§ Profile — Owned, not rented · 2026

Your résumé shouldn't live on a platform that can revoke it.

This is the owned version of my professional record. Everything that's true about my work — twenty years of it — published on a domain I control, in a design system I built, indexed by Google directly, not mediated by an algorithm whose incentives aren't aligned with mine.

LinkedIn still has a copy. linkedin.com/in/nickboyd1. That's fine. But the canonical version lives here. This page is the point the page is making.

Companies
5 + 2 boards
Years building
20
Currently
POTSH Music
Based
Portland, OR
§ 01 — Summary

I'm Nick Boyd — founder & CEO of POTSH Music, an AI-native IP studio in Portland that releases worlds, not just artists. Five active artist projects with over 10M+ social media views, 78 countries reached, and revenue generation (banked).

The bet: in an age where anything visible can be generated — a logo, a song, a face, a paragraph — outputs collapse to commodity. The only thing that does not collapse is what holds them in place. The lived anchor. The world that compounds. The framework underneath. What's underneath compounds.

I got here by an unusual path. I was cast on a Bravo TV modeling competition in my early twenties. When that door closed, I built a fifteen-year corporate career — Target, Gap, Nike — running brands, talent and creative systems. I keynoted LinkedIn Talent Connect in 2022 on building cultures that scale and using immersive tech to do so. Then AI got useful, and I realized the entertainment career I'd been told wasn't possible for me actually was — just on a different infrastructure than the one that turned me away.

I write and speak about three things:

01

Substrate

The world-builder founder. An emerging category of CEO who uses AI not to replace creativity but to amplify identity.

02

Clarity Unlocked

My framework for decision quality under pressure. Most people aren't stuck for lack of options; they're stuck operating on a distorted version of reality.

03

The Rebirth

What it means to come back to your original calling on your own terms, with the receipts, after the world told you no.

If you build at the AI/entertainment seam, run a music or media business, sit on boards I should know about, or you've ever been told you were "too much" of something for the dream you had — I'd like to know you.

AI-assisted. Human-directed. Manually finished.

§ 02 — Experience

Twenty years, six logos, one thesis.

Each role with the work that actually happened. Where the brand owns the video, the brand's video is what's embedded — receipts, not claims.

POTSH Music.

Founder & CEO Aug 2025 — Present Portland, OR potshmusic.com ↗
Aug 2025 — Present 10 mo · Portland, OR

Founder & CEO

POTSH Music is an independent AI-era music and IP studio developing artists, catalogs, visual worlds, release systems, and audience funnels as interconnected creative properties. As Founder & CEO, I lead company strategy, creative direction, music/IP development, artist-world architecture, AI-assisted production workflows, distribution, marketing, analytics, and commercial operations.

  • Built and operate a human-led, AI-assisted studio model designed to release worlds, not just artists
  • Developed a growing portfolio of artist/IP worlds across SAINTE NICK, GIRL.CODE, Riley Gavins, Peter Chase Jr., FLONYX, and additional projects in development
  • Generated 10M+ social media views, reached audiences across 78 countries, and created early revenue across the catalog
  • Built launch systems across music distribution, metadata, landing pages, social content, paid media testing, editorial assets, ecommerce, and performance reporting
  • Produce AI-assisted, human-directed creative outputs across music, image, video, campaign strategy, and brand systems, with final work manually reviewed, finished, and released under human creative control

AI-assisted. Human-directed. Manually finished.

Nike.

3 years 4 months Portland, OR Oct 2022 — Jan 2026
May 2024 — Jan 2026 1 yr 9 mo · Portland, OR

Sr. Director, Talent Strategy, Culture & Organizational Effectiveness

Led enterprise talent systems work across Nike's global talent ecosystem — connecting hiring, mobility, culture, organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, and AI-enabled transformation into clearer operating models and stronger execution rhythms.

Oversaw a 35+ person organization across Talent Acquisition Strategy, Employer Brand, Hiring Enablement, Internal Mobility, and Early Career programs while partnering with Talent Management, Organizational Development, Learning, HR Technology, Legal, Finance, and senior business leaders.

