We help SMBs connect marketing & technology seamlessly.

As a marketing leader with 18 years of experience, I feel at home in the intersection of creativity and strategy. Throughout my career, I’ve been dedicated to delivering results while continuously reimagining the process, ensuring that every initiative engages and drives meaningful outcomes.

I’m passionate about combining analytical thinking with fresh, forward-thinking ideas—whether it’s leading teams, crafting campaigns, or creating new ways to connect with audiences. My leadership approach focuses on achieving success by embracing innovation and adapting to change, all while keeping a clear focus on the bigger picture.

If you’re looking for someone who brings both vision and precision to marketing, let’s connect!

Kacy Maxwell

Brian Sykes

A.I. Whisperer | AI Business Strategist | Generative AI Expert | LinkedIn Top 100 AI Artists | Brand Architect | Keynote Speaker

Seasoned strategist in Branding and Marketing with almost 3 decades of experience, amplified by Generative AI. Leveraging my depth of knowledge, I guide Creative Pros to transform and innovate by harnessing the power of AI. As the founder of AdJourney (1999-2022), I provided bespoke Branding and Marketing solutions for SMBs in various fields, driving growth and raising brand awareness.

My commitment to education in AI extends to my role as a Teacher & Consultant for the US Small Business Administration, NC-District. Here, I develop and deliver custom Business Classes and provide one-on-one consultation around Branding, Marketing, Advertising, and AI.

As an author and educator in Generative AI, I've produced multiple books and extensive resources, including 'A.I. Explore: Prompt Fundamentals,' a comprehensive guide to AI art generation that sold over 1000 copies. My work in this domain is also evident in my YouTube channel and podcast, where I share insights on AI and its potential applications in the business world.

Notable career highlights include the growth and marketing of brands such as Sandhills Pediatrics, Tex Racing, and Longworth Industries - XGO, among others. These experiences have equipped me to deliver high-value strategies that result in tangible business outcomes.

Now, I am focusing on a new venture as an AI Business Strategist. I provide tailored AI integration solutions for Creative Pros ready to embrace the future. I'm excited to work with forward-thinking companies and help them unlock the transformative power of AI in their operations.

Founder / Principal

HeadSpace Branding provides clarity to business leadership for brand transformation - solving complex business problems through Brand Strategy, Identity & Marketing.

I’m leaving North Carolina in June. 
For the next 3+ years, "home" is where the car stops. 🚗💨

My wife and I will soon become empty nesters. 
Instead of downsizing, we decided to do something radical.

We are launching a 3-year experiment called "Are We There Yet?"

We are traveling state-to-state, living in a new city every 30 days, to "audition" our next hometown. We are looking for America’s most vibrant, creative, and innovative communities... and the place we would like to call our next "HOME."

But I’m not just passing through.

I’m bringing the AI LAB with me.

For every city we live in, I am dedicating my 30-day "Residency" to equipping local business leaders and creative teams with Human-First AI Strategies.

My goal? 
To leave each city's business community more competitive and future-proof than I found it.

The 2026 Sprint Schedule: 
📍 Knoxville, TN (August) 
📍 St. Louis, MO (September) 
📍 Cincinnati, OH (October) 
📍 Oklahoma City, OK (November) 
📍 Denver, CO (December)

I have exactly 4 weeks in each city. I plan to fill my calendar up with workshops and keynotes before I even cross the state line.

Want to bring the AI LAB to your city while I'm in town?

Swipe through the deck to see the plan. 👉

Then DM me the word "TOUR", let's connect (if we aren't) and I’ll send you the full City Session Kit with details on how we can partner.

In the meantime... we'll keep asking the question:
Are We There Yet?

Brian Sykes + Trish Sykes

#DigitalNomad #AIStrategy #FutureOfWork #CreativeLeadership #Travel #AILab #HumanFirstAI

Creator of The (Hu)man Element™ | Equipping Creative Enterprises to Harness AI Without Losing the Human Touch | Keynote Speaker | Author

Brian Sykes | AI LAB | AWTY?

Deloitte's CTO just confirmed what I've been seeing in every AI rollout: companies are spending 93% of their AI budget on tech and only 7% on people.

That's not a typo. That's why your AI adoption is stalled.

You bought the tools.
You announced the strategy.
You gave everyone access. 

... and now you're watching usage drop, quality stay inconsistent, and teams quietly work around the policies you set.

The problem isn't your people.
It's not your tools either.
It's the missing layer between access and outcomes—the part everyone tries to skip because it doesn't come in a neat vendor package.

I call it the [Hu]man Element. 
It's the difference between expensive potential and actual value.

