From Stories to Strategy
I’ve been reading for as long as I can remember. And as long as my family can remember, I can completely disappear into the pages of a good story (much to their annoyance when they’re trying to get my attention). Growing up with a mother who was an author, writing felt as natural as breathing. I’ve been crafting stories since childhood, but I also discovered I had a knack for nonfiction and business writing. That practicality streak, it turns out, has been a thread throughout everything I do.
Why AI?
When AI burst onto the scene, I had to get familiar with it fast—creatives were among the first to be terrified of being replaced. What started as necessity and future proofing my team became something much deeper. For three years now, I’ve been living and breathing this intersection daily, consuming content about AI, testing tools, and exploring possibilities. The more I experimented, the more opportunities I could see, but with a healthy understanding of the limitations alongside the potential.
What Drives My Work
What I love about everything I do—whether it’s fiction, strategy, or speaking—is finding that intersection of creativity and practicality. I believe the best solutions honor both imagination and real-world impact. In digital marketing, this means blending traditional branding creativity with performance data. In AI guidance, it means approaching these tools as thought partners rather than creative replacements. In fiction, it means tackling big ideas through fast-paced adventure that invites readers to imagine what’s possible.
My biggest concern about AI in creative fields isn’t that the technology exists, but how we’re using it. LLMs aren’t built for true originality, and widespread use threatens to push creative pursuits toward the average middle in a race to mediocrity. Even worse is the temptation to use AI as an “Easy” button to skip the hard work of thinking, brainstorming, and wrestling with ideas. That’s where growth and brilliance come from. But when I see writers and creative teams use AI as a thought partner instead of a replacement, I watch their creativity get unlocked and augmented in remarkable ways.
That’s what I’m trying to protect and promote: the irreplaceable human elements of creativity while embracing tools that can amplify what makes us most human.
Beyond the Work
When I’m not at my computer working or writing, you’ll likely find me running, hiking, or otherwise out in nature. A couple years ago, I hiked Rim to Rim of the Grand Canyon and that was like a pilgrimage experience. I climbed up the South Rim different. I’m fascinated by archaeology and ancient ruins, drawn to stories of how humans have connected across time and place.
I’m a mother of three, addicted to running and reading, and yes, it’s true—I don’t like chocolate (honestly). Music is my greatest writing muse, and I’m slightly obsessed with cinematic music covers. My family might argue that I have workaholic tendencies, but I maintain that I simply am not good at sitting still.
I’ve served on the Board of Directors for a national writers guild and have dedicated years to building up other writers through conference work and mentorship. Whether I’m speaking to business leaders about AI governance and usage or helping writers navigate new technologies, my goal is always the same: I want people to feel empowered to take action, with light bulbs going off and new connections forming.
Because at the end of the day, that’s what this is all about—how language connects us, drives imagination forward, and helps us build bridges between each other and between where we are and where we’re going.
Jaime Theler 