AI-Ready: The New Imperative for Marketers
Skills, Strategy, and Leadership for the Era of Intelligent Work
Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept—it is the defining skillset for modern marketers and a transformative force across every industry. Yet most professionals still lack the foundation to confidently evaluate AI tools, guide responsible adoption, or advise their organizations on best-fit solutions.
This session is designed to equip marketers to lead with clarity, creativity, and responsible innovation. Attendees will walk away understanding what AI is (and what it is not) and how today’s generative models truly work.
The session will move beyond buzzwords to focus on the practical capabilities marketers need today: crafting effective prompts that unlock measurable results, navigating the crowded AI solutions landscape, choosing the right tool for the right task, and strengthening an ethical, secure, and future-proofed AI foundation. The session will also explore real-world challenges—organizational resistance, data concerns, and the need to champion a “learn-it-all” (not “know-it-all”) culture—as well as the leadership behaviors that differentiate trusted AI advisors from casual tool users.
Bio:
Joe Gura is a global go-to-market and AI enablement leader at Microsoft, where he has driven worldwide sales strategy and readiness for Windows, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft Copilot.
A seasoned strategist in cloud, cybersecurity, and commercial technologies, Gura has a proven record of shaping product narratives and launching transformative technologies at global scale.
He holds an M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University, where he has taught since 2019, and developed the graduate-level course IMC 554: AI in Marketing.