I’ve spent my career leading creative teams and building brand stories that connect from Hulu, T-Mobile, Samsung, Dignity Health, Dunkin’ and Jack in the Box. 

My work lives where emotion meets innovation, and lately, that means embracing the incredible power of Generative AI to reimagine what’s possible.

I believe in using AI as a creative amplifier, not a shortcut, empowering tools that free creatives to focus on the story, the craft, and the spark of the idea. Whether it’s scaling brand storytelling, launching employer brands, or helping a team unlock their next big idea, I love the moment when imagination becomes motion.

Alongside storytelling and design, I’m deeply experienced in performance creative - concepting, testing, and scaling campaigns built to drive measurable growth across social, digital, and video platforms. My data-driven approach ensures every creative decision connects back to outcomes, using insights to refine messaging, optimize formats, and increase conversion and engagement.

A few career highlights I’m proud of:

• T-Mobile – Led cross-functional teams across online and offline communications for the "Uncarrier", delivering engagement lifts of 30%+.

• Hulu – Helped reinvent campaign production for episodic employee stories that are "Powering Play," tripling creative output while cutting turnaround times nearly in half.

• Samsung – Brought the EVP story "Own the Unknown" to life with visuals and motion design, delivering 250+ formats in four weeks.

• Dunkin’ – Used influencer content and social vertical video to spark a 57% surge in applications.

• Jack in the Box – Built a dynamic content system powered by generative design and geo-targeting, driving 50M+ impressions and a same-store sales lift.

I’m passionate about blending storytelling, design, data, and emerging tech to create work that resonates…not just because it’s smart or scalable, but because it feels alive. And I love helping teams do the same: empowering creatives to explore, experiment, and create what’s next.

Core Skills: Creative Direction • Storytelling • Brand Strategy • Employer Branding • Performance Creative • Generative AI • Data-Driven Design • Creative Technology • Creative Ops • Leadership & Mentorship • Adobe Creative Cloud • Firefly • ChatGPT • Sora 2 • Higgsfield • Runway • Midjourney • ElevenLabs • Google Labs • Veo 3.1 • Canva • Kittl • HeyGen • Descript

Bruce Carey

There's a weird comfort in chaos. 🌀 I used to think I needed everything mapped out before I could start. 

The right brief, the right team, the right mood. But the best work I've been part of started with a mess. A half-baked idea. A deadline that felt impossible. A team that didn't quite fit together, at least not at first. 🤝

It's funny, the things you try to avoid are often the things that push you further. 🚀 I'm not saying I love the stress. I don't. B

ut I do love what happens when you stop waiting for perfect conditions and just start. Sometimes, the mess is the point. Or at least, it's where the good stuff hides. ✨ You know what I mean??

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AI Creative Director | Generative Design & Innovation Leader

There are days when leading a creative team feels like herding cats 😺. Other days, it's more like being the cat, curious, distracted, chasing after things no one else can see.

I used to think my job was to have all the answers. But now I know that more often, it's about asking the right questions, or just making space for someone else's eccentric idea to breathe 💡.

The best moments aren't when everything goes according to plan. They're when someone surprises you, or when the room gets quiet because everyone's thinking, really thinking, about what comes next 🤔.

It's messy. Sometimes it's frustrating.

If I'm honest, I still get nervous before big pitches. Still worry I'm missing something obvious. But maybe that's part of what keeps it interesting. You never really arrive. You just keep moving, keep creating and making...and keep learning how to listen 🚀.

I keep coming back to this idea: perfection is boring.

There’s something about a story with a rough edge, a design with a little friction, a campaign that doesn’t quite fit the mold. It sticks with you. It feels alive.

AI can polish anything until it gleams, but sometimes I want to see the brushstrokes. The fingerprints. The places where someone took a risk and it didn’t land perfectly, but it landed honestly.

Maybe that’s what we’re hungry for now. Not just seamless experiences, but ones that remind us there’s a human on the other side. Someone who tried, stumbled, and kept going.

I don’t know, maybe I’m just tired of the algorithmic shine. Or maybe I just miss the feeling of being surprised.

Either way, I’ll take a little imperfection over predictability any day.

Curiosity isn't a faucet you can turn on. Some days, it's flowing non-stop. 🔍 Other days, nada, no matter how hard you look...

In creative work, I've noticed that when curiosity fades, energy dips with it. The work becomes routine, ideas dry up, and even the best teams feel stuck.

