Ethan Ames: Copywriter, Strategist, Storyteller, Musician

I’ve been fortunate to work across various industries — from digital agencies, e-learning, and financial services, to e-commerce and music journalism — but, at my core, I’m a storyteller. My goal as a writer is simple: to create content that resonates with target audiences. Whether through a marketing campaign, an engaging script, or editorial content, I aim to inspire and engage.


Over the years, I’ve freelanced with well-known brands and agencies like American Express, Edelman and Capital One. Each of my roles have sharpened my ability to create brand-specific content that leave a lasting impact on audiences and enhance brand performance.


One of my most rewarding challenges at Salted Stone, a digital agency, started with a blank slate. I was asked to write a retrospective case study on a project I hadn’t been involved with. To me, that was where the fun began. I dove deep into talking to team members, gathering insights, and piecing together a narrative that captured the project’s success. What started as a challenge became a discovery process, and it reminded me how much I love uncovering the stories behind raw data.


I’ve also explored my passion for storytelling by being a devoted fiction writer. This passion has led me to serving as a script reader/submission judge at the renowned Austin Film Festival in 2023. My creative prowess and insatiable curiosity shines when I’m building immersive worlds and compelling characters. I’m a student of the craft, and this passion has been a major asset in some of my marketing roles - particulary at a communications agency, Mind & Media, where I wrote digital shorts for a government cybersecurity agency/Mind & Media client, CISA.


Beyond writing, I’m also a musician. Composing, performing and recording music in professional studio environments is a cornerstone of my creative pursuits and other one of my life’s deepest passions.


I’ve come to find that creativity isn’t just an innate passion; creativity is action. To keep it alive, one must maintain momentum and openness to new ideas. There’s a rhythm, progression and tone to all things creative — whether I’m writing a song, crafting a narrative, or working on campaign strategy. Flow, structure, and authenticity are essential to my process.

American Express

During Ames' time as a contract copywriter with American Express, his social media copy was featured Amex's distribution channels, including American Express Business social channels and the Business Trends & Insights homepage.

In addition, his diligent research and insightful questions reached multiple, high-profile guests on Office Hours, a live Q&A interview series about small business ownership.

American Express •

Business Class: The Series - Marketing: Mission & Metrics (American Express)

"Any business owner will tell you that marketing is at the heart of growing their brand. But it may be even more critical to success than you previously thought. In Episode Two 2 of Business Class: The Series, join host Suneel Gupta as he speaks with the founders of innovative brands, who have grown their businesses with digital marketing. You’ll learn how these business owners optimized their marketing strategies to engage authentically with their customer base."
American Express •

Office Hours Q&A with Chef Stephanie Izard

Since her first day as a culinary graduate student, Stephanie Izard knew that she had found her calling in the food industry. As the owner of five restaurants, including Girl & the Goat, Izard has a wealth of experience not only cooking professionally, but running multiple businesses. On a recent Office Hours episode, Izard talked about how taking risks helped her business goals become a reality. In this bonus Q&A, she discusses how she stays organized, handling adversity, and work habits.
American Express •

Office Hours: Ellen Marie Bennett, Founder of Hedley & Bennett

Ellen Bennett’s entrepreneurial journey started with an idea: quality aprons for food service employees. She pursued the idea with vigor, and today, Hedley & Bennett is a successful kitchenware company, with products used by some of the most prestigious names in the service industry. Bennett sat down with Suneel Gupta in a recent Office Hours to discuss how her ambitions have taken her to new heights. In a bonus Q&A, we asked Bennett to get candid about her workspace, how she’s handled adversity, and ways she stays motivated.