From revolutionizing marketing strategies to optimizing content creation, and enhancing customer experiences to streamlining operations, these 16 AI thought leaders are putting theory into practice.
They offer invaluable insights on how AI can transform businesses while addressing the ethical considerations guiding its development.
Whether you are a marketer, an agency professional, or a business leader looking to harness the power of AI, the expertise and experiences of these thought leaders will provide you with actionable insights and inspiration:
Liza Adams
The Why: A passionate champion for using data-driven insights to fuel creativity and innovation in marketing.
Liza Adams is known for her practical applications of AI in content personalization and analytics. Adams is an AI advisor and fractional CMO, working with B2B businesses. With 20+ years as a senior marketing exec at industry leaders like Smartsheet, Juniper Networks, and others, she helps teams understand AI’s potential, craft AI strategies, and plan AI operations. Liza is all about guiding teams to create value and profit responsibly with AI. With a decade in AI, from machine learning to generative AI, she is recognized as an AI thought leader, writer, and speaker. Liza was recognized as a person to follow in AI at G2’s 2023 Reach event and named one of the 50 CMOs to watch in 2024 by Pavilion. Her work focuses on leveraging AI to create more relevant and engaging content experiences for audiences. She’s big on using business for good, boosting marketing’s value, and supporting diversity and inclusion.
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Martin Broadhurst
The Why: A top voice in leveraging AI to revolutionize marketing with practical, industry-leading insights and expertise.
Martin Broadhurst is a top voice in the practical application of AI tools for marketers. He’s all about helping companies use AI to boost efficiency and innovation. Martin’s mission is to demystify AI for marketers of all backgrounds. Broadhurst is a Hubspot Gold Partner. Hosting the ‘Artificially Intelligent Marketing’ podcast on Spotify, he breaks down marketing and AI weekly. His professional journey includes publications in peer-reviewed journals, a role on the editorial board of Applied Marketing Analytics journal, and he also holds a lecturer position where he teaches marketing.
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Dustin Callif
The Why: A thought leader in marketing who uses AI to create more personalized and efficient customer experiences.
Dustin Califf leads the day-to-day operations of an award-winning creative production partner, Tool. Known for expertise in brand storytelling, creative tech, and commercial production, Califf drives AI-enhanced advertising campaigns. He sees AI as a game-changer in content creation, helping marketing teams craft efficient creative tools. Throughout his award-winning career, Califf has teamed up with big names like Amazon, Uber, Airbnb, Chobani, Facebook, Netflix, Google, Under Armour, Landrover, Intel, Starbucks, Nike, and more. Califf also has shared insights at major conferences like SXSW and Cannes Advertising Festival and is a regular Forbes contributor on the subject of AI and advertising. His insights into automating and optimizing customer journeys are revolutionizing how businesses approach growth and retention.
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Andy Crestodina
The Why: Highly respected figure in SEO and content marketing, known for his ability to simplify complex SEO strategies and make them actionable for marketers.
Over the last two decades, Andy Crestodina has been dishing out digital marketing tips to 1,000+ businesses. He’s a regular speaker at major marketing events and writes for big marketing blogs. He is also the author of “Content Chemistry: The Illustrated Handbook for Content Marketing.” With 500+ articles on content strategy, SEO, influencer marketing, visitor psychology, and analytics, and now a growing number of AI articles, his content reaches over a million readers annually. Andy’s practical advice and data-driven approach make him a must-follow for anyone serious about digital marketing.
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Jeff Coyle
The Why: A pioneer in using AI to optimize content strategy that balances creativity with data-driven insights
Jeff Coyle, the co-founder and CSO at MarketMuse, is a data-driven search engine marketing pro with over 21 years in the search industry. He’s all about aiding content marketers, SEO pros, agencies, and e-commerce folks in boosting their content game and putting semantic research to work. Before kicking off MarketMuse in 2015, Jeff consulted in Atlanta and headed up the Traffic, Search, and Engagement crew at TechTarget for seven years. If you’re a MAICON alum, you’ve definitely crossed paths with this MAICON 5-time speaker! His expertise has been featured in Search Engine Journal, Forbes, and other great places.
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Yash Gad, Ph.D.