In this piece, I break down:
• Why FOMO funds software but fear stalls adoption
• The 3 predictable failures that show up when you underfund the people side
• How to flip the 93/7 problem before you waste another quarter wondering why access isn't turning into results

If you're leading a team through AI adoption and seeing the symptoms — low usage, shadow AI, perpetual training mode — this is for you.

Read the full article here.
Brian Sykes

Why the [Hu]man Element is the missing layer between “AI access” and “AI outcomes.” Deloitte’s CTO Bill Briggs recently shared a stat in Fortune that 

Open article: AI Adoption Is Not a Tool Problem. It’s a Human Problem. by Brian Sykes • 5 min read

AI Adoption Is Not a Tool Problem. It’s a Human Problem.

The Silent Crisis of the 30k-Follower Account.
He has 30,134 followers. He posted 18 times in the last 15 days. He is an expert in his field.
And yet... crickets. 🦗

My friend Dan Maher is stuck in what I call the "Algorithm Ghost Town." If you’ve felt like your reach has fallen off a cliff lately, you are probably living there too.

We're watching a massive shift in how LinkedIn ranks content. The strategies that worked in 2024/25 — polishing your graphics, "optimizing" with AI, and broadcasting daily — are now the exact things getting you ignored.

So, I’m trying something different.
I am taking Dan’s strategy apart, live, in real-time. 

Welcome to The Algorithm Breaker Series. 🧪

Over the next 3 weeks, we are going to rebuild Dan’s presence from the ground up to prove what actually works in 2026. No theories. Just a live rescue mission.

In Part 1 (Live Now in the Newsletter), we diagnose the 3 "Red Flags" killing his reach: 
🚩 The "Corporate Camouflage" Trap (Why his pro graphics are hurting him). 
🚩 The "Beige" AI Filter (How "refining" his text is stripping his humanity). 
🚩 The "Broadcaster" Penalty.

This isn't just about Dan. It's about all of us.
I am looking for 100 people to join us on this mini-sprint.
We are going to fix this together.

👉 Read Part 1 in the comments / link below.

Tell me in the comments: When you scroll your feed today, what makes you stop? Is it the polished graphic, or the raw photo?

The first lesson for creative - is to pay attention.
Brian Sykes | AI LAB

#LinkedInStrategy #PersonalBranding #AILab #HumanElement #AlgorithmBreaker

One of my connections on LinkedIn is Dan Maher. When it comes to talking about health insurance, he is truly a heavyweight contender. He has leveraged

Open article: The 30,000 Follower Ghost Town: A Live LinkedIn Rescue Mission (Part 1) by Brian Sykes • 4 min read

The 30,000 Follower Ghost Town: A Live LinkedIn Rescue Mission (Part 1)

4K Realism just got a major upgrade. 🚀

We aren't just talking about higher resolution,
we're talking about next-level fidelity.

I just dropped a deep dive on the ImagineArt 1.5 Pro release on my Substack.
 
The community response has been massive,
because the results speak for themselves.

If you are serious about high-quality AI generation, 
take a look at what this engine can do.

Brian Sykes

(Link in comments) 👇

Day 10 · The Most Human Company Wins

AI doesn’t make decisions.
It doesn’t own outcomes.
And it doesn’t carry responsibility.

People do.

That’s the throughline of the [Hu]man Element.

Across the last nine days, we’ve looked at why access, skill, tools, knowledge, motivation, assumptions, and environment all fail to produce better outcomes on their own.

Day 10 closes the loop.

Power doesn’t absolve responsibility.
Automation doesn’t remove authorship.
And intelligence doesn’t replace judgment.

AI amplifies whatever is already there.
Clarity or chaos. Discipline or drift. Integrity or avoidance.

The organizations that win in this next era won’t be the most automated.
They’ll be the most human.

Because when power scales, responsibility has to scale with it.

This isn’t about resisting AI.
It’s about remaining accountable as capability expands.

That’s the [Hu]man Element.

If this resonates, comment “Hu.”
I’m sharing this in public so you can see what I’m building.

It’s not a collection of pithy ideas.
It’s a Human Operating System for a world where power is no longer scarce.

Brian Sykes | AI LAB

AI LAB ::: [Hu]man • 10

I have a problem... 
When an AI tool is labeled with anthropomorphic qualities, and lent human 'autonomy of choice' ... which you can’t throttle, hold accountable or punish intentional error or wrong done. 

Here are my thoughts on Anthropic’s “New Constitution” for Claude.

Brian Sykes

** A reprint of my AI LAB Substack article from this past week.

It reads like Dr. Frankenstein defining the autonomy of the creature he is making as he stitches it together - and providing a loop hole of "Franky th

Open article: The Creator's Paradox: Anthropic's New Constitution by Brian Sykes • 8 min read

The Creator's Paradox: Anthropic's New Constitution

PART 3 continues this 4-part series:
Creating Hyper-Realistic AI Avatars in 2026.

