first Chicago apartment, so there’s a lot of sentimental value there.
List in order of love: Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox.
This is hard, seeing I’m all Boston when it comes to my teams. I’m gonna go: Bulls, Blackhawks, Bears, Cubs, White Sox
What’s on tap for 2025?
Tequila soda with two splashes of pineapple juice.
Twilight Zone moment: You have a chance to be magically transported to either The Bear, The Chi or Chicago Fire. Choose.
The Bear — Let’s eat
Favorite movie from 2024?
Juror #2 — Clinton Eastwood did it again.
Favorite album from 2024?
Smino’s Maybe in Nirvana; honorable mentions to GNX and Chromakopi.
Let’s talk about Doechii?
Doechii’s that girl, real talk. I’ve really been rocking with Alligator Bites Never Heal. She deserves all the success and flowers, current and future. Not to mention that Nosebleeds drop after the Grammy’s!
Linus has his blanket for comfort, you have…
My notebook.
To see others on The Reel Black List, click here.
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