Hi!
I’m Michael Theisen, a marketer, educator, and father. Nice to meet you! It’s okay; you can call me Mike.
I’m passionate about the art and science of marketing—it’s a dynamic, ever-evolving field that fuels my work with teams, inspires my students, and even shapes how my daughters tailor their own messages. I live and breathe great storytelling, strategy, and audience connection.
Areas of Expertise
Strategic Planning
A goal without a plan is nothing more than a wish. In my role, I have spearheaded all marketing operations and strategic communications across brand development, experiential, traditional advertising, and public relations. I’ve developed plans not only in today’s best interests but also for future needs and continued growth.
Marketing Operations
With an ever-changing landscape, marketing can be a daunting undertaking. Whether designing or implementing processes, selecting the best technology solution, or creating meaningful metrics, I have the experience to help your business scale and maximize its return on investment.
Data Analysis
I was once told that analytics was more storytelling than math. I cannot agree more. How can we analyze your data to make it actionable and tell the story of your business? Let’s fill in the blanks to create a winning strategy and an accurate understanding of the factors in play.
Journal
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Those Who Can, Do—and Teach Better Because of It
“Those who can’t do, teach.”It’s a phrase that’s been tossed around for generations, usually as a cheap punchline aimed at educators. But not only is it inaccurate—it completely misunderstands what great teaching actually is. In reality, those who can do often teach better precisely because they’ve done the work, faced the consequences, and navigated the
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Marketing Lessons Learned From a Year of AI, Algorithms, and Attention Scarcity
Marketing conversations increasingly focus on tools, platforms, and algorithms. But the most important changes aren’t technological—they’re behavioral. Audiences are more selective. Attention is harder to earn and easier to lose. Generic messaging blends into noise. Trust and relevance determine whether messages land. AI accelerates execution, but it doesn’t replace judgment. Strategy, empathy, and clarity matter
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Why Loyalty Programs Fail to Create Loyalty
Loyalty programs are designed to reward repeat behavior, but many fail to create true loyalty. Points, discounts, and perks encourage transactions—but they don’t automatically build emotional attachment. Transactional loyalty is fragile. Customers participate as long as incentives exist. When a better offer appears, they leave. This isn’t disloyalty—it’s rational behavior. True loyalty is relational. It’s