Yeah, I know VEO & Sora makes some great videos that are wonderfully acted (and feeling more real than ever before)... but have you noticed that as soon as the character speaks, the Uncommon Valley becomes hyper evident?

Here's one way to fix that... 
( LINK in comments )

Brian Sykes

Do you ever choose something difficult just because it's difficult?
Not for the outcome — there's no prize waiting at the end, no proof you need to collect.
Not for recognition — no trophy, no finisher's shirt, no leaderboard with your name on it, no media spotlight, not even a certificate to frame.
Have you ever done something hard because the difficulty itself is the point?

Over the Christmas break, my youngest and a couple of his friends created their own mini challenge. Call it a practice Misogi.

What's a Misogi?
Misogi (禊) began as a Japanese purification ritual—traditionally, immersing yourself in the cold water of waterfalls or rivers to cleanse body, mind, and spirit. Today, it's evolved into something else: an annual challenge so difficult that success feels uncertain. An ultramarathon. A wilderness trek. Something that forces you past the edges of what you thought you could do.

The modern Misogi isn't about purification through water—it's about growth through deliberate discomfort. You choose something with roughly a 50% chance of success, something that dismantles your self-imposed limits. No external validation required. Just you, the challenge, and what you discover on the other side.

This post is not so much about the discovery on the other side - as it is sharing the actual adventure. 
Enjoy the ride.

This video is from clips the fellas captured. The details of the trip are on the 'Are We There Yet' Substack (linked in the comments).
Brian Sykes

In Part 2 of The Algorithm Breaker, we are stripping the armor off. 
We are moving from "Corporate Jargon" to "Barstool Advice" to improve Dan Maher's LinkedIn impact (and yours) when wrangling with the 2026 LinkedIn Algorithm!

Inside this article:
• The "Kill List" of words that ruin your reach.
• The "Anti-Robot" Prompt I built to fix Dan’s writing (steal it for yourself).
• A real Before/After transformation of his content.

Take off the armor. 
The algorithm (and people) like you better without it.

Brian Sykes  |  AI LAB

The 30,000 Follower Ghost Town: A Live LinkedIn Rescue Mission In Part 1, we kicked of the common problem shared by MANY since LinkedIn changed their 

Open article: The "Dan Maher" Rescue Mission: De-Roboting the Content (Part 2) by Brian Sykes • 4 min read

The "Dan Maher" Rescue Mission: De-Roboting the Content (Part 2)

CHOICE DAO dropped their “AI Movers & Shakers of 2026” list. I’m grateful to be named among educators I genuinely respect. What I appreciate most is the framing. This is not “who’s best.” It’s who shows up, shares, helps, and moves the community forward.
If you’re building with AI and trying to keep your craft, taste, and agency intact, follow the people on this list. They are the signal, not the noise.

Congrats to you all who made this list... 
and thanks Christopher Sicurella for time and attention to orchestrate this compilation as collected from the LinkedIn Community.

Genuinely honored,
Brian Sykes

We Proudly Present "The CHOICE DAO AI Movers & Shakers of 2026".
A Linkedin Community Vote / PART 2 of 2 / 70 creatives in total. 
 
"Being nominated or selected as an AI MOVER & SHAKER 2026 by the LinkedIn community is not about defining who is 'the best', nor about excluding others who may be equally talented or deserving.
Rather, it clearly highlights those creators whose community-driven actions inspired others to put their names forward.
Technical skill alone does not necessarily make someone a pillar or a guiding light for a community — that contribution is what is being recognized here."
 
Christopher Sicurella
CHOICE DAO member and Community Manager 
 
in alphabetical order
 
⚪ EDUCATORS TO LEARN FROM 

Arminas Valunas
Brian Sykes
Chris Branch
Drew Brucker
Rory Flynn
Ross Symons
Tianyu Xu

⚪ CREATIVES & GIVERS [Community Managers]

Alexander Esau
Amanda Jeffs
Amandine Leblanc-Hamel
Ar. June Chow
Big Al Gruswitz
Chad Lauffer
Christopher Sicurella
Dan Frydman
Deanna Leonard, MBA
Eva Norte
Filipa Kinomoto
Harriet Moser
Israel Ayliffe
Maribeth Woodford
Mike Parker
Mohamad Dadmand
Nina Sabina Caballero
Olga Volosin
Oniric Voltage
Rachel Gaia
Roberto Avila
Sabina Podjed
Sandu Baciu
Valerio Treviso
Vera Proharava

⚪ EXPERIMENTAL

Alwyn Velásquez 
Brian Lapinski
Duncan Young
Melita Radocaj
Or Ben David
 
🌈 See you all at our upcoming event TECHNOROMANCE 
Event link: https://lnkd.in/euz-B8FW

Part 2 dropped:
Creating Hyper-Realistic AI Avatars in 2026
Refining Your Avatar Image.

