Our Team
rebecca Macy akben founder & AI LIteracy Educator
Rebecca Macy Akben is the Founder and Principal Consultant of MacyAI LLC, an educational AI consulting practice focused on human-centered AI literacy and practical workflow design. She helps professionals, educators, and organizations understand how generative AI actually works, where it can support real productivity, and where human judgment must remain central.
Rebecca teaches AI literacy through Elon University's professional education programs and has trained hundreds of professionals across business, nonprofit, government, and higher education settings. Her workshops are built on more than a decade of classroom teaching experience and graduate training in education. Her approach is to help people move past hype or fear and toward clear, confident, responsible use through hands-on learning that makes complex ideas easier to work with.
Mustafa akben, phd Co-owner & Consultant
Mustafa Akben is a researcher and consultant focused on how artificial intelligence shapes human thinking and decision-making. As an assistant professor of management at Elon University, his work explores how generative AI can support, challenge, and transform cognitive work in real-world settings.
He brings deep expertise in machine learning, research design, and AI systems, with experience developing tools and conducting studies that examine AI readiness, leadership, and organizational behavior. His work connects technical capability with human context—helping organizations better understand not just what AI can do, but how it interacts with people, systems, and decisions.
Mustafa’s approach is grounded in both academic research and practical application, with a focus on clarity, thoughtful implementation, and long-term impact.
Our Story
In 1994, Bob and Karyn Macy founded Macy Advertising, a boutique agency built on one principle: selling with style.
Not louder. Not flashier.
Smarter. Human. Thoughtful.
Bob Macy was known as a brilliant creative mind — Pratt Institute trained, Madison Avenue seasoned, with a kind of star-power swagger that lit up a room. An award winning ad-man, he was also ahead of his time, experimenting early with AI as part of his creative process.
His daughter, Rebecca Macy Akben, continues that legacy, translating craft, discernment, and creative integrity into the age of artificial intelligence. Our mission is centered around building systems that honor human judgment, creativity, and values.