Bio

Biography

Serenity Thompson is a digital product and marketing executive with a 20-year record of driving transformation, growth, and measurable results in high-velocity innovation environments. She partners with executive teams, designers, engineers, and data leaders to turn ideas into value-driven digital services and omnichannel experiences powered by emerging technology.

Serenity has led global marketing and experience design for some of the world’s most progressive brands—launching new products, shaping go-to-market strategies, and creating award-winning campaigns that fuel growth, loyalty, and reputation. She’s fluent in modern innovation methods and known for adopting new digital tactics early—from generative AI and conversational interfaces to gamification, personalization, and experiential design.

An entrepreneurial strategist at heart, Serenity translates complex challenges into scalable opportunities and builds creative, high-performing teams that deliver meaningful results. Her leadership has supported five funding rounds and multiple successful acquisitions.

Beyond business, she finds inspiration in travel, art, and pizza.

Education

Serenity is currently pursuing her Public Leadership Credential at the Harvard Kennedy School. She earned her Master of Business Administration in Marketing with Honors from the University of San Francisco (USF), where she founded and co-chaired the Entrepreneurship Club. Serenity continues her affiliation with USF as a Mentor to undergraduate and graduate business students in the USF Alumni Mentor program and supports the USF Women in Leadership and Philanthropy program.

Serenity holds several expert-level marketing certifications including SEO, SEM, ABM, and social media advertising. She holds multiple certifications in AI, Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, and User Experience Design, and is also a certified Scrum Master.

Serenity studied with the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School and Conservatory in New York, City, and earned her Bachelor of the Arts in Performing Arts from the University of California at Santa Cruz.

Notable Speaking Engagements

• August 2025, “Digital Identity and Trust: Modernizing for Security and Service,” California Government Innovation Summit hosted by Government Technology. Sacramento, CA.

• May 2025, “Creating a Secure Digital Persona,” hosted by the Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance Council. Sacramento, CA.

• January 2025, “Fostering Strategies for Digital Inclusion and Bridging the Digital Divide,” Government Innovation Showcase hosted by The Public Sector Network. Sacramento, CA.

• August 2024, “Future Lab: Beyond AI, What’s Next?” California Government Innovation Summit hosted by Government Technology. Sacramento, CA.

• August 2024, “Making Digital Services More Accessible,” GovLoop Spotlights hosted by GovLoop. Sacramento, CA.

• January 2024, “Making Digital Services More Accessible,” GovLoop Spotlights hosted by GovLoop. Sacramento, CA.

• May 2023, “Broadband For All,” Essential Services, Civic Engagement and Accessibility Outcome Area Working Group. Sacramento, CA.

• March 2023, “Citizen Buy-In: How Public Sector Leaders Can Navigate Digital Transformation to Ensure Public Confidence,” Government Innovation California hosted by Public Sector Network. Sacramento, CA.

• June 2022, “The Future of Digital Transformation in California,” Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. San Francisco, CA.

• June 2022, “Digital Transformation and Technology,” American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators Region 4 Symposium. Salt Lake City, UT.

• May 2022, “Enabling Remote Work with the DMV Virtual Office,” American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators Region 2 Symposium. Virtual.

• June 2020: Panelist, “Surviving and Thriving: Entrepreneurship During a Crisis,” USF Women in Leadership & Philanthropy Virtual Symposium. Virtual.

• December 2019: Moderator, “Relationships, Reputation and Relevance in the Age of Authenticity,” 2019 Women in Travel Tech Conference hosted by A23 Advisors. Park City, UT.

• October 2019: Panelist, “Resilience in the Age of Digital Nomads: Curating Virtual Practices, Projects and Personal Experience to Transform Career Pathways at All Stages of Life,” Northeastern University Organizational Learning and Systems Thinking Program. Boston, MA.

• August 2019: Panel Moderator, “Taking Professional Risks,” Young Women’s Professional Summit | PBWC and Bank of the West. San Ramon, CA.

• August 2019: MC, “Beyond All Limits,” Young Women’s Professional Summit | PBWC and Bank of the West. San Ramon, CA.

• May 2019: Guest, “Controversy to Conversation,” Dare to Differentiate Podcast. San Francisco, CA.

• April 2019:  Guest Speaker, “Living Your Dream,” ABC7 Stage at PBWC “Unstoppable” Conference. San Francisco, CA.

• April 2019:  Guest, “Developing the Leaders of Generation Z,” ABC7 News. San Francisco, CA.

• December 2018: Guest Speaker, “Bringing Design Thinking to the C-Suite.” Women in Travel Tech Conference. Park City, UT.

• September 2018:  Workshop Leader, "The Landlord's Guide to Digital Marketing." East Bay Rental Housing Association. Oakland, CA.

• May 2017:  Guest Lecturer, "Strategies for Industry Innovation." Organizational Learning and Systems Thinking. Northeastern University. Boston, MA.

• January 2014:  Guest Lecturer, “What Consumers Really Want from Travel Brands.” Mega Event 2014. New Orleans, LA.

• Quoted and/or featured in various publications and websites including yet not limited to: Adweek, Ad Age, Paper Magazine, New York Times and New York Observer.

