Dear Reader,

I’ve been thinking a lot about AI and how it has already reshaped marketing. In conversations with leaders and marketers, I’ve heard a range of perspectives. One former colleague told me they don't write innovation concepts anymore—AI does it for them.

That struck me. So I tested it. I asked ChatGPT: “Write me three concepts for a new coffee brand from Portland, Oregon that is hand-crafted and made with high-quality ingredients.” Within seconds, it produced three positioning concepts rooted in Portland’s maker culture. That was the moment I thought: Maybe my days of writing concepts are over.

But are they?

I’ve long been an early adopter of AI tools in consumer research. As a moderator, I once listened to hours of audio recordings before weaving insights into a story. Then came online transcription services like Rev. Later, they introduced automated transcription, which was imperfect, but good enough. Today, AI can sync video with transcripts and even generate reports.

AI has dramatically accelerated data analysis, and it continues to do so. I now use AI to do research, draft content, and edit work. Still, there are important realities to keep in mind:

• AI needs quality input. “Garbage in, garbage out” applies more than ever.
• AI output is generic. It requires human expertise to evaluate, refine, and check for bias.
• AI can’t generate fresh insights. It draws only from existing data. Discovery still depends on human ingenuity.
• AI doesn’t craft compelling strategy or story. It can’t account for the nuance of your unique business, culture, or context.
• AI lacks empathy. It cannot connect with people or inspire teams. Leadership is still—and will remain—a human responsibility.

I’ve spoken with people in denial about AI’s impact, as well as those who believe it will replace leaders entirely. I think the truth lies somewhere in between.

Leaders should embrace AI as a powerful productivity tool—but also recognize its limits. Productivity alone doesn’t drive growth. What makes organizations thrive are distinctly human capabilities: empathy, creativity, and insight. These are the qualities that inspire teams, uncover new opportunities, and make companies not only successful, but enduring.

ON MY BLOG

On my blog, I reflect on a powerful story from The Whole-Brain Child by Dr. Daniel Siegel—that helped me support my daughter through a tough experience. It also deepened my coaching practice with leaders navigating unseen emotional patterns.

As a coach, I often witness how unresolved experiences quietly shape the way leaders respond to today’s challenges. Whole Brain Integration is a practical framework that links the downstairs brain, our reactive, survival brain with our upstairs brain, the rational prefrontal cortex, and the logical, left hemisphere mind with the emotional, right hemisphere self.

You may be surprised at how your past shapes your present. Read the full post to discover how integration unlocks leadership potential.

INSPIRED THINKING

One of the most essential skills for any leader is storytelling. Stories are among the most powerful ways to share knowledge, inspire others, and mobilize people toward collective action.

Inspiring stories come from many places. From Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech envisioning a better world to a sitcom like Hacks, which chronicles the resilience of women comedians. Stories come from movies, novels, short stories, poems, and music. They happen in our daily conversations as well.

Why do they matter so much? Neurologically, humans connect through mirror neurons. When we listen to a story, our brains sync with the storyteller’s—we relive their experience. That’s why stories inspire empathy and move us to action.

Here’s a simple practice: give a story, receive a story.

• Give a story: When you see someone struggling, resist the urge to “fix.” Instead, tell them a personal short story. What was the challenge? What obstacles did you face? How did you move through it? What did you learn?
• Receive a story: Invite someone to tell you about themselves. When something sparks your curiosity, ask: What first drew you to that? What was it like starting out? What challenges did you overcome? What advice would you give someone just beginning?

Sound familiar? This is the classic Hero’s Journey. Each of us is on our own path of growth, with setbacks and breakthroughs along the way.

Storytelling asks us to mine our own experiences—our failures as much as successes. When you bring stories into your leadership, you build deeper empathy, stronger connections, and a clearer sense of self-awareness.

CREATIVE MUSINGS

I’ve recently re-read the book The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin, an excellent meditative book on creativity. Rubin, a record producer credited with popularizing hip hop in America, likens the creative act to the growth of a plant. He describes its development in three steps:

Step 1: Gathering Seeds

Creativity begins with awareness. This phase is like collecting seeds—we notice sparks of inspiration without judgment. These can be images, feelings, frustrations, or curiosities. We don’t force ideas to bloom; we simply gather and trust that one day, something may grow.

Step 2: Experimenting Next, we enter a phase of playful exploration. We mix and match ideas, follow threads, and see what takes root. There are no rules—just curiosity. Rubin encourages us to “let the seed follow its own path toward the sun.” The right idea is the one that energizes you.

Step 3: Crafting

Once a direction emerges, we shift into shaping. This is the work of refinement, the gardener tending to the plant. We prune, support, and polish. While it might be messy at first, the piece takes shape and evolves.

The way to creativity is reflective, generative and open. By practicing creative acts, we avoid our conditioned instincts to perform, perfect, and produce. There is so much that we can learn about ourselves when we create without goals or judgement.

Try it out. Pick up a creative act and do it—just for fun. Make a card instead of buying one. Draw your dog. Plant a garden. Get messy with clay. String a necklace. Create a sign and hang it up. See what you discover.

REFLECTION

When clients tell me they’re struggling with self-confidence or uncertain about their next steps, I often suggest a simple but powerful exercise in self-reflection. I ask them to write 3–5 stories about times when they felt most alive and aligned.

As we review their stories together, key themes emerge. They often discover more about themselves than they expected—uncovering their core values (what truly matters) and their curiosities (what energizes and inspires them). These reflections reconnect them with their most authentic and vital selves. From that place of clarity and presence, they can approach their current challenges with fresh perspective and confidence.

You can try this too. Write your stories, notice the themes, and then ask yourself: From this feeling of aliveness and alignment, what do I need to do next? See what arises.

Thanks for reading. If we are not connected on LinkedIn, I'd love to connect here. And if you have any thoughts or suggestions about this newsletter, I’d be glad to hear from you.

With appreciation,