  • Built the operating model, governance, quarterly business review discipline, and performance infrastructure for Nike's Global Talent Acquisition COE
  • Launched Nike's first AI-powered recruiting assistant and redesigned career site experience to improve candidate engagement, conversion, and hiring experience
  • Developed Nike's Internal Gig Marketplace MVP to support internal mobility, stretch assignments, and workforce agility
  • Created real-time dashboards and recruiter capacity models to improve visibility, prioritization, and executive decision-making
  • Elevated hiring quality through interview frameworks, readiness training, recruiter development, and scalable talent playbooks
  • Strengthened cross-functional governance with HR Tech, Legal, Finance, and business leadership across the hiring ecosystem
  • Designed executive onboarding experiences that translated Nike's culture, expectations, and employee experience into a premium leadership transition model
  • Helped connect talent acquisition, mobility, employer brand, and workforce strategy into a more integrated enterprise talent system
Talent Strategy · Organizational Effectiveness · Culture · Workforce Strategy · Talent Acquisition · Internal Mobility · AI in Recruiting · Employer Brand · Candidate Experience · Hiring Enablement · Recruiting Operations · Governance · Performance Metrics
Brand-owned · Nike Careers: Our Stories youtube.com/@NikeCareersOurStories ↗
Why We Do It — Nike Careers: Our Stories
Why We Do It
How We Do It — Nike Careers: Our Stories
How We Do It
Just a job? Not to you. — Nike Careers: Our Stories
Just a job? Not to you.
Oct 2022 — May 2024 1 yr 8 mo · Portland, OR

Sr. Director, Global Talent Acquisition

Led enterprise hiring strategy, talent acquisition enablement, and global recruiting transformation across Nike, Jordan, and Converse during a period of accelerated business and workforce change. Partnered across Talent Acquisition, HR, business leadership, HR Technology, Finance, and Legal to strengthen hiring operations, candidate experience, workforce planning, and global talent delivery.

  • Led global hiring initiatives and talent acquisition enablement for Nike, Jordan, and Converse
  • Built strategies to improve hiring velocity, pipeline health, talent quality, and operational consistency across global markets
  • Shaped enterprise workforce planning, location strategy, and talent acquisition capability expansion
  • Used market intelligence, performance data, and recruiting insights to inform talent strategy and resource decisions
  • Advanced hiring frameworks, recruiting practices, and enablement tools across TA and HR partner teams
  • Modernized candidate experience and recruiting operations to support Nike's long-term talent and inclusion goals
  • Led a 20+ person team across Global Recruiting Strategy, TA Enablement, and EVP functions
  • Served as a member of Nike's Stores HR Leadership Team
Talent Strategy · Workforce Planning · Talent Acquisition · Hiring Enablement · Candidate Experience · Recruiting Operations · Employer Value Proposition · Governance · HR Strategy · Market Intelligence

Target.

5 years 3 months Minneapolis, MN Aug 2017 — Oct 2022
Aug 2020 — Oct 2022 2 yr 3 mo · Minneapolis, MN

Sr. Director, HR — Talent Strategy & Organizational Change Operations

Led strategy, operations, innovation, and creative design for Target's Talent & Change COE — supporting enterprise talent, learning, culture, DEI, team member experience, and organizational capability work across a 360,000-person workforce.

Built the operating infrastructure behind how Target designed, delivered, measured, and scaled enterprise people experiences across stores, supply chain, headquarters, and leadership populations.

  • Led a 30+ person organization across Strategy, Innovation, Creative Design, and Operations for Target's largest HR COE
  • Designed inclusive team member experiences, equitable talent practices, and scalable learning moments that reinforced Target's culture
  • Rebuilt COE operating routines, strategic planning rhythms, and cross-functional governance to improve alignment and execution
  • Advanced Target's digital and virtual learning capabilities, including VR-enabled development experiences for frontline and executive audiences
  • Delivered learning programs with 93% favorability and engagement scores across broad enterprise populations
  • Enabled expanded access to on-demand learning, increasing total learning hours and repeat engagement
  • Served as Executive Co-Chair of the HR Diversity Action Committee and reverse mentor to an HR Leadership Team member
  • Represented Target externally through L&D and future-of-work speaking engagements, including Skillsoft Perspectives
Talent Strategy · Culture · Change Management · Organizational Effectiveness · Learning & Development · Employee Experience · DEI · HR Strategy · Creative Operations · Future of Work · Digital Learning · VR Learning
Featured · Skillsoft Perspectives 2021 Interviewed by Skillsoft CMO on Target's learning transformation for 360K+ team members
Target's Journey to Transforming Learning — Skillsoft Perspectives 2021
Target's Journey to Transforming Learning · Skillsoft 2021
Aug 2017 — Aug 2020 3 yr 1 mo · Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul

Director, Talent Acquisition Strategy & Operations

Led Target's enterprise Talent Acquisition strategy, operations, recruitment marketing, employer brand, recruiting technology, and analytics infrastructure supporting the annual hiring of 130,000+ team members worldwide.

Built the systems, routines, tools, and operating model behind one of the largest high-volume and professional recruiting engines in retail.

  • Led a nearly 40-person organization across TA Strategy & Planning, Recruitment Marketing, Employer Brand, Recruiting Operations, Events, Partnerships, and Coordination
  • Developed Target's global Talent Acquisition capability maturity model and enterprise recruiting strategy
  • Built annual recruiting plans across stores, distribution centers, headquarters, and specialized business areas
  • Oversaw recruiting operations across process, technology, analytics, reporting, and business delivery support
  • Managed recruitment marketing, employer brand, digital campaigns, events, and external partnerships
  • Supported multi-million-dollar TA budget planning and operational prioritization
  • Served on HR's Diversity Action Committee, focused on representation, hiring, retention, and advancement across HR
  • Served as reverse mentor to an HR Leadership Team member and company officer
Talent Acquisition · Recruiting Operations · Employer Brand · Recruitment Marketing · Talent Strategy · Workforce Planning · High-Volume Hiring · HR Operations · Recruiting Technology · Analytics · DEI
Selected work · Target era archive ↗
TARGET LAB x NYC Career Development Event
TARGET LAB x NYC · Career Development
Target — TA Strategy & Operations
Target · TA Strategy & Operations

English Rose.

Advisory Board Member Edina, MN Oct 2021 — May 2022 · 8 mo
Oct 2021 — May 2022 8 mo · Edina, MN

Advisory Board Member

Served as a paid advisory board member for English Rose, a care provider supporting people with Alzheimer's, dementia, complex medical conditions, and end-of-life needs.

  • Advised on people, brand, experience, and organizational strategy
  • Brought enterprise HR, culture, and experience design perspective to a mission-driven care model

Talent Marketing Board.

Founding Board Chair Sep 2017 — Aug 2020 · 3 yr
Sep 2017 — Aug 2020 3 yr

Founding Board Chair

Founding board chair of the Talent Marketing Board, a senior community for leaders in employer brand, recruitment marketing, and talent attraction.

  • Helped shape industry dialogue around employer brand, candidate engagement, and the relationship between brand, culture, and talent

Gap Inc.

3 years 6 months San Francisco Bay Area Mar 2014 — Aug 2017
Feb 2017 — Aug 2017 7 mo · San Francisco Bay Area

Director, Talent Acquisition

Led enterprise talent supply and attraction across Gap Inc.'s global brand portfolio.

  • Connected employer brand, recruitment marketing, recruiting operations, and pipeline strategy across Gap Inc., Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, and Intermix
Jan 2016 — Feb 2017 1 yr 2 mo · San Francisco Bay Area

Director, Talent Acquisition

Led talent brand, recruitment marketing, recruiting operations, recruiting technology, and entry-level HQ recruiting across Gap Inc.

  • Led & built career site strategy, recruiting tools, digital and in-store collateral, events, partnerships, ATS, CRM, reporting, and recruiting operations
Mar 2014 — Jan 2016 1 yr 11 mo · San Francisco Bay Area

Director, Global Talent Brand

Created and led Gap Inc.'s global talent brand function across its multi-brand retail portfolio.