Podcast Series: “DMV Digerati”

1. Episode 1: Design That Delivers: The Power of Standards, Systems, and Style

   A look at how great UX/UI frameworks turn consistency into confidence.

2. Episode 2: Designing Services People Actually Love to Use

   Behind the scenes of what makes digital service design succeed in government and beyond.

3. Episode 3: Human-Centered by Design: Building with Empathy, Equity, and Impact

   Exploring how putting people first changes everything—from accessibility to trust.

4. Episode 4: Beyond the Pretty: Why Usability Beats Aesthetics Every Time

   A candid conversation on balancing brand, beauty, and real-world usability.

5. Episode 5: The Digital Adoption Playbook: Turning Change into Habit

   Proven tactics to help teams, customers, and agencies embrace new digital tools.

6. Episode 6: Designing the Brand Experience: Where Emotion Meets Interaction

   How thoughtful design can elevate your brand from functional to unforgettable.

Awards and Achievements

• 2025: Government Technology Best of California – Excellence in Customer Experience Award for “The Personalized MyDMV Revolution.” The new, personalized MyDMV Experience with The Garage feature integrated a range of technologies and human-centered design processes to modernize the way Californians interact with DMV services. The project combined personalization, modular technology, and rapid innovation cycles, while maintaining security, scalability, and accessibility to deliver a faster and easier DMV experience that is intelligent and inclusive.

• 2025: American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators – Community Service Award for “Women@DMV Clothing Drive & Job Application Classes for Women’s Empowerment.” DMV team members who belong to the department’s Women’s Affinity Group donated 1,000 pounds of clothing, which included professional outfits and accessories. They also participated in an employment workshop to empower single mothers and those experiencing homelessness to improve their lives.

• 2024: Government Technology Best of California – Innovation Serving the Public Award for “DMV Wallet and mDL.” The DMV developed a secure and convenient DMV Wallet that houses a digitized, mobile driver’s license (mDL) or identification card on a mobile phone, both iOS and Android. As part of a voluntary pilot program, this innovative solution allows as many as 1.5 million Californians to access their DL/ID card via a digitalized version on their mobile device, which can be used as proof of identity at select airport TSA checkpoint locations and participating convenience stores.

• 2023: Gartner Eye on Innovation Provincial, State or Regional Award for “Open Source Mobile Wallet for Decentralized Digital Credentials for California DMV.” This application allows Californians to get their driver’s license or identification card on their smartphone for use at TSA airport security checkpoints and for age verification purposes.

• 2023: GOV X Government Experience Awards for “Service Advisor for California DMV.” The DMV Service Advisor is an online self-service solution to support California residents on their terms.

• 2019: Most Innovative Trailblazer in Travel Tech (Finalist, Pinnacle Awards by GBTA)

• 2019: Achievement in Promotion of a Women-related Corporate Social Responsibility Project (Finalist, WiNiT Awards by GBTA)

• 2019: Company of the Year - Hospitality, Travel, Recreation, and Leisure (Golden Bridge Awards, A23 Advisors)

• 2019: Most Innovative Company of the Year (Women World Awards, A23 Advisors)

• 2019: Diversity & Inclusion Campaign of the Year (Finalist, Platinum PR Awards)

• 2019: Integrated Communications Campaign of the Year (Finalist, Platinum PR Awards)

• 2019: Winner, Most Dynamic in E-Commerce and Hospitality Services (Global Business Insight Awards, A23 Advisors)

• 2019: Winner, Startup of the Year (Stevie Awards, Bonwi.com)

• 2019: Official Judge, PR World Awards

• 2018: Winner, Woman of the Year, Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations (Stevie Awards for Women in Business, A23 Advisors)

• 2018: Winner, Executive of the Year (Stevie Awards for Women in Business, A23 Advisors)

• 2018: Short List, Best Travel Deals Site (Travolution Awards by Travel Weekly, Bonwi.com)

• 2018: Short List, Best Technology Product (Travolution Awards by Travel Weekly, TripTuner)

• 2018: Winner, Most Dynamic in E-Commerce and Hospitality Services (Global Business Insight Awards, A23 Advisors)

• 2017: Winner, Most Innovative Company of the Year (Stevie Awards for Women in Business, A23 Advisors)

• 2011: Creator, The Social IT Game

• 2006 - 2008: Board Member, University of San Francisco Graduate School of Business and Management

• 2002-2004: President, Entrepreneurship Club, University of San Francisco

• 2002 - 2004: Dean's List, University of San Francisco

• 1998: Director, The Wild Party by Joseph Moncure March (Off-Off Broadway, New York, NY)

Affiliations

• Women @ DMV - Executive Sponsor (2022 - present)

• Beta Gamma Sigma - Lifelong Honoree (2004 - present)

• Screen Actors Guild (SAG) - Member (1999 - present)

• Women in Travel Technology - Founding Member and Co-Producer (2017 - 2022)

• Women in Innovation - Community Member (2019 - 2022)

• Girlboss - Community Member (2018 - 2021)

• Create + Cultivate - Community Member (2017 - 2021)

• Dean Street Society - Community Member (2016 - 2021)

• Forbes Agency Council - Official Member (2019 - 2021)

• Professional BusinessWomen of California - Board Member (2016 - 2019)

• USF Graduate Business School Board of Directors - Board Member (2006 - 2009)