“AI is reshaping the way agencies operate, but human creativity and strategic thinking will always be essential to differentiate and add true value,” says Clay Ostrom, Founder and Brand Strategist of Map & Fire and SmokeLadder.

In this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Jonathan Gandolf sits down with Clay to discuss how the evolving landscape of AI is impacting the marketing industry, particularly for agency leaders navigating the challenge of maintaining human-driven creativity amidst the rise of automation tools. Clay talks about his work with SmokeLadder, which helps businesses analyze brand positioning and messaging using AI. He also explores how agencies are shifting from execution to strategic partnership roles in response to AI-driven changes.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. The importance of balancing human creativity with AI-driven efficiency in marketing
2. Why agencies are evolving from executional roles to becoming more strategic partners
3. How AI is reshaping the way agencies work and what that means for the future

Resources:

Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/

Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.com

Connect with Clay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clayostrom/

Explore Map & Fire: https://mapandfire.com/

Explore SmokeLadder: https://smokeladder.com/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:29) Clay’s background and SmokeLadder

(03:14) AI’s impact on marketing and agencies

(04:39) Exploring SmokeLadder

(07:52) Challenges and opportunities with AI

(16:44) Entrepreneurial insights and productization

(25:02) Keeping humanity in marketing