  • Built employer brand strategy, recruitment marketing, and external talent storytelling across Gap Inc., Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, Piperlime, and Intermix
  • Served as a Glassdoor Client Advisory Board member and received Gap Inc.'s company-wide Exceed Award
Selected work · Gap Inc. talent brand era archive ↗
Gap Inc. Talent Branding Approach
Gap Inc. · Talent Branding Approach
NRF Member Spotlight: Gap Inc. Careers
NRF Member Spotlight · Gap Inc. Careers
Gap Inc. Talent Brand Campaign: Career Opportunity
Talent Brand Campaign · Career Opportunity
Gap Inc. Talent Brand Campaign: Design
Talent Brand Campaign · Design
Talent Brand Simplification of a Complex, Global Retailer — HCI
HCI · Talent Brand Simplification (talk)

Target. (Earlier.)

3 years 7 months Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Aug 2010 — Feb 2014
Aug 2012 — Feb 2014 1 yr 7 mo · Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul

Strategist, Global Recruitment Marketing & Employment Brand

Led global recruitment marketing and employment brand strategy for Target Careers.

  • Managed career content, social media, digital campaigns, and passive candidate engagement across priority hiring segments
Feb 2012 — Aug 2012 7 mo · Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul

Marketing Manager, Private Label Grocery Brands

Led marketing, promotional, in-store, and packaging strategy for Target's private-label grocery portfolio.

  • Supported Market Pantry, Simply Balanced, up&up, and Archer Farms across brand, packaging, merchandising, and store experience work
  • Led multi-million dollar marketing budgets for multiple $1B+ Target owned brands
Selected work · up&up owned-brand spots archive ↗
up&up Household Commodities Spot
up&up · Household Commodities
up&up Back to School Spot
up&up · Back to School
Aug 2011 — Feb 2012 7 mo · Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul

Marketing Manager, Hardlines

Led promotional and in-store marketing strategy for Target's baby, personal care, and household commodities businesses.

  • Partnered with vendors including P&G, Johnson & Johnson, and Kimberly-Clark to activate category marketing programs
Aug 2010 — Aug 2011 1 yr 1 mo · Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul

Sr. Marketing Specialist, Toys & Sporting Goods

Led integrated marketing planning for Target's toys and sporting goods categories.

  • Spearheaded Target's Holiday Toy Catalog, helped shape Q4 strategy, and supported owned-brand packaging work

Kimberly-Clark.

Specialist, Shopper Marketing Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Feb 2010 — Aug 2010 · 7 mo
Feb 2010 — Aug 2010 7 mo · Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul

Specialist, Shopper Marketing

Developed shopper marketing and retail activation programs for Kimberly-Clark brands at Target.

  • Supported promotional programs across baby care, child care, adult care, feminine hygiene, and family care categories

Target. (Beginning.)

Sr. Marketing Specialist, CSR/ESG Jun 2006 — Dec 2009 · 3 yr 7 mo
Jun 2006 — Dec 2009 3 yr 7 mo

Sr. Marketing Specialist, CSR/ESG

Developed marketing strategies for national community relations, education, arts, multicultural, and brand-building initiatives.

  • Managed cross-functional partners, integrated campaigns, and multi-million-dollar marketing budgets
Selected work · Target CSR archive ↗
Target Field Trip Grant Promotional Video
Target · Field Trip Grant
§ 03 — Education

Five credentials. Two eras.

A business foundation (BS, MBA) followed by graduate-level work in the technologies that are now reshaping the discipline — MIT VR/AR, MIT Applied Agentic AI, and Wharton's Business in the Metaverse Economy.

May 2026 — Jul 2026
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Certification, Applied Agentic AI for Organizational Transformation
Sep 2022 — Nov 2022
The Wharton School
Certification, Business in the Metaverse Economy
Jun 2022 — Aug 2022
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
2008 — 2010
Hamline University
MBA, Strategic Negotiations + Conflict Management
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Business Marketing

§ 04 — Honors

  • Gap Inc. Exceed Award (company-wide)
  • Keynote, LinkedIn Talent Connect 2022
  • Skillsoft Perspectives — Future-of-work speaker

§ 05 — Top Skills

  • AI-Era Brand & IP Strategy
  • Talent Attraction
  • Advisory Boards
  • Organizational Effectiveness
  • 3D Printing & Spatial Computing

The page is the proof.

Twenty years of receipts, on a domain I own, in a design I built, indexed where I want it to be, in a form no platform can rewrite. If that's the kind of operator you want to work with, talk to me.