But when curiosity sparks, even for a minute, everything shifts ⚡. A random question, a strange headline, an offhand comment in a meeting, suddenly, you're digging deeper, seeing opportunities you'd have missed.

You can't force curiosity. But you can make space for it. Pause when something feels odd. Let yourself follow weird questions. Encourage your team to share out-there ideas 💡.

It won't always work, and that's fine. The point is to follow where curiosity leads, even if it looks strange at first.

What's the last thing you got curious about at work? Did it take you anywhere unexpected? 🤔

Do you notice how perfect AI polish feels...so empty? ✨ I'll take rough edges any day. Doodles without the bezier curves. Songs with cracks in the voice. Photos a bit blurry. Stories told with real voices.

We're told AI will make everything seamless and flawless. But when things are too smooth, it feels like something's missing...Real connection comes from imperfection. From that human touch. That's what makes work feel alive. 🤝

So I'll keep choosing the messy, real parts over spotless perfection! 🎨

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There's a weird tension in creative work right now. On one hand, we have more tools than ever. AI, automation, data that can predict what people want before they even know it themselves 🤖. On the other, there's this ache for something real. Something that doesn't feel like it was assembled by a committee of machines.

I catch myself toggling between the two. Chasing efficiency, then craving a little chaos ⚡. Wanting to impress, then wanting to connect 🤝.

It's exhausting, honestly. But maybe that's the point. Maybe the future isn't about choosing sides, but learning to live in the middle. To let the tech do its thing, but not let it drown out the real, wonderful, unpredictable parts of being human 🌱.

Some days I get it right. Some days I don't. But I'm starting to think the struggle is where the good stuff lives ✨.

I once lost a pitch because I refused to rush a half-baked idea. The client wanted something yesterday. I wanted something unforgettable for them, not slop churned out. 

We lost to an agency that promised speed. Three months later, their campaign fizzled out. No one remembered it. Not even the client.

Meanwhile, I kept tinkering with my team and staying in touch with the client on LinkedIn. My team scrapped drafts. We let the ideas breathe. We let it get weird. We let it get...good.

When we finally shared it, the client prospect was a little skeptical. It was different. But it was real. It made people stop scrolling 👀. It made them feel something 💡. That campaign went viral 🚀. Not because it was fast. Because it was right.

In a world obsessed with instant content, slow creativity feels almost rebellious 🕰️. But it is the only way to make work that matters. The only way to build something that lasts longer than a trending hashtag.

If you want to stand out, resist the urge to sprint all the time. Let your ideas simmer. Let them surprise you. Let them grow teeth. The best creative work is never microwaved. It is slow-cooked, with care and curiosity.

Do you have a story about an idea that was revived from the dead? Did it pay off?

Curiosity is a strange thing. It's supposed to be this endless well, but some days it just dries up. I'll sit in a meeting, nodding along, and realize I haven't asked a real question in ther meeting. Not out loud, anyway. 

It's easy to get comfortable, to let the routine do the thinking for you. But then something small breaks the pattern...a weird headline, a new voice in the room, a project that doesn't fit the mold. 🌀

Suddenly, I'm awake again. The questions come back, and with them, the urge to poke at things, to see what's underneath. 🔍

I wish I could bottle that feeling. Or at least remember how to find it when the days get heavy. 🌧️

Maybe it's about giving yourself permission to not know. To admit you're lost, or bored, or just plain stuck. That's usually when the good stuff starts to surface.

Curiosity isn't a given. It's something you have to fight for, especially when everything around you is pushing for certainty. I forget that more often than I'd like to admit. ⚡

Sometimes I wonder if we're all just pretending to know what we're doing.🤔 I've been in office rooms where everyone nods along, but you can feel the uncertainty hanging in the air. Nobody wants to be the first to say, I don't get it. Or, this isn't working.

But the older I get, the more I respect the people who are willing to admit when they're lost. Or when they're scared. 🗣️

Uncertainty isn't a weakness. It's the starting point for something new. 🌱 I wish I'd learned that sooner. I spent years trying to look like I had it all together. Now, I'm more interested in what happens when we drop the act. 🎭

It's not comfortable. But it's real. And sometimes, that's enough.

