Bringing Executive Presence, AI Tech, and Aloha Spirit to the Big Apple
I had the privilege to photograph Jacqueline Rinehart, JD MBA , a fractional Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. She shared some of her journey.
“I work in AI & digital technology for the betterment of humankind, often leading in first-ever roles that drive innovation. I provide vision & structure that help people make change happen. I have been honored to do this for 23+ years in start-ups, FinTech, Fortune 50 & Big 4.
Innovation is in my DNA.
While serving as a lawyer for the NYPD, I worked with the police to root out crime & draw in economic investment in Harlem, Washington Heights & the Lower East Side. I led groundbreaking approaches coordinating multi-agencies for raids in the middle of the night to drive transformation.
I’ll never forget one night in Harlem with an officer assigned to me, we went into a crack den the police thought was a deserted building. Suddenly guns were shooting. Someone grabbed me & threw me into a car. It was like a scene from a movie. Yet, I was fearless in my desire to better the neighborhood. I felt I had the best job, but something more was calling me.
Through exposure to the NYC Economic Development Department, I decided to go to Yale to explore innovative public finance. I discovered & focused on emerging technologies with organizational transformation.
I made my business career in San Francisco. I went for an interview but stayed for a job created for me in finance & tech transformation. Whatever the latest technology was, I learned it naturally & incorporated it into my work. I taught myself everything with hands-on programmatic approaches that proved successful.
Eventually, I needed to step away from tech & urban living, so I moved to Hawaii. I wanted the journey & strength that came from reconnecting with myself by being closer to nature & living in the culture of Aloha.
Armed with certainty, I went to the jungles of Kauai working with a grass roots innovator who had built an operating model for sustainable agricultural. I was going to be the COO, but my executive leadership reignited a desire for big transformation & huge impact in evolving AI. New York City was calling.”
My advice:
Be confident in the choices you make for yourself; your journey is yours & yours only.
My discovery:
No matter where I went or how far, I returned to New York City where it all began!
With this discovery, I wanted a headshot encompassing all of me.
While known for my transformation & innovation superpowers, I wanted both my executive presence & passionate persona to shine through. I wanted the photo to embody my dynamism that promotes new ideas, my inclusive aloha spirit that shepherds innovation, & contagious leadership confidence, all brought together by my unique career journey.
Through Chief, I met Alissa. Her hair & makeup artist, Lisa made me look like an executive feminine powerhouse. Alissa brought out the qualities that I wanted to reveal in photos & we all had great fun!”