Today is my 30th birthday.

Originally, I was going to write a trite listicle on “30 lessons I’ve learned”. But that felt SOO overdone...

Big thanks to my friends Rebecca and Ellie for a much better idea.

Today, I’m sharing a mix of predictions, reflections, and personal visions for the future.

What life, marketing, AI, and community might look like this time in 1, 5, and 10 years.

May 23, 2026

AI is lightyears ahead of where it is today.

Tech jobs are starting to lose their prestige as AI encroaches on their daily workflows. Large companies will lose teams faster than small businesses, but it rolls downhill just the same.

We’ll start seeing “Chief AI Officer” titles, maybe even replacing some Chief Technology Officers. And still… we’ll be yelling “sPeAk WiTh A rEpRESentATITVE” into the phone, hoping to bypass a semi-robotic voice on the other end.

Gen Alpha will quietly take over making dinner reservations and scheduling dentist appointments for their elder millennial parents that get triggered by the sound of an uncanny valley voice.

May 23, 2030

Video tactics, software, and apps will change — but the core of video will be the same.

Marketers have claimed video is a “priority” content type for years. While some companies have actually committed and hired content creators, the reality is: plenty of successful content isn’t video-first. And it still works.

As AI clogs feeds with more crappy captions and half-baked thought leadership posts, video will stand out… until it doesn’t.

I’ve fallen into the Instagram Reels vortex enough times to know I'll reinstall my app timer in shame every time 40 mins passes but it felt like 5.

We’ve built content addictions. And that will be video’s downfall. Regulation will follow - whether it's from tyhe top-down or self-initiated.

Another reason from a completely different point: When you need a quick answer a video tutorial doesn’t always cut it. Sometimes you just want to COMMAND + F your way to the solution and keep moving.

May 23, 2035: A vision—

Hot Olive celebrates its 10-year anniversary.

We take the team on a luxurious retreat. We take clients axe throwing and out for manicures. Our annual holiday party doubles as a fundraiser—full of tapas, good drinks, and even better conversations. The whole community is invited to support a local cause or issue.

I have a family. I’m a present parent, showing up to Saturday morning academic tournaments just like my mom did for me.

In all seriousness, here’s my hope:

• I’ll be a mom.
• I'll be celebrating 10 years of marriage.
• I’ll be leading a business filled with the most talented people I know. People who love what they do and feel seen for it.

I hope the world feels less divided. I hope our planet is cleaner. I hope we’ve kept the desire for a better world alive.

None of this will happen by accident.

It will take effort. It will take hope. It will take a whole lot of willpower.

So in the next 1, 5, and 10 years—

To the years behind me, the ones ahead, and the people I’m building it with 🥂

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