Link in comments.
Brian Sykes | AI LAB

AI is a tool.
Learning to leverage it to REPRODUCE something, is a learned skill. 

Coming up with creative ideas (ORIGINATING) is where the [Hu]man Element really shows up. 

In this post we take a look at the results of my friend Glenn Batkin’s #28portraits Challenge - and seek to use AI to reproduce the idea on another subject. 

How… is linked in the comments on my Substack.
Brian Sykes

The [Hu]man Element™ is not...
• a moral lecture
• nor a theological detour

It is a structural fact of human behavior:
Creativity. Resistance. Motivation.

All of it runs on flawed internal machinery.
The flaws shape the output.


Motivational Currency does not only include what we value.
It includes what we chase, what we avoid, and what we hide.

Humans “buy” things with their actions — even destructive ones.

Here's what that looks like:

1. Procrastination is not a productivity issue. It is a self-preservation reflex in disguise.
→  💵  Shame-based currency

2. Perfectionism is not high standards. It is the fear of being seen as inadequate.
→  💵  Ego-protection currency

3. Overwork is not discipline. It is avoidance of emotional stillness.
→  💵  Guilt-based currency

4. Creatives often resist AI not because of logic, but because AI threatens a fragile piece of their identity.
→  💵  Fear-based currency.

5. Some creative blocks are not creative. They are moral or emotional fractures.
→  💵 Broken-system currency

___

Rule 14 sits in the FRACTURE & SABOTAGE cluster—where human systems break down.

But fracture doesn't happen in isolation.
 It compounds with:
• IDENTITY & BELONGING issues (am I safe here?)
• CHANGE & ADAPTATION failures (can I keep up?)
• MOMENTUM & INERTIA traps (why can't I move?)

The [Hu]man Element diagnostic reveals which mechanics are active in your team—and how they're interacting.

That's what changes the conversation from 
>> 'why aren't we performing?' to 
>> 'oh, THIS is what's actually happening.'

Comment [Hu] to explore bringing this framework to your team.

Brian Sykes

Talent doesn't scale. Systems do.

Indiana Football didn’t just hire a coach...
they imported a "pre-installed culture."

They brought in players who already knew the playbook, bypassing the learning curve and instantly setting a standard of excellence.

In the AI LAB, we call this the [Hu]man Element.

If you are trying to integrate AI into your creative team but are stuck in "perpetual training mode," you don't need better tools. You need a better Operating System.

Inside, I reveal the blueprint of the "Cignetti Model" and how teams like Marian, Inc. are using it to win.

🚀 DIVE IN to this post...

Brian Sykes

The defining National story of College Football this year, wasn't magic, it was a specific market inefficiency that the Hoosiers exploited. Here's how

Open article: The "Perfect Storm" Formula of Indiana University (Hoosiers) by Brian Sykes • 4 min read

The "Perfect Storm" Formula of Indiana University (Hoosiers)

Insights are on me. The coffee? That’s on you. ☕️

For the next 3+ years starting this June, I’m living life a month at a time across the U.S. as part of our "Are We There Yet?" experience. But I’m not just there for the sights; we'll be there in search of our next home-town, and I want to help local business communities bridge the gap between AI hype and "Human-First" reality.

That’s why I’m launching "AI AMP RAMP - Get Up To Speed Over Coffee."

Every Tuesday during my residency, I’ll be posted up at a local coffee shop. No slides, no formal pitch... just a "Coffee Hour" where you can bring your toughest AI questions and get strategic answers for FREE.

::: The DEAL :::
INSIGHTS: My 20+ years of branding and AI strategy are at your disposal - not as a lecture or keynote, just meaningful conversations.

COST: Your Coffee is on you, but you get my best thinking for free.

GOAL: Get you up to speed on Human-First AI workflows while I get to know your city.

I’ve already got my Tennessee "short-list" cities for August: 
Knoxville, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Franklin 
-- But I have not nailed down the coffee shops.

I need your help picking the "HQ" for the rest of the 2026 Tour. 
Where are the best spots to host a creative, tech-forward crowd in these cities over coffee?👇 Drop your suggestions below for:
📍 Cincinnati, OH (September)
📍 St. Louis, MO (October)
📍 Oklahoma City, OK (November)
📍 Denver, CO (December)

Let’s find the best roasters in the country to house some high-voltage AI talk. 
🚗💨

Brian Sykes
#AreWeThereYet #AILAB #HumanFirstAI #AIAMPRAMP #DigitalNomad #CoffeeAndAI

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Brian Sykes's LinkedIn Performance

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