🍯🐻 Happy National Winnie the Pooh Day! 🐻🍯Celebrating the honey-loving bear who taught us about kindness, curiosity, friendship, and the power of a good snuggle. Pooh always said it best: “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” 💛 Here’s to simple joys and big hearts today.
#WinnieThePoohDay #PoohBearWisdom #HeartwarmingMoments #SimpleJoys

🩳🔥 Happy International Sweatpants Day- get comfy y'all! 🔥🩳 Whether you’re channeling Rocky sprinting up the Philly steps in full training sweats 🥊💥…or The Dude sipping a White Russian in maximum-comfort mode 🕶️🥃… today is the day to celebrate the true hero of modern life: sweatpants.
Comfort. Confidence. Inspiration. Sweatpants contain multitudes. 😄 Honor the day (and night!). Get comfy! #InternationalSweatpantsDay #ComfortMode #RockyVibes #TheDudeAbides #LinkedInAfterDark

Curiosity is a strange thing. It's supposed to be this endless well, but sometimes it just... dries up. 🤔

I used to think I was naturally curious, but lately I've realized it's something you have to feed. Not with big, dramatic gestures, but with small acts. Reading something outside your comfort zone 📚. Asking a question you're a little embarrassed to ask. Letting yourself be a beginner again.

It's uncomfortable. But it's also where the best ideas hide. 💡

I wish I could say I do this every day. Truth is, I fall into ruts like anyone else. But when I remember to nudge myself out of autopilot, even just a little, things start to shift. 🔄

Maybe that's all it takes. A little discomfort, a little wonder, and the willingness to not know for a while. 🌱

Does everything online looks "too perfect" and doesn’t feel real anymore? 🤔 AI is cranking out polished content every minute. Our feeds are packed with flawless graphics, clever headlines, and data-driven stories. 

But sometimes it feels like the spark is missing.

The best creative moments aren’t engineered. They come from late-night pushes, team brainstorms, things that are messy and risky and eccentric as hell. 🎨

Tech moves fast, but real storytelling still starts with a human. AI can remix and polish, but it can’t replace that raw, honest touch...the part where you don’t know if your idea will land or flop. ⚡

It’s tempting to chase perfection. But the work that sticks with people is usually the one that’s a little rough around the edges. The pitch that made you sweat. The sketch that wasn't perfect. The idea you almost gave up on. 📝

In a sea of synthetic content, embracing a little honest mess might be the boldest thing you can do. 🚀

🧙‍♂️📚 Happy J. R. R. Tolkien Day! 📚🧙‍♂️ From Middle-earth to Mount Doom, Tolkien showed us the power of imagination, friendship, and courage...and that even the smallest person can change the course of the future. 🌋✨
This evening is perfect day to revisit "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy on streaming for the next 9 hours before work on Monday...my precious!!! #TolkienDay #MiddleEarth #MyPrecious #Storytelling #LinkedInAfterDark

I've been thinking about the word authentic. It gets thrown around so much it almost stops meaning anything.

But then I see a piece of work that feels true...raw, a little unpolished, and it hits me. That's what I'm hungry for. Not the perfect story, but the one that feels like someone actually lived it. 🎬

It's hard to make space for that kind of honesty. There's always a voice in the back of my head telling me to clean it up, make it safer, more universal. But the stuff that sticks with me, the stuff I remember, never plays it safe. 🔥

I guess I'm still learning how to let the rough edges show. To trust that people can handle the mess, maybe even need it. 🤔 It's a risk, every time. But I'd rather take that risk than make something forgettable. 🎯 Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who feels this way. Probably not... #BeTrue #Authenticity

Lately, I've been craving the old analog days. Letraset press type, Xerox machines, sketch pads, X-Acto blades... Not because I think AI tech is the enemy, far from it. 

I love what AI can do, the way it cracks open new possibilities 🤖. But there's something about the friction of making things by hand that I miss ✍️. The smudges, the crossed-out lines, the way you could see the work in the work.

Now, everything is so clean. So fast ⚡. You can generate a hundred options in seconds, but sometimes it feels like none of them really belong to you. Like the machine is doing the heavy lifting, and you're just curating the results.

I know that's not entirely fair. AI is a tool, not a replacement. But I worry about creators losing the fingerprints, the little imperfections that make something feel alive. Maybe that's nostalgia talking. Or maybe it's a reminder to slow down, to leave a little room for the mess. To let the process show.

I don't have a solution. Just a stubborn hope that we can keep the human in the loop, even as the tools get smarter. Maybe especially then ✨.

Technology is supposed to make things easier, but sometimes it just makes things...LOUDER. 🔊 There's so much noise out there. 

