Michelle “MJ” James is Executive Vice President, Global Influencer Client Lead at Publicis Media, where she leads influencer transformation and strategy across a portfolio of skin, hair & beauty and self care brands. In her role, she advises brands on how to build culturally relevant, performance-driven creator strategies and connected creator ecosystems that drive brand and business growth.
Michelle has spent her career at the intersection of culture, community, and connection, helping brands understand how audiences are evolving, where culture is moving, and how to show up in ways that build trust, deepen engagement, and drive measurable outcomes.
Throughout her career, Michelle has transformed how brands connect with audiences and participate in culture. Her experience spans leadership roles at Publicis Media, Peloton, Meta, Fuse Media, and Viacom, helping brands navigate the intersection of culture, community, technology, and storytelling. She is credited with writing Instagram’s first culture marketing playbook and launching Peloton’s first global influencer program, two initiatives that helped redefine how brands engage with creators, communities, and culture.
Michelle’s relationship with NAMIC spans multiple chapters of her career. Over the years, she has received multiple NAMIC honors for her marketing work, including recognition for one of her favorite campaigns, BET’s The New Edition Story, the acclaimed miniseries celebrating the story and cultural legacy of the iconic group.
Michelle is also a creator in her own right. In 2019, she launched a wellness podcast in partnership with Google focused on wellbeing, community, and connection. Today, she writes Building Belonging, a weekly newsletter on Substack exploring the intersection of brands, culture, community, AI, and the experiences that bring people together.
Across every chapter of her career, Michelle has remained focused on one question: How do brands and leaders create meaningful connection in a world where culture, technology, and audience expectations are constantly evolving?