
Lindsay Smith
Founder + CEO
Partner + Chief Strategy Officer

René Thomas is Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Takt, where he helps brands turn defining moments of change into sustainable momentum. His work explores the gap between external credibility and internal reality, helping leaders build brands that are not just polished but that survive contact with the real world.
A strategist, writer, musician, and lifelong builder, René is drawn to the messy questions behind meaningful change: how organizations earn trust, how culture shapes strategy, and how brands hold up when the market shifts. His approach combines creative instinct with practical, systems-level thinking.
Partner + Chief Strategy Officer
René’s career has moved across creative services, brand strategy, digital product, and agency leadership, shaping a practical approach to complex problems. Over more than 16 years in the agency world, he has helped organizations including the Alphabet, Amazon, NYU, Queen’s University, and the NHLPA develop brands, digital experiences, and strategic platforms for moments of growth and change.
At Takt, René works with clients and internal teams to clarify the real problem, align ambition with delivery, and turn strategic thinking into work that can move through the organization. Outside the agency, he supports global non-profits and humanitarian organizations working on complex issues, including human trafficking, exploitation, and social impact.

Moral Tribes, Joshua Greene

The Culture Code, Daniel Coyle

Made to Stick, Chip Heath + Dan Heath

Don’t Make Me Think, Steve Krug
Books René recommends—insightful, impactful, and worth your time.

Manager, Proposals + Partnerships

Project Manager
Articles, Podcasts and News