CMOs harness generative AI to fuel growth amid economic uncertainty

By MWorld Team Jul 7, 20250

As economic pressures from tariffs and supply chain shifts mount, chief marketing officers (CMOs) are turning to generative AI to drive revenue and streamline costs, according to Katie Klumper, CEO of Black Glass, a New York-based CMO consulting firm.

“Growth is top of mind, and AI is an enabler,” Klumper said in a recent feature exploring how top CMOs across industries are harnessing AI.

Competitive Benchmarking with AI: Rebecca Biestman, CMO of Denver-based Guild, uses AI to analyze competitors’ strategies by pulling data from earnings reports and investor literature, enhancing her 70-person team’s B2B tech marketing approach.

Virtual Focus Groups for Innovation: Michelle Froah, CMO at ETS in Princeton, New Jersey, employs AI personas to simulate user feedback, accelerating product development for her 200-strong team and creating demo videos for assessment products.

Thought Leadership at Scale: At London-based startup Swap, CMO Juan Pellerano-Rendón leverages AI to halve the time needed to produce thought leadership content, enabling his 10-person team to publish two to three pieces monthly.

Optimizing Daily Agendas: Maria Weaver, a veteran marketer advising New York-based jewelry startup XO, Maria Louise, uses AI to prioritize tasks, boosting her daily efficiency.

ALSO READ: MARTINI, JONATHAN BAILEY LAUNCH ‘OFF SCRIPT’ CAMPAIGN

Tailored AI Tools for Specific Needs: Nick Panayi, CMO of Inovalon in Bowie, Maryland, subscribes to Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Gemini, using each for specialized tasks like research and communication polishing for his 95-person team.

CMOs are also fostering collaboration, with Zola’s Briana Severson creating AI-focused Slack channels and monthly meetings to share use cases among her 20-person team. Swap’s Pellerano-Rendón uses shared AI accounts to streamline workflows, while Kendra Newton of WVN maximizes free trials to keep her lean startup cost-efficient. Kaveri Camire of DXC Technology emphasizes partnering with CIOs to integrate AI workflows, and Inovalon’s Panayi advocates for an “AI sherpa” to champion AI adoption.

These strategies highlight how CMOs are using AI to navigate economic challenges, boost productivity, and redefine marketing innovation.