So many tools promising to streamline, optimize, automate. And yet, the work that sticks with me, the stuff that actually moves people...never feels like it came from a machine. It's rougher around the edges. Sometimes it's a little awkward. Sometimes it's a lot awkward. But it's always unmistakably human. 🤝

I think of AI as a collaborator, not a replacement. Like a really smart assistant who can fetch things, organize chaos, maybe even surprise you with a connection you hadn't seen. But it can't feel for you. It can't care. 

That's still our jobs. And honestly, I'm glad for that. Because if everything sounded the same, I'd probably stop listening. 

So here's to the weird, the imperfect, the stuff that doesn't quite fit. That's where the real stories live. 🌱✨ (At least, that's where I want to spend my time.)

Ever notice the best ideas show up when things get messy? 🎨 

Real stories, the kind people remember, rarely come from a flawless plan. They grow out of mistakes. Wrong turns. Half-ideas that nobody takes seriously at first. 💡 Some of my favorite work started as something awkward or unfinished. Sometimes the detour is the actual path.

Perfection is overrated. The details we can't control, the mess we try to avoid, that's what makes storytelling feel real and human. 🤝

Maybe we need to give ourselves (and our teams) more permission to let the process stay a little chaotic. 🔄 Because when you loosen your grip, that's when something interesting happens.

Your best ideas commonly show up when you're not even trying. 💡 You sit down, ready to be creative... and nothing. Blank page, empty head. 

But take a walk 🚶♂️ to Starbucks, watch some YouTube, play laser with my cats, and suddenly, BOOM, ideas everywhere...

I used to fight it, thought I was slacking off if I wasn't "being productive." Now I just let my mind wander and see what happens. Turns out, forcing creativity is the fastest way to kill it. ❌ 

So if you're stuck, don't stress. Go do something else for a while. Let your brain breathe!

🙏 Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today: "Only in the darkness can you see the stars." , MLK 

Today is a reminder that even in challenging times, hope shines through people...through kindness, courage, and the belief that together we can build something better. 🤝 Here's to lifting each other up, choosing empathy, and continuing the work he championed. 💪❤️

Transforming IT Landscapes as Co-Founder & COO | Certified VCISO | Thought Leader in Cybersecurity & Managed IT

As the COO of BetterWorld Technology, I leverage extensive experience in the nonprofit sector and a proven track record as a VP of Technology to deliver operational excellence. As a certified VCISO, I specialize in providing strategic cybersecurity solutions alongside Managed IT and IT Consulting, helping organizations of all sizes stay secure, efficient, and innovative.

BetterWorld Technology is a nationwide, 24/7 Managed IT, Cybersecurity, and IT Consulting provider, delivering enterprise-grade solutions for organizations of all sizes. We’re big enough to offer robust, scalable technology and security services, yet small enough to provide personalized care and attention, ensuring tailored support that drives success.

John Jordan

CES showcases scale and spectacle, but  Eureka Park is where future ready technology first proves its value.

This is where next generation innovation moves from concept to commercial reality. Founders are pressure testing bold ideas, teams are solving problems most markets have not fully recognized, and technologies are emerging that will soon underpin modern enterprises.

For leaders thinking beyond near term cycles, Eureka Park offers a clear view into what comes next, not just new tools, but new operating models, security approaches, and ways to scale with intention.

At BetterWorld Technology | Managed IT & Cybersecurity , we pay close attention here, because early insight is how organizations turn innovation into durable advantage.

#CES2026 #EurekaPark #FutureOfTechnology #TechLeadership #EnterpriseIT #InnovationStrategy #BetterWorldTechnology

If you are looking for a full stack developer my buddy Kirk Mendoza is not only amazing at what he does he is genuinely one of the best people I know.

It's scary for me getting back out there into job hunting. It's even scarier posting for the first time in awhile on a platform. For the better part of the last decade, I've been an FTE for somebody, somewhere. I always had a routine of 8 'ish to 5'ish (with an hour'ish lunch in between). Last year, I even added being a part-time student to schedule but made it work and got my certification. 

In that routine - that comfort - I failed to maintain my online presence, my portfolio of work along with my dwindling participation in the communities I used to draw inspiration from. My instinct is to blame something other than what it really is... complacency. When I was let go this past August, I needed to apply for jobs or sell myself again as a freelancer, a contractor, a candidate for something that will pay the bills. This unpreparedness crippled me - like when I stub my right pinky toe on the corner foot of our bed. It feels like forever to recover but eventually I do...

