What Would You Say to the Next Gen of Marketers? AI for Future Marketers

In April, I’ll be in New Orleans for the first time—not for the beignets (though I can't wait to try those) but to speak on a panel at the American Marketing Association’s collegiate conference.

The panel is about AI. The audience consists of over a thousand students from across the world. They are curious, ambitious, and paying attention.

And that matters. Because the way we talk about AI with early-career marketers now will help shape how they show up, lead, and build what’s next.

I’m sharing the mic with Clay Sharman, Efe Abugo, Dyani S. Marvel, and David Armano: leaders who bring sharp, diverse perspectives on strategy, communication, and the business of marketing. I’ll contribute what I know from working with enterprise teams, skeptical cybersecurity pros, and creative brand builders.

Here’s what I believe: Creators, especially the ones who know how to listen, experiment, and build, are very well-positioned to lead in the era of AI. Not because they have it all figured out, but because they know how to work with uncertainty and move forward.

And while I’ve got my take on what I want to say, I've been asking my peers this:

What message do you think these students need to hear right now? About work, creativity, technology—or how to think in a time like this?

You don’t have to be on a panel to shape the narrative. If something’s been on your heart or mind, DM me. I’ll carry the best messages with me to New Orleans. And when I return, I'll share what I learned because I need to remember to listen more than I share.

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Looking for a speaker who gets both the tech and the people side of AI?

I’m Catherine Richards, Co-Founder of Expera Consulting and Expert GenAI Coach for Ragan Communications. I’ve spoken at global conferences, executive summits, internal leadership workshops, and industry panels—always with one goal: to make AI feel practical, strategic, and human.

If you're organizing an event and need a speaker who can spark honest conversations and deliver insight with clarity, here are a few topics I’m currently speaking on:

• From Hype to Impact: Making GenAI Work for Work

• The Creator’s Edge: Why Those Who Build Are Built for the AI Era

• How to Think Like an AI Strategist (Without Becoming a Technologist)

• Measuring the Human Impact of AI: Influence, Trust, and Growth

I tailor every session to the audience and the moment. If that sounds like what your team or event needs, let's talk.