The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström®: Expert Mode Marketing Technology, AI, & CX

• #785: Avaya CTO David Funck on building persistent memory of the customer with AI

  What if every AI interaction with a customer built upon the last, instead of starting from scratch every single time, or at least having it feel that way? Agility requires not just reacting quickly to customer needs, but learning continuously from every interaction to anticipate the next one. This means our technology, especially our AI, can't operate with amnesia; it must have a persistent, shared memory. Today, we're going to talk about breaking down the silos between our AI systems. We'll explore a concept that promises to give our AI a persistent memory, allowing different models and platforms to share context and build a truly continuous, intelligent customer experience. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, David Funck, Chief Technology Officer at Avaya. About David Funck David Funck is the Chief Technology Officer at Avaya, bringing more than 30 years of experience in enterprise communications, cloud transformation, and contact center innovation. David has held senior technology leadership roles at Edify, Aspect Software, and Alvaria, where he served as CTO and led the transition of legacy platforms to modern, cloud-based architectures. Before becoming CTO at Avaya, David served as the company’s Chief Architect, where he was responsible for advancing Avaya’s technology strategy and leading the Innovation Incubator and AI/ML initiatives. David joined Avaya through the acquisition of Edify, where he was CTO and played a key role in developing AI-native contact center solutions. David’s expertise spans full-stack architecture, multi-cloud deployments across leading hyperscalers, and leading global development teams to deliver enterprise-scale solutions. He is known for driving high-impact product innovation, closing strategic customer contracts, and guiding companies through complex technical transformations., David Funck on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-funck Resources Avaya : https://www.avaya.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

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• #784: Monday.com Global Creative Director Robbie Ferrara on clarifying the benefits of AI

  What if the biggest risk in deploying AI isn't the technology itself, but how your team is able to understand its most significant benefits? Agility requires more than just adapting your technology stack; it demands a flexible brand narrative and a creative approach that can evolve with customer sentiment and cultural shifts. This is particularly true when tackling a topic as hyped and misunderstood as artificial intelligence. Today, we're going to talk about what it takes to break the mold of traditional B2B marketing, particularly in the age of AI. We'll explore how brands can move beyond feature-focused messaging to create genuine emotional resonance and build a brand that feels both innovative and human. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Robbie Ferrara, Global Creative Director at monday.com. About Robbie Ferrara As Director of Creative at Monday.com, Robbie leads the creative vision for the brand, shaping global marketing strategies, defining messaging, and spearheading mass advertising campaigns that drive brand growth and engagement.Robbie oversees the in-house creative department and manage relationships with creative agencies and production partners to deliver impactful global campaigns. He also plays a critical part in evolving Monday.com’s creative identity and driving its position as one of the fastest-growing tech brands in the world.Prior to monday.com, Robbie held creative leadership roles at Prime Video and Amazon. Robbie Ferrara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbieferrara/ Resources monday.com: www.monday.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Take a look a the Monday.com marketing campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hkcw_j8js0 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

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• #783: Typeface CMO Jason Ing on the paradox of hyper personalization and brand consistency

  What happens when your brand has a million different voices speaking to a million different customers? Is that the pinnacle of personalization, or is it just brand chaos? Agility requires both the speed to personalize content for every individual as well as the control to ensure every one of those interactions faithfully represents the core brand. Today, we're going to talk about resolving one of the biggest paradoxes in modern marketing: achieving hyper-personalization at massive scale, without sacrificing brand governance and consistency. We’ll explore how generative AI is moving from a creative novelty to a core operational engine for enterprise marketing, enabling brands to craft unique stories for every customer, while ensuring they all sing from the same hymn sheet. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Jason Ing, CMO at Typeface. About Jason Ing Jason Ing is the Chief Marketing Officer at Typeface, where he leads global marketing and drives the shift toward AI-powered content creation. Over the past two decades, he has built high-performing marketing teams and launched enduring, customer-obsessed campaigns at brands including Procter & Gamble, Xbox, Amazon Prime Video, AWS, and Gusto. Known for systematically scaling teams, programs, and go-to-market motions, Jason has a track record of delivering marketing strategies that not only drive impact in the moment but continue to perform years later. At Typeface, he helps modern marketers rewire how their teams work—so they can move faster, scale smarter, and unlock AI’s full potential. Jason Ing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingjason/ Resources Typeface: https://www.typeface.ai The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

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• #782: Salesforce Marketing Cloud CMO Bobby Jania on the end of "Do Not Reply" marketing

  What if the most damaging phrase in your marketing isn't a four-letter word, but three simple ones: "Do Not Reply"? Agility requires more than just moving fast; it requires breaking down the walls between departments to respond to customer needs in the moment they happen. It’s about empowering every part of the organization to act as one cohesive brand, turning every interaction into a meaningful conversation. Today, we're going to talk about the end of an era: of one-way, impersonal, "do not reply" marketing. We’ll explore the shift from siloed campaigns to unified, real-time conversations, and what it takes to empower every single employee, from sales to service, to be an extension of the marketing team to build trust and drive growth. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Bobby Jania, CMO Marketing Cloud at Salesforce. About Bobby Jania Bobby Jania is an experienced marketing professional currently serving as CMO of Marketing Cloud at Salesforce since June 2014, where a focus on building personalized customer journeys has been paramount. Prior to Salesforce, Bobby held multiple strategic roles at Responsys, emphasizing the importance of integrated digital marketing strategies, and spent nearly a decade at Cypress Semiconductor, where responsibilities included leading innovations in programmable system-on-chip solutions and managing global marketing efforts. Bobby's career began with a role as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which laid the groundwork for a passion for technology and marketing. Bobby holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from the same institution. Bobby Jania on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyjania/ Resources Salesforce : https://www.salesforce.com/marketing/ The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

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• #781: CommerceIQ CMO Sai Koppala on retailer resilience through intelligent operations

  What if the biggest threat to your brand’s profitability isn’t the next tariff or supply chain disruption, but an outdated playbook that forces you to choose between raising prices on loyal customers or sacrificing your margins?Agility requires more than just reacting quickly to market changes; it requires the intelligence to anticipate them and automate the optimal response. Today, we're going to talk about how leading retail brands are navigating complex economic pressures like tariffs and inflation—not by resorting to the old tactics of deep discounts or across-the-board price hikes, but by deploying AI to create a more resilient and intelligent operation. We'll explore how AI is helping brands maintain pricing stability, turn insights from major shopping events into real-time strategy, and fundamentally shift teams from staring at dashboards to taking automated, margin-protecting actions. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Sai Koppala, CMO at CommerceIQ. About Sai Koppala Sai brings over 20 years of marketing and strategy experience. Before CommerceIQ, he was Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer at SheerID and held leadership roles at Apigee (acquired by Google) and SAP. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a Master's in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University. Sai Koppala on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/koppala/ Resources CommerceIQ: https://www.commerceiq.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

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