I've been working on my new portfolio and targeted the new year as my project delivery date. I learned a lot along the way; not just the coding stuff and responsive techniques but about the changes I need to do for myself, including participating more with community. I'd be lying if I said wasn't feeling anxiety sharing the link but here it goes...  (Oh, thanks if you read up this point, much appreciated!)  =]

Hey gang! I've been working on newest portfolio site! It's been a long time coming but, it's here. I'm not the greatest designer but, I did my best. Would love your feedback - positives and even the not so positives. 😅

Open article: Kirk Mendoza - Multimedia Developer - Let's work together! by kirk-mendoza.com

Kirk Mendoza - Multimedia Developer - Let's work together!

Great perspective from Kurt Smith on what CES 2026 really highlighted.
The tech is impressive, but the real challenge is not innovation. It is integration, alignment, and execution. That is where strategy actually earns its keep.
Well said and right on point. 

Tagging a few folks who should be thinking about this shift:
 Working Excellence @CES
#CES2026 #Strategy #AI #Leadership #Execution

Dedicated to helping companies innovate with new technologies like AI, cybersecurity, data, and cloud engineering.

CES 2026 once again delivered what it does best: a glimpse into what’s next. AI copilots embedded into everyday workflows. Edge computing operating at near-instant speed. Immersive platforms reshaping how we shop, work, and interact.

AI is advancing rapidly, but most teams are stuck on integration and alignment, not on innovation. Strategy turns what’s possible into what’s practical—and executable.

Working Excellence

#CES2026 #Strategy #AI #DigitalTransformation #Execution

By Kurt Smith Chief Revenue Officer, Working Excellence CES 2026 once again delivered what it does best: a glimpse into what’s next. AI copilots embed

Open article: CES 2026 Proved It: Strategy Wins, Not Just Technology by Kurt Smith • 3 min read

CES 2026 Proved It: Strategy Wins, Not Just Technology

There’s a moment, right after a new AI tool gets rolled out, when everyone looks around and wonders, Did we just make things safer, or more complicated?

I’ve been there. The pressure to innovate is real, but so is the risk of moving too fast. Autonomous agents, quantum computing, regulations that seem to change by the week... it’s enough to make even the most seasoned vCISO pause.

What I’ve learned is that strategy isn’t about chasing every shiny object. It’s about asking the hard questions: Does this align with our business goals? Are we building something sustainable, or just reacting to headlines?

Sometimes I catch myself getting swept up in the excitement, only to realize we haven’t talked about how this impacts the people actually using the tech. That’s where the real risk lives. And the real opportunity.

How do you balance innovation with security in your organization? I’d love to hear what’s working—and what’s not. #AI #cybersecurity #TechStrategy #vCISO #betterworldtech

There’s a certain irony in how much time we spend preparing for threats we can’t even name yet. Quantum computing, AI-driven attacks, regulations that feel like moving targets... it’s enough to make your head spin.

But here’s what keeps me grounded: the fundamentals don’t change. Risk management, clear communication, a culture where people feel safe to speak up—those are the anchors, no matter how wild the storm gets.

I’ve made my share of mistakes chasing the next big thing. Sometimes I wonder if we’d all be better off slowing down, asking better questions, and listening more to the folks on the front lines.

What’s one thing you wish you could slow down and do better? I’m genuinely curious. #cybersecurity #riskmanagement #vCISO #TechStrategy #betterworldtech

I used to think compliance was the finish line. You tick the boxes, pass the audit, and breathe easy for a year. But lately, it feels more like a treadmill that keeps speeding up.

Regulations like the EU AI Act are coming in hot, and suddenly the old playbook doesn’t cut it. I’ve watched teams scramble to retrofit policies, only to realize the real challenge is getting everyone to care about the why, not just the what.

Here’s the thing: governance isn’t about paperwork. It’s about trust. If your people don’t buy in, no framework will save you when things go sideways. I’ve learned more from hallway conversations than from any compliance checklist.

Sometimes I wonder if we’re all just a little too focused on the next big threat, and not enough on the basics. Like, do your teams know who to call when something feels off? Do they feel safe raising their hand?

What’s one small change you’ve made that actually stuck? I’m always looking for ideas that work in the real world. #compliance #governance #cybersecurity #vCISO #TechStrategy #betterworldtech

Open article: Ruben Hassid (@ruben) by substack.com

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