Anyone who follows the marketing AI scene knows MAICON — the Marketing AI Conference, hosted by Paul Roetzer’s Marketing Artificial Intelligence Institute. So, this year, Geoff decided to visit Cleveland, Ohio to check it out.
In today’s episode, Geoff shares his perspectives on the event, the speakers, his key takeaways, and (of course) the snacks. Even better, he brought a friend onboard: Our first guest co-host evah, Silicon Valley marketing maven Melinda Byerley to share her thoughts too. Her presence alone exponentially upped the No Brainer (erm) brainpower. Her take on MAICON and the current and future states of marketing AI in general? Chef’s kiss.
If you stayed home (like Greg did), this show is for you. And if you attended MAICON and want to relive it through the eyes of two seasoned pros, this show is for you too!
We’d call that a win/win.
So, what’s the verdict? Did MAII team rise to the occasion? Did MAICON match the energy of our current generative AI zeitgeist? Listen or watch, and find out!
But first…
Meet Melinda Byerley
Melinda Byerley is the innovative and dynamic CEO and founding partner of Fiddlehead Marketing, a San Francisco-based virtual consultancy pioneering data-driven digital marketing since 2014. As a fractional CMO, she’s no stranger to entrepreneurship, having founded Vendorsi.com and served as CMO at Poll Everywhere.
A seasoned veteran in Silicon Valley, Melinda’s portfolio includes leadership roles at Linden Lab/Second Life, eBay, PayPal, and Checkpoint Software. In 2020, she led the Digital Analytics Association’s first Task Force on Data Privacy and Ethics, reflecting a passion that traces back to her early days with eBay and PayPal’s trust and safety teams.
Melinda’s mastery of marketing analytics, strategic decision-making, and campaign attribution is complemented by her talent as a storyteller and content marketer. She’s a contributing writer to VentureBeat, as well as a guest lecturer at Cornell University and Babson College. Melinda’s unique blend of a Cornell MBA in Finance and a BFA in Drama from Illinois Wesleyan University equips her with a storytelling prowess fused with a passion for actionable metrics.
Diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2022, Melinda courageously refocused her career on Artificial Intelligence for Marketing Analytics. Her journey inspired the creation of “Let’s Get Real,” a Substack focusing on accessible and practical marketing AI, and revitalized her podcast, “Stayin Alive in Tech,” the first and only long-form oral history of Silicon Valley, now in its fifth season with a focus on AI.
Outside of work, Melinda’s curious mind leads her to explore bridge, snorkeling, and pondering life’s big questions with ChatGPT. Her lifelong experience with ADHD shapes her approach to coaching fellow high IQ and neurodiverse executives, infusing her guidance with empathy and understanding.
What to Listen For
(Time stamps based on the audio program; the exact timings for the video show may vary)
-
- 00:00:00 Intro
- 00:03:01 Meet Melinda Byerley
- 00:05:05 First impressions from MAICON
- 00:15:10 Keynotes and key takeaways
- 00:38:14 The best of the breakouts
- 00:53:25 Vendor bender?
- 00:59:55 Food, social events, and logistics
- 01:05:00 Final takes
Episode Links and Resources
- We went a wee bit off topic at one point to talk about the new, highly suspect terms of service for Zoom. Learn more about the controversal terms and Zoom’s response to the backlash.
- Video cover photo (yes, a real photo!) of Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Geoff Livingston.
