Thought Leadership & Speaking Topics
From SEO to GEO: Content, Communications and Community are Central to Marketing in the Age of AI
We’re entering a world where your next customer may never touch Google before they meet you—they’ll enter through ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity. That’s where Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) comes in. The buyer journey is shifting into invisible AI-driven research phases, where brand awareness and credibility matter more than ever. This talk explores the evolution of content marketing—from Search and Social Media to GEO and AI optimization—and lays out what it takes to show up in the answers that large language models are pulling from. Expect practical strategies for building content, community, and communications that train the models to trust and cite your brand, along with PR moves that ensure your story is surfaced in AI responses. Think of it as a primer for the playbook you’ll need to get ahead of the next big discovery channel—before your competitors do. Read my article on this on LinkedIn.
Target audience: Marketing teams, Agency teams, Curious C-Suite executives
The AI Path We Choose: Building Technology That Serves Humanity
Technology comes in waves, and I’ve lived through many– from the personal computer, to the internet to the rise of social media. But the era of AI is moving faster than anything we’ve ever seen, and requires scrutiny, and communal conversation– to ensure humans are in the drivers seat. Because AI has so much power to assist and complement what we do, we need to be truly thoughtful around the role of humans in the future of work. In this talk, we’ll think about the roadmap we need for the future world we want to inhabit. My hope is that you will leave empowered to drive this conversation in your own community, having firmly considered your own AI boundaries, and on a path to become a change agent to ensure that no one gets left behind. I believe the future should be shaped by starting intentional conversations today.
Target Audience: Companies, Community Groups, Resource Groups
From Beat Generation to AI Revolution: The Cultural DNA of Silicon Valley
From the counter-cultural roots of the Beat Generation to the distributed and loose networks of early Silicon Valley, the spirit of innovation in the Bay Area is deeply rooted in myth and culture. In this talk, we’ll dig in– to examine how iconic brands like Apple, and leaders like Steve Jobs– helped shape culture with their novel approaches to products and brand building. We’ll look at how the concept of the “crazy ones” who “think different” has shaped today’s technology leaders and the role that San Francisco plays in the culture of tech innovation today. How has the spirit of the American West, embraced by Jack Kerouac, and the sense of place–-specifically, San Francisco— influenced successive waves of technology founders and leaders? After all, it is here in this “great experiment of living” where the people “crazy enough to think they can change the world” are the ones who actually do.
Target Audience: Anyone who likes to nerd out on culture and language.
Using the "The Power of Yes" To Propel Personal Development and Career Growth
In today's competitive talent landscape, companies that actively foster internal networks and mentorship see higher retention, stronger leadership pipelines, and more innovative teams. But the "Power of Yes" is a concept that can help anyone move towards their goals. It’s an idea that takes into account the importance of relationship-building and how to foster a culture of mutual support — two things that we all need to succeed. As a media and marketing executive who has led teams through challenging times– including the isolation of remote work– I've seen firsthand how saying "yes" to mentoring, connections, and IRL experiences delivers personal and career growth. Being connected to one another is what makes us human, it’s what inspires us, it’s what lights up new areas of our brain— and it’s more important now than ever before. In this talk, I’ll share some frameworks that have helped me build meaningful relationships, uncover new opportunities, and embrace ambiguity.
Target Audience: Companies, Community Groups, Resource Groups