I’m Michael, a Creative Director, Writer, and Filmmaker with more than 20 years of experience shaping narratives for brands, films, and publications.
My path started with books. So many books that I studied literature in college and went on to earn an MFA in Creative Writing. That same love of narrative pulled me toward travel and stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Hello!
I’ve worked as a fiction writer, literary editor, music journalist, playwright, filmmaker, and editorial creative director.
In 2014, I joined Airbnb, where I spent seven years as a lead creative and global storyteller. Embedded on the Experiences team from its earliest days, I helped shape the brand voice and editorial strategy across product, marketing, and community storytelling—producing everything from mini-docs and podcasts to city guides, tone-of-voice systems, and playful, wanderlusty social content.
Since 2021, I’ve run Hello Stranger Productions, my small film studio, while consulting on feature documentaries, voice and tone projects, and branded campaigns. My work focuses on themes of travel, lifestyle, food, and technology. My personal writing explores themes of grief, relationships, sexuality, and the mundane challenges of being a human in a chaotic world.
Career Journey
Approach
What drives all of my work is the same impulse that led me to books: a belief that stories can shift perspective and connect us more deeply to each other and the world. I look for the human core—whether I’m building a brand voice, mentoring a team, or directing a documentary. That moment of wonder, courage, or curiosity that makes a story worth telling.
I’ve served as Executive Creative Director, Head of Content & Creative, Editorial Creative Lead, and Executive Producer. I’ve built and led teams of 35+ across writing, design, film, and photography to produce high-impact campaigns and content systems for growing brands.
I lead the way I mentor, always challenging growth through a focus on craft, encouraging people to step outside their comfort zone, and creating space to think big. This mix of rigor and openness helps teams produce their best, most original work and grow as artists in the process.
