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In this episode of Human-First AI Marketing, host Mike Montague sits down with Tim Brewer and Damian Bramanis from Functionly to unpack one of the most urgent questions facing modern leaders: how do you structure a business when AI changes what people actually do? Spoiler alert: it’s not about mass layoffs or robot takeovers. It’s about faster org design cycles, rethinking roles, and helping humans focus on work that matters.

If you’re a small marketing director, founder, or executive feeling the squeeze between rapid AI evolution and stagnant org charts, this episode is for you. We explore how AI is exposing blind spots, automating busywork, and forcing leaders to replace reorgs with real-time agility. Plus, we share practical, human-first strategies to help your team thrive by focusing less on job titles and more on what gives people energy. It’s time to lead differently.

Top Takeaways
1. AI won’t take your job, but it will take your tasks
Your job is made up of many tasks, and AI is already handling parts of it faster and more efficiently than you can.

2. Org design must become continuous, not cyclical.
Traditional 3-year reorganizations are too slow; organizational structures now need to evolve in real-time as work shifts.

3. Blind spots and bottlenecks are AI’s sweet spot.
AI surfaces inefficiencies that leaders often overlook, such as duplicate roles, unclear reporting lines, or forgotten projects.

4. Most org charts already have ‘gaps, cracks, and overlaps’
These inefficiencies exist in every business; AI accelerates the need to fix them rather than cover them up.

5. AI’s pace is like the Industrial Revolution on fast forward
The changes we’re seeing today are similar to past revolutions, but happening 10x faster, over 7 years instead of 70.

6. AI agents might soon have a “seat” in the org chart
The line between tool and teammate is blurring, and some roles will eventually be owned by software, not staff.

7. Humans should focus on energy-giving, creative work
Leaders should redesign roles based on what tasks give people energy, and automate what drains them.

8. Taste, judgment, and leadership still belong to humans
As AI handles more execution, humans will lead by defining vision, setting priorities, and applying context.

9. Change management is now a leadership competency, not a project
Leaders must create adaptable teams that can shift quickly, instead of just reacting every few years.

10. Reorganizations should feel like Lego, not a PowerPoint presentation.
Good org design should be hands-on, collaborative, and modular, not a top-down, static plan from consultants.

The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.

Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.

We’re not just another AI company trying to build robots to replace you. We will help make you the hero. We’re marketers, too, and we get how important creativity, empathy, and human insight are when connecting with your ideal clients.

No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

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In this episode of Human-First AI Marketing, Mike Montague sits down with Vinod Kumar, founder of Sentium.ai, to explore how AI is transforming one of the most overlooked but essential roles in retail and e-commerce: merchandising. They dig into how AI tools are finally giving merchandisers the support they deserve, freeing them from spreadsheets, synonyms, and search-engine gymnastics, and putting the focus back on strategy, creativity, and buyer experience.

Whether you're selling mugs or monogrammed license plates, this conversation is packed with insights on how AI can help small businesses compete like big brands. You’ll hear how smart search, predictive analytics, and intent-based personalization are not just buzzwords, they’re tools SMBs can actually use today to test faster, waste less, and serve better. If you're ready to stop guessing and start merchandising smarter, this episode is your roadmap.

Top Takeaways:
1. Merchandisers are the glue between brand and buyer.
They shape the shopping experience online or in-store by deciding what products people see and how they're presented.

2. Most merchandising tools are outdated or nonexistent.
Merchandisers often rely on clunky sub-features buried in e-commerce platforms, leaving them stuck with manual, repetitive tasks.

3. AI can personalize product discovery in real time.
AI-powered systems can surface the most relevant, available, and profitable items based on shopper behavior and intent, not just keywords.

4. Natural language search improves the buyer journey.
New AI search tools can understand conversational queries, slang, and even misspellings, helping shoppers find what they mean, not just what they typed.

5. Color and size variants create merchandising chaos.
AI simplifies how products like “Blue Sky Mugs” are tagged, found, and sorted—something that used to require tons of manual intervention.

6. Predictive analytics helps SMBs avoid costly mistakes.
Small brands can now use AI to test product-market fit and spot trends before investing in inventory that doesn’t sell.

7. AI unlocks smarter product testing and fast pivots.
Instead of losing time and money experimenting manually, businesses can now test ideas, pricing, and messaging virtually and iteratively.

8. Search results should be optimized for margin and availability.
AI can prioritize products with better profit margins or faster fulfillment, improving business outcomes without compromising shopper relevance.

9. Just-in-time production is becoming more viable.
On-demand manufacturing, combined with AI demand forecasting, points to a future where businesses don’t need to hold risky inventory.

10. Future commerce will be more localized and sustainable.
Vinod envisions AI-driven ecosystems that match buyer intent with nearby, ethical production to reduce waste and carbon impact.

The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.

Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.

We’re not just another AI company trying to build robots to replace you. We will help make you the hero. We’re marketers, too, and we get how important creativity, empathy, and human insight are when connecting with your ideal clients.

No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

Send us a text

Ethical AI isn't just a philosophy; it’s a practical framework for building better digital experiences. In this episode of the Human-First AI Marketing podcast, Mike Montague sits down with Warren Wilansky, founder of Plank and the Ethical Web Collective, to explore what ethics actually look like in web design and development. From accessibility and inclusion to sustainable coding and responsible data collection, Warren shares real-world examples and tools that small marketing teams can use today, without needing a massive tech budget.

You’ll learn why accessibility is more than a compliance checklist, how AI can open new doors for users with different abilities, and why bloated websites and passive data collection could silently drain your resources. Whether you’re leading marketing for an SMB or managing your organization’s online presence, this conversation will help you rethink how your digital footprint affects real people and how to make it more human.

Top Takeaways:
1. Ethics in design is about alignment, not judgment.
Ethics shouldn’t feel like a moral high ground; it’s about defining and living by values that align with your brand and customers.

2. Accessibility expands your reach and reflects your values.
Making your website usable for people with disabilities or limited connectivity isn't just right; it’s good business.

3. Optimize your site for low bandwidth, not just high-end devices.
A fast, lightweight website serves people in rural areas, on mobile, or with unreliable internet, and audiences are often overlooked.

4. Follow real accessibility standards, not just automated scores.
Tools like Google Lighthouse are a starting point, but true inclusion comes from understanding WCAG guidelines and user experience.

5. Responsible development means planning for handoffs.
Write clean, well-documented code and interfaces so future developers or your client aren’t left with digital debt.

6. Environmental impact matters even online.
Every page load and AI query consumes energy; minimizing bloat and heavy media is a quiet but powerful way to reduce your carbon footprint.

7. Auto-playing videos and giant images can do more harm than good.
Design choices that look slick may slow down performance and hurt accessibility, especially on mobile.

8. Don’t hoard data you’re not using.
Storing outdated or unused customer data is a risk and a liability; only collect what you can actually use to improve the experience.

9. Open-source and portable tools build long-term trust.
Use platforms like WordPress and avoid proprietary lock-ins so your clients (or future self) aren't stuck.

10. Ethical handoffs create better referrals and reputations.
Warren sees passing on well-documented, functional websites as a professional responsibility, not a missed opportunity.

The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.

Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.

We’re not just another AI company trying to build robots to replace you. We will help make you the hero. We’re marketers, too, and we get how important creativity, empathy, and human insight are when connecting with your ideal clients.

No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!