How to Stay Relevant as a Marketer in the World of AI with Mark Schaefer

The Exit Five CMO Podcast (Hosted by Dave Gerhardt)

#261 AI & Creativity | In this episode, Dave is joined by Mark Schaefer, marketing strategist, keynote speaker, and author of 11 books, including his latest, Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World. Mark has spent decades studying the intersection of marketing, tech, and human behavior, and his ideas have helped reshape how B2B brands think about relevance, creativity, and differentiation in a noisy digital world.

Dave and Mark cover:

• Why playing it safe is the biggest threat to B2B marketers in the AI era
• How to create marketing that actually connects by disrupting the story, the channel, or the storyteller
• Real examples of B2B brands ditching “best practices” and standing out with emotional, human-first marketing

You’ll come away with a fresh perspective on how to stay relevant, creative, and impactful, especially as AI becomes a bigger part of your marketing stack.

Timestamps

• (00:00) - – Intro
• (03:34) - – Why most marketing is boring
• (08:04) - – The danger of “best practices”
• (12:04) - – Why AI is amplifying bad marketing
• (15:34) - – The rise of raw, lo-fi, human content
• (18:34) - – What AI can’t replicate: shared experiences
• (22:04) - – Fear, risk, and the big brand trap
• (25:34) - – Using AI to enhance, not replace, creativity
• (31:50) - – The real framework behind Audacious
• (34:50) - – B2B examples that break the mold
• (40:20) - – Why now is the time to stand out
• (44:50) - – Making bold marketing happen inside your org
• (49:20) - – Liquid Death, Nutter Butter, and brand disruption
• (53:50) - – B2B doesn’t mean boring
• (57:50) - – The one question every marketer should ask

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