The Why: AI researcher who emphasizes leveraging AI while prioritizing data privacy and security.
Yash Gad is a data science and tech expert with over 15 years of experience in healthcare, marketing, machine learning, and analytics. He is the brains behind Audience Architecture, which uses AI-backed tools to blend digital media, proprietary datasets, and public datasets for valuable actionable insights on customer behaviors. His contributions are critical for companies looking to leverage AI while safeguarding sensitive information. Yash’s thought leadership extends beyond technical expertise; he is also an advocate for ethical AI practices in marketing.
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Ashley Gross
The Why: A lifelong learner and trailblazer in building AI marketing engines that drive business growth.
Fueled by the impact of generative AI, Ashley Gross left a successful marketing career to champion accessible AI solutions. Her love for learning and crafting AI apps, along with building a sales GPT from scratch, sparked a community passion. Now, Gross heads a thriving subscription platform offering tools, founder access, workshops, and events. She is passionate about scaling AI applications beyond pilot projects to achieve sustainable, long-term results. Ashley’s leadership in this space makes her a key figure for anyone looking to fully integrate AI into their marketing strategy.
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Keith Moehring
The Why: A leading voice in AI-powered automation for marketers.
Keith Moehring, Founder & CEO of L2 Digital, partners with small- and mid-sized businesses to tap into AI’s potential. By optimizing processes, strategizing AI implementation, and creating custom AI-powered automation, he aids clients in enhancing marketing and sales systems for better performance and empowers sales teams, generating quality leads consistently. His expertise lies in creating AI-driven workflows that streamline marketing operations and improve efficiency. Keith’s work is instrumental for marketers looking to build their AI-powered automation to scale their efforts.
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Kirsty O’Sullivan
The Why: A visionary in enhancing customer experiences through conversational AI.
Kirsty O’Sullivan leads ZoomInfo’s Customer Experience organization, having joined ZoomInfo in August 2020. In this role, she oversees customer onboarding, integrations, education, solutions, digital success, and contract operations teams. Her innovative work in creating AI-driven customer interactions is setting new standards in how brands communicate with their audiences. Kirsty’s insights are invaluable for marketers looking to leverage conversational AI for deeper customer engagement.
Learn more about Kirsty:
Josh Payne
The Why: A go-to expert for anyone interested in optimizing their digital presence through AI technologies.
Josh Payne is a thought leader in AI-driven web and marketing optimization. Payne, the founder and CEO of Coframe, has quite the track record! He co-founded Autograph, a $2B+ unicorn backed by Andreessen Horowitz and Kleiner Perkins, and led AccessBell to an acquisition by Tata Group. With Marlin, a $180M+ ICO, he made his mark as a founding engineer. Payne’s ventures have raised over $200M in funding, and he’s been a key player in successful acquisitions. Plus, he’s got 20+ peer-reviewed papers and patents, primarily in AI, under his belt. His open-source AI code generation project, GPT-Migrate, reached #1 on GitHub Trending. His work uses AI to improve website performance and enhance digital marketing efforts.
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Nicole Perrin
The Why: A recognized thought leader in the application of generative AI in advertising.
Nicole Perrin joined Advertiser Perceptions with a background in digital advertising, content marketing, and editorial. With over a decade of experience, she distills information to help pros grasp key digital ad trends. Previously, she was a lead eMarketer analyst at Insider Intelligence, covering topics like digital ad spending, identity, and retail media ads. Nicole has also shared insights through podcasts, webinars, and newsletters in her roles at eMarketer/Insider Intelligence. Her insights into how advertisers are leveraging AI to create more dynamic and effective campaigns are invaluable for marketers looking to stay ahead in the advertising space. Nicole’s work is essential for understanding the future of AI in advertising.
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Wil Reynolds
The Why: A data-driven SEO expert known for his commitment to ethical and impactful marketing practices.
