Communicators in the Age of AI: Navigating Tools, Ethics, and Authenticity

On Thursday, May 22, I joined fellow communicators at Q-Branch in Downtown Austin for an event hosted by the PRSA Austin Chapter—an evening that promised insight and inspiration, and absolutely delivered. The focus? The evolving role of artificial intelligence in public relations and communications. It was a dynamic and thought-provoking panel that confirmed familiar ideas and concerns while highlighting new AI opportunities and challenges.

Moderated by Anne Lasseigne Tiedt, APR, the panel featured four industry professionals: Monica Talan (TechTranslators.ai), Tim Weinheimer (Hahn), Dan Martin (Hiebing), and Lisa Peterson (Lisa Peterson PR). Each panelist offered a unique perspective—from tech backgrounds to data analytics, agency marketing services to media relations—on how AI is transforming how we communicate, collaborate, and connect with our audiences.

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Finding My North Star: What I Learned in ACC’s Strategies for Today’s Jobs Class

I recently completed the Strategies for Today’s Jobs (4-weeks / 8-days) career development course through Austin Community College (ACC), designed to help job seekers clarify their goals, polish their materials, and build confidence in today’s job market. Overall, I felt that the class was good and thoughtfully put together. While much of the content felt like “Career 101” and seemed primarily catered to those entering or re-entering the job market, I still found many gems of insight that were useful for refining my current job search strategy and long-term career planning.

Even though I’ve already navigated multiple stages of professional development, this course served as a helpful refresher and provided space for intentional reflection. I appreciated the structured pace, the supportive instructors, and the opportunity to revisit foundational strategies with fresh eyes and a lens of AI support.

Below is a breakdown of each day, including key takeaways that stood out to me:

Day 1: Orientation + Self-Assessment

Focus: Identifying personal strengths, values, and workplace preferences.

Takeaways:

  • We kicked off the class with discussing personality assessments for career alignment like YouScience offered through ACC, which served as a reminder of how I operate best in a team and workplace setting.
  • Reflecting on core values, missions, and motivations helped reaffirm my commitment to working in sustainability and mission-driven environments—something that’s remained consistent in the later half of my career.
  • The structured self-assessment activities gave me a career direction clarity and helped create a more intentional mindset heading into the rest of the course.
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Networking at Easy Tiger North: Community, Coffee & Career Connections

Lately, Easy Tiger North has become more than just a great spot for pastries and coffee—it’s become the backdrop for some of my most valuable networking experiences in Austin. From marketing mixers to sustainability meetups, this laid-back location has offered countless opportunities to connect with brilliant minds and inspiring peers across industries. Let’s take a quick walk back through a few recent events that have made a big impact on me.


Ad 2 Austin’s 32 Under 32 Awards (May 8)

Most recently, I had the honor of volunteering at the check-in table for Ad 2 Austin‘s 32 Under 32 Awards, celebrating the city’s top young professionals in marketing and advertising. Held at Easy Tiger North with an MVP-themed flair, the event buzzed with creativity and camaraderie.

Welcoming each nominee gave me a front-row seat to the incredible work being done in this industry—from strategic brand launches to innovative digital campaigns. It was equal parts inspiring and energizing to meet so many trailblazers under 32 who are already reshaping the marketing landscape.

Shoutout to Ad 2 Austin, the event sponsors, and Easy Tiger for making the night a celebration to remember—complete with delicious food and meaningful conversation. The future of marketing in Austin looks bright, and I’m grateful to have played a small part in recognizing those leading the way.

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Defining Green Marketing & Sustainability Communications: An Hourglass Term That Shaped My Career

In the world of marketing, buzzwords come and go — but “green marketing” and “sustainability communications” are terms that have stuck with me, not just as trends, but as defining themes throughout my career. They’re what I call hourglass terms — concepts that begin broadly, narrow into a specialized niche, and then fan out again to influence a wide range of industries, sectors, and communication needs.

Let me explain — and take you on a journey through how I came to specialize in this growing, evolving, and deeply meaningful space.

What Is Green Marketing, Exactly?

At its core, green marketing refers to promoting products, services, or practices that are environmentally friendly. It’s about more than slapping a green label on a package — it’s a commitment to transparency, sustainability, and often, behavioral change. Green marketing focuses on aligning brand values with environmental ethics, creating campaigns that both inform and inspire.

Sustainability communications, meanwhile, goes beyond the consumer angle. It encompasses the storytelling, messaging, and strategic outreach that organizations use to engage stakeholders — from the public to policymakers — on environmental initiatives, sustainable practices, climate resilience, and more.

Together, these two disciplines span a massive spectrum — from technical communications about carbon reporting to grassroots storytelling about tree planting or water conservation. Hence the hourglass.

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A Fresh Perspective: How Google Career Dreamer Uses AI for Career Exploration

A Fresh Perspective: How Google Career Dreamer helped me with my Career Possibilities

Lately, I’ve been undergoing career evaluation—taking stock of my experiences, skills, and interests as I navigate my next professional chapter. With a background in marketing and communications, much of it focused on sustainability and public outreach, I know I had a wide-ranging skill set. But translating that into a clear path forward? That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out.

Then a friend in a networking group recommended Google Career Dreamer—an AI-powered career exploration tool that genuinely helped me shine light on potential career options.

I was curious and slightly skeptical, but once I got started, I realized this was more than just a job-matching tool. Career Dreamer helped me articulate my value, identify where my skills shine, and—most importantly—imagine new career directions I hadn’t seriously considered before.

A Clearer Career Identity

One of the first steps in the Dreamer experience is shaping your Career Identity Statement—a concise, personalized summary of your strengths where you enter previous roles and skills to inform the AI. Here’s what mine looks like now:

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Finding Community and Creativity at #Ad2TheConvo: Hustlers Panel & Networking

On April 9th, I had the pleasure of attending #Ad2TheConvo: Hustlers Panel & Networking at RichesArt Gallery in East Austin — an event hosted by Ad 2 Austin and sponsored by Spotter. I walked in expecting a solid panel discussion and some casual networking. I walked out feeling deeply inspired, more connected to the local creative scene, and affirmed in my own journey as a communications professional exploring new ground.

The night centered on a panel of four women entrepreneurs — all self-made, all proudly tied to their culture, and all navigating the highs and lows of side-hustling in Austin. Panelists included Julia Wezio, co-founder of ATX Grand Prix Club; Karla Martinez, founder of Betty Bobble; Kassandra Chapa, founder of Firulais Co.; and Marisa Garza, founder of KEFI by MG. Each of these women shared the story of how they launched their ventures, what keeps them motivated, and how their personal and cultural identities are woven into the fabric of their brands.

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