Wil Reynolds is the Founder and CEO of Seer Interactive, a top-notch digital marketing agency in the U.S. He is a thought leader in the transition to large language models and human-centric search results, offering invaluable insights for marketers navigating this new landscape. With a background in teaching and a talent for advising, Reynolds is passionate about helping people and businesses grow. He’s been helping Fortune 500 companies develop SEO and digital marketing strategies since 1999. Known for his deep knowledge and practical approach to SEO, PPC, and digital strategy, he’s a sought-after speaker and consultant. Reynolds started Seer Interactive in 2002 after his boss wouldn’t let him volunteer on his lunch break. A philanthropist at heart, he had the first few Seer team members sign contracts committing to giving back to the community. Fast forward to 2024, Seer’s still dedicated to community impact, aiming for $15MM by 2032.
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Michael Stich
The Why: An AI-driven content personalization expert with an innovative approach critical for marketers aiming to boost customer engagement.
For more than 25 years, Michael Stich has guided executives in leveraging innovation. His work focuses on automating content delivery to create more personalized experiences for both businesses and consumers. Currently, as a Partner at CourtAvenue, he oversees Clients and Capabilities, working with Kia, Epson, General Mills, US Air Force, Dell, and Elanco to develop tailored marketing solutions. He’s an advisor, board member, and investor in various startups. Before joining CourtAvenue in 2020, Stich was the WPP Global Client Leader for Dell Technologies and Chief Business Officer for VMLY&R, collaborating with C-Suite clients on marketing strategies. A recognized digital marketing expert, he speaks and writes on topics like AI, Web3, and customer experiences.
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Helen Todd
The Why: An essential follow for those interested in exploring the future of online communication with AI avatars.
Helen Todd is the first resident in Cincinnati, OH, to digitally clone herself with a hyper-realistic avatar. Her work looks into the impact of AI on digital communication and how avatars can be used to enhance online interactions. She co-founded Sociality Squared, a social media agency in NYC back in 2010, right when social media was taking off to help brands grow. She was right there at the start of a game-changing tech, and now she’s paving the way again with Creativity Squared – a free weekly newsletter, podcast, and YouTube channel diving into AI and creativity. The goal? To spark our imaginations and envision a world where artists work alongside AI. Todd is an award-winning marketer, international speaker speaker, and a trusted advisor for SXSW Interactive.
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Susan Westwater
The Why: A recognized expert in AI-driven branding and voice strategy who helps brands navigate the complexities of creating a consistent and engaging voice across multiple platforms.
Susan Westwater advises leading brands worldwide looking to leverage the huge potential of voice tech and conversational AI. With over two decades of experience at top agencies like Leo Burnett and in the corporate world, she helps clients use AI to create engaging conversational brand experiences that tackle marketing and customer service challenges. Westwater is known for her talks, workshops, articles, and research on how voice tech and AI impact marketing and business strategy. She actively supports the Open Voice Network TrustMark Initiative, is an organizer of the Women in Voice Chicago chapter, and teaches at the AI Academy for Marketers. Westwater is a co-author of Voice Strategy: Creating Useful and Usable Voice Experiences (a #1 Release on Amazon) and a co-author of Voice Marketing, released in July 2024. Susan’s work emphasizes the importance of blending AI technology with human creativity to craft compelling brand narratives.
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Rachel Woods
The Why: A vital resource for agencies looking to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving agency world.
Rachel Woods, founder of The AI Exchange, helps marketing agencies operationalize AI to boost their services. She’s an expert in AI operations, with experience at Facebook integrating advanced tech like transformers into the ads ranking stack. As DiviUp’s CEO, she guides agencies in implementing AI for efficiency. Through The AI Exchange, a community for AI Operations learning, she simplifies complex AI ideas for all. Rachel’s mission is to revolutionize business with AI, and she’s doing so by sharing insights via content, courses, and her newsletter, aiming to help businesses adopt and thrive with AI.
Learn more about Rachel:
These 16 AI thought leaders are not just theorizing about the potential of AI – they are actively putting it into practice, demonstrating its real-world impact on marketing, content creation, customer experience, and business operations.
Whether you are looking to enhance your marketing strategies, streamline your operations, or stay ahead of the curve in your industry, the expertise shared by these thought leaders provides a roadmap for leveraging AI to drive growth and innovation.
Want to learn more about Applied AI and learn use cases, real-world applications, tools, and technologies from these industry leaders? Register now for MAICON (Marketing AI Conference) to accelerate your AI journey and gain practical insights to transform your business approach.
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